Gov't announces measures to ease Ramadan burdens on consumers

AMMAN — Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply Yarub Qudah on Wednesday announced a series of government measures aimed at ensuring market stability and easing the burden on consumers ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

During a press conference, Qudah said that the government has decided to extend its previous exemption on customs duties and general and special sales taxes for maritime shipping fees, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Initially implemented at the beginning of last year, the exemption will now be extended for an additional three months in response to the ongoing challenges posed by high shipping costs in international markets, exacerbated by the Red Sea navigation crisis, with the extension aimed at alleviating import expenses and mitigating the impact of rising prices on consumers.

The government also extended a previous measure set to take effect in early 2025, which will remain in place until the end of Ramadan. The Jordan Silos and Supply General Company (JSSGC) has been instructed to offer reduced storage rates for private-sector importers of essential goods. 

The measure aims to ease inflationary pressures and positively influence consumer prices, with the new rates reflecting a significant reduction of about 40 per cent compared with previous levels.

Qudah also reassured the public that the country’s strategic stockpile of essential commodities remains secure, well above the required safe supply thresholds. 

He emphasised that, despite challenges such as supply chain disruptions, the large volume of humanitarian aid directed toward Gaza and the surge in exports to Syria, Jordan has successfully maintained an optimal inventory, which exceeds the safe supply limit by an additional five months.

The minister also highlighted the ministry’s intensified inspection campaigns and awareness efforts targeting consumers and suppliers, noting that there has been a 50 per cent increase in incoming shipping containers at Aqaba Port in January compared with the same month in 2024, with the majority of shipments containing goods intended for Ramadan.

Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat, speaking at the same press conference, said that the agricultural sector is currently at peak production, with supply significantly outpacing demand. 

He also noted that the primary challenge lies in the seasonal spike in consumer demand during the first week of Ramadan, which typically returns to normal levels in the weeks that follow.