Analysts said SAGT's February 2010 volumes were 48 percent higher than the same month the previous year, although it was off a low base as cargo flows were reduced by recession in 2009.
The rise in container volumes at SAGT, three-quarter of whose traffic consist of transhipment containers, indicated regional trade lows were recovering, they said.
However, transshipment cargo yields lower margins than domestic import-export containers, analysts said.
Volumes at state-owned terminals operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority have also been rising this year.
The shipping business of John Keells Holdings, which has a 42.2 percent stake in SAGT, has emerged as the main contributor to group profits in recent years.