Ammon News - Cross-border trade between Jordan and Syria has recorded a sharp uptick in the first half of 2025, driven by robust growth in freight movement through the Jaber Border Crossing.

According to the Association of Owners of Clearance and Transport Companies, cargo volumes at the key commercial gateway rose by more than 272% year-on-year.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the association’s president, Daifallah Abu Aqoula, said the Jaber crossing, Jordan’s primary land route for trade with Syria, handled 87,323 trucks between January and June 29. This represents a net increase of 63,842 trucks compared to the same period in 2024, underscoring a significant rebound in bilateral logistics activity.

The surge reflects an acceleration in both imports and exports via the crossing, positioning Jaber as a critical node in regional supply chains. Abu Aqoula attributed the improved throughput to enhanced customs procedures, increased operational efficiency, and sustained infrastructure upgrades led by the Jordan Customs Department and supporting security agencies.

He emphasized that the modernization of border clearance systems and the expansion of customs infrastructure have helped streamline cross-border operations, reduce turnaround times, and strengthen the Kingdom’s trade facilitation environment.

However, the association cautioned that the rapid increase in freight volumes has placed mounting pressure on the Jaber facility, prompting calls to redistribute logistics flows and optimize national border infrastructure. Abu Aqoula urged the government to reactivate the Ramtha Customs Center, proposing that it be dedicated to passenger vehicles and public transport, while Jaber should remain focused on commercial freight and transit logistics.

Segregating freight and passenger traffic between the two centers, he argued, would enhance operational efficiency, lower transaction costs for transport operators, and reduce congestion-related delays that currently burden supply chains.

He also highlighted structural inefficiencies linked to the "back-to-back" cargo transfer model in use at Jaber, which requires unloading and reloading shipments across multiple vehicles. The current setup, he noted, demands expanded logistical staging areas and alternative clearance points to handle surging demand, particularly during peak trading periods.

To further integrate Jordan into international trade corridors, Abu Aqoula reiterated his call for the reopening of the Bab al-Hawa crossing between Syria and Turkey. Describing it as a strategic transit link for shipments moving between Jordan, Turkey, and Europe, he said restoring this route would enhance Jordan’s connectivity to overland Eurasian markets and consolidate its role as a regional logistics hub. Petra