Total transit containers passing through Aqaba reached 80,235 during the first seven months of 2026, marking a 160.8% increase compared to 2025.
Transit containers bound for Iraq surged by 933.1%, jumping from 3,599 to 37,182 containers.
Total truck movements through the Al-Karameh/Treibil border crossing with Iraq jumped 131.2% to reach 229,997 trucks.
ASEZA implemented immediate operational measures, including allocating new logistics yards, expanding refrigerated container plugs to nearly 1,000, and launching projects such as the Aqaba-Ma'an Dry Port and a new JOD 45 million oil and bulk liquids terminal slated for late 2028.
AQABA — Exceptional growth recorded in transit traffic across the Aqaba port system during the first seven months of 2026 underscores the city's expanding role as a vital regional trade hub, particularly in serving the Iraqi market amid ongoing reconstruction efforts.
Data released by the Shipping Association of Jordan demonstrates a structural shift in transit trade via Jordan’s maritime gateway:
Total Transit Containers: Increased from 30,763 containers (Jan–July 2025) to 80,235 containers during the same period in 2026—a record net gain of 49,472 containers (+160.8%).
Iraq-Bound Transit: Saw a surge from 3,599 containers to 37,182 containers (+933.1%).
Border Truck Traffic: Total trucks passing through the Al-Karameh/Treibil border crossing with Iraq grew from 99,491 to 229,997 (+131.2%). Outbound loaded trucks heading to Iraq rose by 148.9%, while empty trucks entering Jordan increased by 148%.
Captain Mohammad Dalabieh, Secretary General of the Shipping Association of Jordan, noted that geopolitical shifts and international maritime rerouting have solidified Aqaba as a secure corridor. However, he cautioned that current operational capacities necessitate immediate infrastructure expansions to avoid port congestion.
To accommodate heat-sensitive cargo, power plug capacity for refrigerated containers was rapidly expanded from 700 to nearly 1,000 units, though experts advocate for fully dedicated refrigerated yards outside the primary port zone.
In response to the surge, Mohammad Abu Omar, Investment Commissioner at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), outlined a series of strategic interventions:
Yard Allocations: Provision of a 2,300-container yard behind the Logistics Village for empty containers, preparation of Yard No. 10 (67,500 sq meters), a 3,000-container capacity area for long-stay containers, and an 80,000 sq meter vehicle storage area behind the grain silos.
Dry Port Development: Government-directed initiation of the Aqaba-Ma'an Dry Port project to relieve pressure on coastal facilities and establish Ma'an as a supporting logistics hub alongside the expansion of Yard No. 4.
Energy Infrastructure: Implementation of the Single Point Mooring (SPM) project for crude oil tankers, plans for a new JOD 45 million oil and bulk liquid terminal expected by late 2028, and transitioning to an owned Floating Storage Unit (FSU) at the Sheikh Sabah LNG terminal in partnership with the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO).
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