AMMAN — Inbound containers at Aqaba Container Terminal rose by 4.5 per cent in March to 39,441 compared with 37,794 in the same month of 2025, despite regional tensions affecting global shipping routes, according to the Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC).

 

ACC Deputy Chairman Nabil Khatib said the increase reflects the resilience of Jordan’s supply chains and the growing role of Aqaba as a regional logistics hub, noting its capacity to secure alternative trade routes for Gulf countries and Iraq.

 

He added that higher domestic demand for goods, precautionary stockpiling, and increased transit activity through Jordan to Iraq, Syria and the West Bank also contributed to the rise in inbound shipments, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

On a quarterly basis, inbound containers increased by 11.3 per cent in the first quarter of the year, reaching 122,106 compared with 109,616 in the same period last year.

 

In contrast, outbound container volumes declined by 27.4 per cent in March to 6,722, down from 9,265 in March 2025.

 

Khatib attributed the drop in exports to delays by some exporters following new shipping fees imposed by global maritime lines, ranging between $2,000 and $3,000, amid regional tensions.

 

He noted that the slowdown in outbound shipments is expected to stabilise in the coming period, with performance likely to improve once regional conditions ease and shipping costs normalise.

 

Overall, outbound containers declined by 3.5 per cent in the first quarter to 24,797, compared with 25,693 in the same period last year.