Ammon News - To safeguard the continuity of supplies of basic goods and commodities, the Cabinet approved a number of measures to address operational challenges facing the Kingdom’s ports and supply chains.

The measures include extending the free period for national exports at Aqaba Container Terminal from seven days to 14 days for six months, effective immediately.

They also include reducing the fee payable by liable parties for the destruction of goods from JD450 per tonne or part thereof to JD50 per tonne or part thereof. The measure will be implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Finance for three months, effective immediately, and subject to the conditions set by the Cabinet.

The measures build on earlier steps taken by the government to increase capacity and flexibility, including expanding storage yards and logistics centres, developing supporting infrastructure and logistics services, and establishing alternative routes such as multimodal sea and land transport systems to ensure greater flexibility and speed.

They also include expediting customs clearance procedures, reducing cargo dwell times, transferring part of the clearance process to Amman Customs, and exempting transit trips operating through border crossings from the applicable trip limit for three months.

The measures further include increasing the number of daily trips permitted for container trucks to nine, allowing technically equipped trucks that meet public safety requirements to carry two 20-foot containers per truck, and giving priority in handling, customs clearance and release to domestic food products, imports destined for the local market and national exports, among other measures.

The decision is part of government efforts to strengthen the readiness of Aqaba’s ports and the transport and logistics system to deal with the impact of regional conditions on shipping operations and supply chains. It is also intended to speed up customs clearance and cargo handling, increase capacity, provide alternative supply routes and support national exports, while maintaining the flow of goods into the Kingdom and limiting the costs of delays for consumers and economic sectors.

The measures are directly aimed at benefiting citizens and the national economy by maintaining the regular flow of goods to markets, reducing waiting times and limiting additional costs resulting from delays. They will also support national exports and trade activity, helping ensure the availability of goods needed by citizens and improving the efficiency and reliability of Aqaba Port as the Kingdom’s main economic gateway and a key hub for regional trade.

Government measures introduced over the past period have already produced tangible results. The average dwell time for transit containers at the port has fallen from about 15 days to around 12 days, while the average dwell time for incoming local containers is about eight days. The daily capacity of container exit gates has also increased from around 900 to 1,200 containers.

These measures have helped ease pressure on the port and enabled goods, particularly foodstuffs, to reach local markets more quickly and regularly.