Jordan

Shipping Arabia, September 25, 2026 – Cargo handling at Aqaba’s main port surged 49% year-on-year to 9.48 million tonnes during the first eight months of 2026, accompanied by a sharp increase in truck traffic as Jordan’s only seaport handles growing domestic and regional trade flows.

Dr. Mahmoud Khleifat, Director General of Aqaba Company for Ports Operation and Management, said throughput reached approximately 9.482 million tonnes through the end of August, compared with 6.382 million tonnes during the same period in 2025.

Truck movements increased even faster, rising 51% to around 129,900 trucks, from 85,551 during the corresponding period last year.

The increase reflects stronger activity at Aqaba as the port serves both Jordan’s domestic economy and growing cargo flows involving neighboring markets. Khleifat said coordination among stakeholders in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone and government agencies has helped streamline procedures and improve the movement of cargo to and from the port.

The main port handles a broad range of cargoes and vessel types, providing an important component of Aqaba’s wider maritime and logistics infrastructure alongside the kingdom’s container, Ro-Ro and specialized terminal facilities.

Khleifat said the port is continuing to develop its operations with a focus on safety, operational efficiency and sustainability while maintaining handling services capable of supporting changing trade and supply chain requirements.

The growth further strengthens Aqaba’s role as Jordan’s maritime gateway and an increasingly important regional logistics and transit corridor, particularly as changing regional trade patterns generate additional cargo flows through the kingdom.

Source: Addustour

Shipping Arabia, September 23, 2026 – The Jordan Shipping Association and Aqaba Container Terminal are moving toward regular coordination meetings with shipping lines as both sides seek to address operational and commercial challenges and improve container flows through Jordan’s principal maritime gateway.

ACT CEO José Rueda, Chief Commercial Officer Angshuman Mustafi and members of the terminal’s management team met JSA Board members and the association’s Container Committee, including representatives of shipping lines operating through Aqaba.

JSA Vice Chairman Mashhoor Al-Jazi said direct engagement between the association and terminal management is important for addressing operational and commercial issues affecting carriers and improving the overall maritime business environment.

Discussions covered container handling and movement, challenges facing shipping lines, port procedures and measures that could improve cargo flows and service levels for terminal users.

Rueda called for regular meetings between ACT management, JSA and shipping line representatives, allowing operational issues and carrier feedback to be reviewed continuously while providing a platform to jointly address emerging challenges and opportunities.

ACT expressed its readiness to maintain the dialogue and work with the association and its members on practical solutions aimed at improving operational efficiency and container flows.

JSA said continued direct coordination among stakeholders across Aqaba’s maritime sector is essential to resolving operational challenges, improving services to shipping lines and strengthening the competitiveness of Aqaba Container Terminal.

The discussions come as Aqaba handles growing regional cargo activity, increasing the importance of close coordination between the terminal, shipping lines and other stakeholders in maintaining efficient container flows and reinforcing Aqaba’s role as Jordan’s maritime gateway and a regional logistics hub.

Source: Jordan Shipping Association

Shipping Arabia, September 22, 2026 – The Jordan Shipping Association has reviewed operational and logistics pressures at Aqaba following a sharp increase in vehicle and cargo volumes moving through Jordan’s principal maritime gateway.

A delegation headed by JSA Chairman Zaid Al-Kalaldeh conducted a field visit to Aqaba on September 15, meeting port and development officials and inspecting vehicle storage areas and measures being taken to accommodate higher cargo volumes.

The delegation included Secretary-General Capt. Mohammad Al-Dalabieh and Board Members Mashhoor Al-Jazi, AbdulRahman Ali and Mohammad Abdelhadi.

At the Aqaba Cruise Terminal, the delegation met Rashad Al Maslat, AD Ports Country Operations Manager, and Amer Al Hammouri, Operations and Planning Lead at Aqaba Cruise Terminal, reviewing measures to address growing operational pressure, including preparation of additional yard capacity and reinforcement of personnel to maintain vehicle flows and operational efficiency.

The delegation also met Dr. Mahmoud Khleifat, Director General of Aqaba Company for Ports Operation and Management, and Operations Manager Capt. Mohammad Al-Halawi. Discussions focused on current operations and efforts to expand storage yards and increase capacity despite constraints involving available equipment and resources.

