March 22 - Georgia Ports Authority says it has recorded a third month of increased trade through its ports.

Executive director Curtis Foltz said: "Three consecutive months of double-digit growth is a positive sign that overall market conditions have improved considerably since last year."

Volumes of auto and machinery units on Colonel's Island Terminal in Brunswick jumped 46.7 0n December 2009, 2.7 0n January 2010 and 15.7 percent in February 2010, Foltz added.

Last year, the authority's Ocean Terminal handled a 269 tonne stator bound for the SCANA electricity plant in Jasper County.