Traffic handled at major ports in India saw a growth of 5.5 percent in the April 2009-February 2010 period, compared with the corresponding period a year ago, signalling a gradual revival in exports as the world economy began easing itself out of the financial meltdown, Financial Express (India) reported.

Traffic volumes at India's 12 major ports grew on a yearly basis to 509 million tonnes in April to February 2010, from 482 million tonnes in April 2008 to February 2009.

"Domestic volumes and imports were less impacted by the slowdown and they bounced back quickly. Exports were sluggish during the slowdown, and now the increase in port traffic indicates a recovery on the exports front," said S Kulkarni, secretary of the Indian National Shipowners Association (Insa).