Amman, Sep.1 (Petra) — The Association of Owners of Clearance and
Transport Companies said companies operating at the Kingdom’s customs
and border centers organized and completed procedures for 656,000
customs declarations from the beginning of this year through August
18.

According to statistical data compiled by the Association, the
declarations processed during the period included 220,000 transit
declarations, 228,000 declarations for imports destined for the local
market, 118,000 declarations for exports outside the Kingdom, and
13,000 declarations for re-export purposes.

The data showed that total cargo throughput at Aqaba’s main port
during the first seven months of this year reached 7.978 million
tons, compared with 5.363 million tons during the same period last
year, an increase of 49 percent.

During the same period, cargo throughput reached 4.216 million tons
at the main port, 2.910 million tons at the oil and gas port, and
851,000 tons at the passenger terminal port.

The number of vessels arriving at Aqaba’s ports during the same
period reached 992, including 243 vessels at the main port, 99 at the
oil and gas port and 650 at the passenger terminal.

The data also showed that 298,291 loaded containers entered the
Kingdom through the container port during the same period, while
58,444 containers were exported outside the Kingdom. A total of 327
vessels entered the port, with total cargo throughput reaching
574,580 tons.

Freight movements through the Jaber Customs Center totaled 267,940
during the same period, compared with 320,076 movements through the
Omari Customs Center and 230,346 through the Karama Customs Center,
in addition to movements through other centers.

According to the Association statistics, 40,955 vehicles entered the
local market or were exported abroad through the Zarqa Free Zone
during the same period. They included 3,934 gasoline-powered
vehicles, 2,856 diesel vehicles, 3,876 hybrid vehicles and 4,127
electric vehicles, while the remainder were destined for export.

President of the Association Daifallah Abu Aqoula told the Jordan
News Agency (Petra) that the flow of goods into the Kingdom through
all customs centers and Aqaba ports continued normally despite
regional conditions and tensions.

He said goods destined for the local market or transported in transit
benefit from facilitation, cooperation and coordination between the
relevant authorities and customs clearance and freight transport
companies to expedite procedures and complete transactions, despite
some challenges.

Abu Aqoula commended the efforts and facilitation provided by the
relevant authorities, Jordanian Customs teams and various security
agencies to speed up work at customs and border centers and complete
procedures as quickly as possible for goods entering the local
market, leaving the Kingdom or moving in transit.

He also highlighted the cooperation extended by various authorities
to the customs clearance and transport sector, both in Aqaba and
through customs and border centers, in support of trade flows, supply
chains, freight and transit operations, and the completion of
transactions within the shortest possible time.

Abu Aqoula said that, despite regional tensions, closures and
increased shipping and insurance risks and costs, Aqaba Port has
demonstrated its importance as a gateway to countries in the region
and as a vital maritime and land outlet for goods destined for Iraq,
Syria and the Gulf Arab states.

He called for expanding and developing the infrastructure of
Jordanian ports and border centers in line with national objectives
to make the Kingdom a regional transport and logistics hub and to
benefit from Aqaba Port’s strategic location.

He also stressed the importance of establishing new routes for trucks
to facilitate the flow of goods entering the Kingdom or passing
through it, while reducing procedures related to the inspection of
transit goods and unifying procedures among authorities involved in
customs and regulatory matters.

Abu Aqoula further called for establishing a dedicated national
window for Aqaba Port, noting that 65 percent of import operations
are carried out through the port, which would facilitate the flow of
goods and speed up the completion of transactions.

The Association of Owners of Clearance and Transport Companies,
established in 1982 and registered with the Ministry of Labour, aims
to serve the sector, address challenges facing workers and raise
professional standards and workforce efficiency.

There are 467 licensed customs clearance companies operating in the
Kingdom, with 2,000 branches distributed across customs and border
centers nationwide. They provide around 10,000 job opportunities for
Jordanians.

//Petra//WH