Logistics services in Jordan.

Jordan logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

Jordan uses sea, air, rail and road to move cargo. Containers and bulk cargo use the Red Sea port of Al Aqabah, which has a cargo pier depth of about 15.5 meters and serves as the country’s main maritime outlet. One commercial oil terminal supports liquid bulk movements.

Air freight can be arranged through three airports with scheduled service: Queen Alia International Airport near Amman, King Hussein International Airport at Aqaba, and Marka International (Amman Civil) Airport. Rail services cover about 509 km, and road freight connects Jordan with Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the West Bank for regional truck moves and cross-border transit.

Freight forwarders in Jordan need strong handling at Al Aqabah, the only seaport and container gateway. Experience with carriers such as Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, COSCO and others active in Amman and Aqaba helps coordinate FCL and LCL routings.

Jordan’s Logistics Performance Index score is about 2.69, with weaker areas in international shipments and logistics competence. When choosing a forwarder or customs broker, check their performance on customs processing, inland transport to Amman and beyond, and their track record with main export and import partners such as the USA, India, Saudi Arabia, China and the UAE.

FCL and LCL shipping from and to Jordan moves mainly through the Red Sea port of Al Aqabah (JOAQJ). This very small port has cargo pier depth of about 15.5 m and is Jordan’s only key seaport. Container throughput is about 824,199 TEU in 2024. Liner shipping connectivity stood at about 33.86 in 2021.

Global carriers with offices in Amman and/or Aqaba include ANL, Arkas, CMA CGM, COSCO, Emirates Shipping Line, Evergreen, HMM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, MSC, Wan Hai Lines and X-Press Feeders. The country’s merchant marine has about 34 ships, mainly general cargo and other vessel types, supporting ocean freight to partners such as the USA, India, Saudi Arabia, China and Iraq.

Air freight in Jordan uses three airports with scheduled services: Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), King Hussein International Airport (AQJ) at Aqaba, and Marka International (Amman Civil) Airport (ADJ). Total air cargo movements are about 110 million tonne-km per year, ranking about 62 of 184 countries worldwide and 11 of 22 in the regional group.

Air makes particular sense for higher value or time-sensitive parts of Jordan’s trade mix, such as garments, jewelry and certain finished goods, especially on lanes to major partners like the USA, India, Saudi Arabia, China and the UAE. With a logistics performance index timeliness score of about 3.18 against a world median of 3.1, forwarders can often use air to achieve faster end-to-end transit compared with regional trucking and sea.

Rail and road freight in Jordan support seaport and border traffic. The rail network is about 509 km long and carries around 344 million tonne-km of freight per year, ranking roughly 86 of 113 countries and 11 of 13 in the region. Rail connections are tied to the port and inland nodes, complementing road haulage for bulk and some container movements.

Road freight is essential for cross-border logistics. Jordan shares road borders with Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the West Bank, and has a coastline of about 26 km at Aqaba. Trucks move import cargo, such as cars, refined petroleum, crude petroleum and gold, from Aqaba into the hinterland and onward to neighboring markets, and export flows of fertilizers, garments, phosphates, jewelry and phosphoric acid in the opposite direction.

Jordan is a member of the World Trade Organization and has been part of the World Customs Organization since 1964. The average applied tariff is about 3 percent in recent data. On the logistics performance index, the customs component score is about 2.49, compared with a world median of 2.6, while overall LPI is about 2.69.

WTO membership supports predictable trade rules for importers and exporters using Jordan. Import lead times are about 7 days and export lead times about 2 days for standard shipments. For smooth customs clearance, shippers should ensure accurate commercial invoices, packing lists and transport documents, and work with brokers or forwarders experienced with Jordan’s main trade partners and cross-border truck flows.