Northwest containers loaded: Seattle container handling jumps 17.4 percent in April, strong 25-year growth projected for Puget Sound ports.(Maritime)

The Port of Seattle reported a 17.4 percent surge in container volumes in April, helping the port record a 4.3 percent increase in TEUs through the first four months of what so far has been an up-and-down year.

Through April, the port handled 490,086 full and empty containers.

Full inbound containers in April grew 23 percent. "The strong increase in full inbound containers in April is an indication of an improving regional and national economy," said Mark Knudsen, deputy managing director of the port's Seaport Division. "It also shows that the investments we've made and continue to make in our maritime infrastructure are paying off."

Since the …