Containers handled at Sri Lanka's ports fell 1.8 percent to 1.71 million TEUs in the first five months of the year, though there was recovery in transhipment volumes in May, official data show, reported Lankan Business Online.

In May transhipment container volumes rose 9.8 percent to 266,668 TEUs reversing a downward trend in earlier months, though total volumes in the first five months were still down 5.1 percent to 1.23 million TEUs.

Domestic container volumes fell 3.8 percent to 81,866 TEU, a trend that has continued for the third month running, data published by the Central Bank shows.

Sri Lanka's external trade has slowed in 2012 partly due to currency depreciation and higher interest rates.

Cargonews Asia