More steel, more paper, more bananas, more cars - and more ships hauling it all. As the economy climbs slowly back from the devastating recession, the Philadelphia port is reporting an uptick in business.

Two shippers recently began a new weekly service at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in South Philadelphia that will involve 104 vessels a year.

Coming from Chile, Ecuador, and Peru, CMA-CGM Sa's Black Pearl line began Jan. 28 to carry refrigerated perishables - fruits, vegetables, fish - and other goods including copper.

Maersk Line launched a weekly service Feb. 20, bringing fruits and vegetables from Peru and Ecuador through the Panama Canal to Miami; Newark, N.J.; and Philadelphia.