The First Vice President of the Amman Chamber of Commerce, Nabil Al-Khatib, affirmed that the increase in container traffic at the Aqaba Container Terminal during the past month—despite regional tensions—reflects Jordan’s growing logistical role in the region and carries significant economic implications.
اضافة اعلان
Al-Khatib told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the rise in container volumes compared to the same month last year indicates the flexibility of supply chains at Aqaba Port and its transformation into a secure and stable alternative route for Gulf countries and Iraq.
He added that increased domestic demand for goods and precautionary stockpiling also contributed to the rise in inbound containers, alongside the growth of regional transit movement through Jordan to Iraq, Syria, and the West Bank.
According to Al-Khatib, the number of loaded inbound containers through Aqaba Port increased by 4.5% in March compared to the same month last year, reaching 39,441 containers, up from 37,794.
Inbound containers also rose by 11.3% during the first quarter of this year, totaling 122,106 containers compared to 109,616 during the same period in 2025.
In contrast, outbound loaded containers declined by 27.4% in March, dropping to 6,722 containers from 9,265 in March 2025.
Al-Khatib explained that the decline in exports was due to delays by some exporters after global shipping lines imposed additional maritime shipping fees ranging between $2,000 and $3,000, driven by regional tensions.
He noted that this temporary slowdown in exports is expected to positively impact overall maritime activity in Aqaba in the coming period, once conditions stabilize and the conflict comes to an end.
Overall, outbound container traffic from Jordan through Aqaba Port decreased by 3.5% in the first quarter of the year, reaching 24,797 containers compared to 25,693 in the same period last year.
