Aqaba Ports Cargo Handling Rises 14.3% to 20.51m Tonnes 

Aqaba Ports Cargo Handling

Aqaba port’s cargo handling reached 20.51 million tonnes in the first nine months of 2026, up 14.3 percent, according to newly released figures from the Jordan Shipping Association (JSA). Imports led the gain, rising 35.3 percent to more than 12.4 million tonnes. 

The JSA links the growth to disruption on major regional shipping routes, caused by the conflict involving Iran and heightened security risks around the Strait of Hormuz. Those pressures have pushed traders toward alternative gateways. Aqaba’s Red Sea location makes it a transit point for cargo moving between Jordan, Iraq and wider regional markets. 

  • Vehicles: Imports through Aqaba’s roll-on/roll-off terminals climbed 114.9 percent to 142,955, up from 66,513 a year earlier. Exports rose more than 1,200 percent to 18,568 from 1,380. 
  • Containers: Aqaba Container Terminal handled 786,948 TEUs, up 6.6 percent from 738,349. Transshipment containers grew 151.8 percent to 115,762 TEUs. 
  • Iraq: Container traffic to Iraq rose from 4,935 to 56,286 TEUs, an increase of more than 1,000 percent. The JSA called the Iraqi market “one of the main drivers of this growth.” 
  • Neighbouring ports: Oman’s seaports handled around 146 million tonnes in the first eight months, up 62.3 percent. Saudi ports overseen by Mawani handled 608,700 TEUs in August, down 19.2 percent, and cargo fell 34.4 percent to 15.2 million tonnes. Qatar’s ports recorded 648,164 TEUs in nine months. 

Aqaba ports cargo handling is growing fastest in imports and vehicles, while Aqaba Container Terminal’s overall volume grew at a slower pace. The big gains in transshipment and container traffic to Iraq show Aqaba taking on a larger role as an alternative gateway. 

The regional picture is uneven. Oman reported strong growth, while Saudi ports reported declines. The figures cover different periods, so direct comparisons need care. 

The Jordan Shipping Association’s Secretary-General, Mohammad Dalabih, said Jordan needs to develop transport infrastructure and supporting services, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen links between ports and border crossings to keep pace with rising trade and transit traffic. The report names no specific projects. 

Because the JSA ties part of the growth to route disruptions, how those disruptions develop is likely to affect Aqaba port’s cargo handling in the months ahead.