Container handling through the Port of New York increased 4% on a year earlier in May. Empty container throughput jumped 15%, while import growth of 5% outstripped exports. That repeats a pattern seen from the west coast ports as well as national trade data. From a longer term perspective the trailing annual total of handling is down 0.3% on a year earlier, the slowest rate of decline in two years. Growth should pick up as the Bayonne Bridge raising, which will allow larger vessels to access the port, has been completed.