During a separate meeting with Hussein Al-Safadi, CEO of Aqaba Development Corporation, and Abdessalam Obeidat, Chief Transport and Logistics Officer, the two sides discussed closer coordination with the maritime sector and proposals aimed at improving port efficiency and maintaining smoother cargo flows.

JSA said direct engagement with port stakeholders is increasingly important as Aqaba handles growing trade volumes and associated pressure on yards, equipment and inland cargo movements.

The association said it will continue coordinating with government and operational stakeholders, including Jordan Customs, to facilitate vehicle and cargo movements, address emerging operational constraints and strengthen Aqaba’s role as Jordan’s maritime gateway.

Source: Jordan Shipping Association

Shipping Arabia, September 22, 2026 – East Port Said Port has received the vehicle carrier AICC HUANGHU at the Suez Canal Automotive Terminal (SCAT), where the vessel is loading 235 vehicles for onward shipment to Aqaba.

The Ro-Ro vessel arrived from Alexandria and will depart for Aqaba following completion of loading operations, highlighting the developing vehicle shipping connection between Egypt’s Mediterranean ports and Jordan’s principal maritime gateway on the Red Sea.

AICC HUANGHU is a specialized vehicle carrier measuring 200 meters in length and 38 meters in beam, with a draught of 9 meters.

The Suez Canal Economic Zone said the call forms part of continued vehicle-handling activity across its ports and the growing use of SCAT for automotive and transit cargo.

Since beginning official operations in November 2025, SCAT has handled seven specialized vehicle carriers carrying a combined 4,735 vehicles. AICC HUANGHU was among the first vessels handled by the terminal and has now returned for another call.

The latest operation demonstrates SCAT’s developing role in Ro-Ro and automotive logistics, while the onward movement to Aqaba reflects the integration of regional maritime routes linking Mediterranean and Red Sea gateways.

SCAT forms part of the wider development of East Port Said’s logistics and cargo-handling capabilities, with vehicle transit operations adding another segment to the port’s growing maritime activity.

Source: Suez Canal Economic Zone

Shipping Arabia, September 21, 2026 – Jordan’s Supply Chain, Provisioning and Food Security Follow-up Committee has reviewed the impact of shipping disruptions through the Bab el-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz on cargo flows, freight and insurance costs, as rising regional demand continues to place pressure on Aqaba ports and border crossings.

The committee met at the Jordan Shipping Association with representatives from the country’s shipping, logistics, customs clearance and commercial sectors to assess changing sailing routes, longer transit times, higher transport and insurance costs and their impact on the movement of goods into Jordan.

The meeting was attended by Jordan Chamber of Commerce Chairman Khalil Al-Haj Tawfiq; Amman Chamber of Commerce First Vice Chairman Nabil Al-Khatib; Jordan Shipping Association Chairman Zaid Al-Kalaldeh; Clearance Companies and Cargo Transporters Syndicate President Dr. Deifallah Abu Aqoula; Jordan Logistics Association Chairman Nizar Saleh; JSA Secretary-General Capt. Mohammad Al-Dalabieh; and Assistant General Manager Raad Hakouz, alongside representatives of the shipping, logistics and clearance sectors.

Discussions focused on growing operational pressure across Aqaba, border crossings and inland transport corridors, including challenges affecting truck and cargo movements as regional maritime disruption changes established trade routes.

Participants also reviewed measures adopted following earlier committee meetings and their impact on cargo flows and operational procedures. Several implemented measures were reported to have improved conditions, but other recommendations remain under implementation.

The committee said the significant increase in demand on Aqaba ports and Jordan’s border crossings makes faster completion of the remaining measures increasingly important to ease bottlenecks and improve supply chain efficiency.

Members stressed the need for continuous exchange of operational information between the public and private sectors and stronger readiness to respond quickly to further changes in regional shipping and overland transport.

The committee will continue monitoring implementation of its recommendations as Jordan works to maintain uninterrupted cargo flows and strengthen the ability of Aqaba and the country’s land corridors to serve both domestic supply chains and growing regional trade movements.

Source: Jordan Shipping Association

Shipping Arabia, September 20, 2026 – Jordan is moving to strengthen supply chain resilience, strategic inventories and alternative logistics routes, with industry representatives calling for faster customs clearance and continued coordination with global shipping lines to safeguard cargo flows through Aqaba.

