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MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. – Things are looking up at the State Port at Morehead City.

The ports are seeing a big hike in business, with some cargo volumes increasing more than 100 percent over last year.

"Pretty much we hit rock bottom last November and December and business was really down at the ports authority. The warehouses were about empty," Port Director Rex Edwards said.

Now, overall cargo is up nearly 5 percent over last year. Phosphate volumes are up more 16 percent and metal products are up 139 percent.

Port administrators say the hike in metal is mostly from rail being used by Norfolk Southern.

Port workers are starting to see rubber make a turnaround as well. That's what Lindberg Fraizer was loading into a truck bound for Virginia Monday. Fraizer's worked at the port for 20 years and had his hours slashed when business was slow.

"It was getting bad there for a while," Fraizer said. "We had to cut back on hours, but everybody's getting 40 hours now and a little more."

Port leaders say if the growth continues, they may be able to hire more people by the end of the year. And more port business also brings more jobs like longshoremen, truckers and ship staff.

Port administrators say port business is indicative of what's going on in the economy.

"Companies bring raw materials through the port of Morehead City, which they in turn manufacture some of their products," Edwards said. "So if we're busier, that means down the road the tire plants, the lumber yards and everyone's going to see an uptick in business."