Cargo volumes at The Port of Virginia continued their positive trend in February as the number of TEUs handled that month grew 7.9 percent when compared with the same month last year.

In February the port handled 169,390 TEUs, an increase of 12,340 units when compared with last February. The month's container total was 96,404 and the general cargo tonnage (figure includes container and breakbulk) was 1,439,330.

“Though February isn’t normally a high-volume month, this was the second best February in our history in terms of TEUs and general cargo tonnage,” said Rodney W. Oliver, the Virginia Port Authority's interim executive director. “Our rail containers were up 17 percent for the month and almost 14 percent for the calendar year. I’m optimistic about what lies ahead given the early-season success we’ve had.”

Year-to-date, the port’s TEU volume is up 5.4 percent (16,806 TEUs) when compared with the same period last year.

Also in February (all stats are compared with Feb. 2012):

• Barge volume (the 64 Express and Columbia Coastal) was 4,084 containers (+11.4 percent);

• There were nine fewer ship calls (-6 percent);

• VIP container volume was down 184 units (-6 percent);

• Vehicle units were down by 1,890 units (-48 percent)

Calendar year TEU totals, 2013 vs. 2012:

• February 2013 = 169,390

• February 2012 = 157,050

• January 2013 = 158,766

• January 2012 = 154,300