The discussions follow directives by Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, while chairing part of a Cabinet session on September 16, to treat supply chains as a national priority and take measures to maintain strategic stocks of essential goods amid regional economic and logistics pressures.

Nabil Al-Khatib, First Vice Chairman of the Amman Chamber of Commerce, said Jordan should move beyond the traditional concept of strategic stockpiles toward a broader national logistics security framework. He proposed establishing a national council bringing together the public and private sectors to oversee supply chain continuity, strategic inventories and measurable implementation plans.

Al-Khatib said priorities should include diversifying supply sources and transport routes, accelerating cargo clearance and release, improving logistics efficiency and developing an integrated national database covering inventories and supply chains.

Dr. Deifallah Abu Aqoula, President of the Clearance Companies and Cargo Transporters Syndicate, called for greater use of pre-arrival clearance and green-lane procedures for essential goods, alongside incentives to expand private-sector storage capacity. He also stressed the need to diversify import origins and transport corridors rather than relying on a single route.

Abu Aqoula said rising freight and insurance costs and disruption to international logistics corridors have increased the importance of coordinated contingency planning, data sharing and faster decision-making between government agencies and the private sector.

Hamza Al-Halaika, Board Member of the General Syndicate of Foodstuff Traders, highlighted the maritime dimension of the strategy, calling for closer coordination with global shipping lines to maintain the priority and continuity of cargo arrivals at Aqaba Port, alongside faster movement through customs and other regulatory procedures.

The proposals place Aqaba, Jordan’s principal maritime gateway, at the center of efforts to build a more resilient national logistics system, supported by diversified transport routes, faster cargo flows, strategic storage and closer public-private coordination.

Source: Jordan News Agency – Petra

Shipping Arabia, September 20, 2026 – Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) has conducted a leadership development session for its management team as part of efforts to strengthen operational performance, continuous improvement and customer service at Jordan’s principal container gateway.

The session builds on an earlier APM Terminals Business System (ABS) Leadership Expectations programme conducted with ACT’s senior leadership and forms part of the terminal’s alignment with APM Terminals’ wider global transformation programme.

According to ACT, the workshop focused on leadership principles designed to develop high-performing teams, strengthen accountability, continuously improve operational processes and place customers at the centre of decision-making.

Participants took part in interactive discussions and practical exercises examining how common leadership standards can improve collaboration, empower employees and contribute to long-term business performance.

The programme also addressed the role of management in developing people, solving operational problems, promoting continuous improvement and creating value for customers and other stakeholders.

ACT said strengthening leadership capabilities is intended to support sustainable growth and operational excellence while reinforcing a management culture focused on performance and customer service.

As Jordan’s primary container terminal and maritime gateway for containerised trade, ACT plays a central role in the country’s import, export and transit supply chains through the Port of Aqaba.

Source: Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT)

Shipping Arabia, September 19, 2026 – Jordan has approved a new package of measures to ease operational pressure across Aqaba’s port and logistics system, including doubling the free period for national exports at Aqaba Container Terminal from seven to 14 days for six months, as the kingdom moves to strengthen supply chain resilience and maintain cargo flows.

The measures were approved by the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan, and build on earlier steps to expand storage capacity, develop logistics centers and supporting infrastructure, accelerate customs clearance and provide alternative sea-land multimodal corridors.

The government also reduced the charge associated with the destruction of cargo from JOD 450 to JOD 50 per tonne or part thereof for three months, subject to specified conditions and coordination with the Ministry of Finance.

Operational measures already introduced include transferring part of customs clearance activity to Amman Customs, exempting transit truck movements through border crossings from existing trip limits for three months and increasing the permitted number of daily container-truck trips to nine.

Trucks meeting technical and safety requirements are also being permitted to carry two 20-foot containers on a single vehicle, while priority in handling, clearance and gate-out is being given to food cargo, imports destined for the domestic market and Jordanian exports.

The measures are already being reflected in port performance. Average dwell time for transit containers has fallen from around 15 days to 12 days, while inbound local containers are averaging around eight days. Daily container gate-out capacity has increased from approximately 900 to 1,200 containers, helping reduce pressure on the port and accelerate cargo movement.

The latest measures reinforce Aqaba’s role as Jordan’s principal maritime gateway and an increasingly important regional transit corridor, with the government seeking to increase port capacity and logistics flexibility while limiting additional costs caused by shipping delays and regional supply chain disruption.

Source: Alghad