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AMMAN — The customs clearance and freight forwarding sector processed around 395,000 customs declarations during the first five months of the year, reflecting, according to stakeholders, continued growth in trade and logistics activity across the Kingdom.
According to figures released by the Association of Owners of Clearance and Transport Companies (AOCTC), Jordan Customs Clearance and Freight Forwarding Companies Association, Omari Customs Centre, Jordan’s main land crossing with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, handled 86,876 declarations during the period, while Aqaba Customs Centre processed 76,111 declarations.
Jaber Customs Centre, which links Jordan with Syria, recorded 27,769 declarations, while Al Karama Customs Centre on the Iraqi border handled 6,577 declarations. A further 65,645 declarations were processed through the Air Cargo Customs Centre, 37,147 through Amman Customs Centre and 17,287 through the E-Commerce Centre.
The association’s data showed a significant increase in cargo volumes at Aqaba’s main port, where total throughput reached 5.271 million tonnes during the first five months of the year, compared with 3.809 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year. The cargo was handled by 728 vessels.
Container traffic also rose, with the Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) handling 198,638 incoming containers, up from 194,859 containers during the same period last year. Outbound container traffic reached 40,694 containers, while total import and export throughput amounted to 386,303 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Cross-border truck movement recorded notable growth. A total of 178,340 Jordanian and foreign trucks crossed through Jaber Customs Centre in both directions, compared with 118,580 during the same period last year.
Omari Customs Centre handled 207,507 trucks, up from 188,580, while traffic through Al Karama Customs Centre increased to 115,385 trucks from 74,869 a year earlier.
The number of vessels arriving at Aqaba’s ports also increased. During the reporting period, 152 ships called at the main port, 72 at the oil port and 504 at the passenger terminal, bringing the total to 728 vessels compared with 711 during the corresponding period last year.
AOCTC President Deifallah Abu Aqouleh said that the flow of goods through Jordan’s customs centres and Aqaba ports was proceeding normally, supported by close co-operation between customs authorities, security agencies and freight forwarding companies.
He praised the efforts of Aqaba port institutions, Jordan Customs and security agencies in expediting procedures for imports, exports and transit cargo, helping to ensure the smooth movement of goods.
He also said that the increase in truck traffic reflects Jordan’s strategic geographical position and points to a growing shift from maritime to overland transport routes, further enhancing the Kingdom’s role in regional supply chains.
