ACT business improving despite industry challenges

AMMAN — Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT), showed strong resilience in 2019, steering against challenges facing the economy. This was boosted by a strong start in 2020, signaling an improving business environment, according to an ACT statement. 

An improvement has become noticeable since the second half of 2019, as indicated by IPSOS Jordan Consumer Confidence Index for the last quarter of 2019 which went up 3 points, said the statement.

ACT volume posted 3.4 per cent growth for the August to December period compared to the previous year.

As for the first two months of 2020, they have confirmed the trend with a growth in import container volumes of 13 per cent and in export container volumes of 6 per cent.

“A key component of the way we do business at ACT is continuous improvement. We strive every day to build on our success and promote progress by remaining committed to the operational standards we have set, regardless of any external challenges we may face,” ACT CEO, Steven Yoogalingam, said in the statement.

“2019 was a year with many challenges. 2020 had a strong start but the year will not be free of challenges,” he conceded. 

The terminal’s strategy to promote Aqaba as a gateway to Iraq and the wider Levant delivered a sharp increase in containers to Iraq (up 367 per cent compared to previous year), and thus contributed to the positive results recorded for the past few months.

ICRC, the global humanitarian agency for the protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict providing support and emergency relief to Syrian refugees, and Nile Forwarding, the project cargo expert who ships several hundreds of containers into Iraq, both made Aqaba their preferred gateway.

Nile Forwarding founder & CEO, Nasri Aqrabawi, said, “We have found in ACT a true business partner which has supported us to develop the most efficient supply chain into Iraq. They went the extra mile to ensure that the processes and costs of all the different parties involved were all clear and without surprises. From our perspective, 2020 is a promising year for Aqaba as gateway to Iraq.”

ICRC Head of Logistics Support Centre Jean-Marie Falzone underscored support from the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority. 

The strong drive of Jordan Customs authorities to digitalise essential cargo clearance processes have led to significant improvements in the dwell-time (average number of days that an importer leaves a container at ACT) reducing by a full day in 2019 compared to 2018 and reaching record low levels in January this year ‒ down 3.3 days compared with January 2017. 

Moreover, the new Jordan National Single Window enabled pre-arrival clearance process which in turn allowed customers to clear their containers in as little as 48 to 72 hours after discharge in Jordan, in line with the best international standards.

ACT launched a new company website allowing the port users to easily check the status of their containers through a track and trace system, and check the position of vessel at berth or expected to berth in, according to the statement.