Dubai World's global port operator says business at its cargo terminals is up 16 percent in the first half of the year as the shipping industry works to emerge from a severe slump caused by the global downturn, reported Associated Press Newswires.

DP World said cargo volumes rose most sharply at ports it manages in Asia, Australia and parts of Europe.

It says it handled the equivalent of 23.7 million TEUs between January and June, up from 20.4 million in the first half of last year.