jordan pulse -

The Cabinet, in a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Wednesday, approved a series of measures to address operational challenges facing the Kingdom's port system and supply chains.
​The approved measures include extending the grace period for national exports at the Aqaba Container Terminal from 7 days to 14 days for a duration of six months, effective immediately.
​The decision also includes reducing goods destruction fees for taxpayers from 450 JOD per ton (or part thereof) to 50 JOD per ton, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, for a period of three months under conditions specified by the Cabinet.
​These steps build upon previous government actions designed to increase capacity and operational flexibility, such as expanding storage yards and logistics centers, developing supporting infrastructure, and establishing alternative corridors like multi-modal land and sea transport. Additional steps include accelerating customs clearance, reducing cargo dwell times, shifting part of clearance operations to Amman Customs, and exempting transit trips at border crossings from standard trip limits for three months.
​Furthermore, the daily allowed trips for container transport trucks have been raised to nine, while technically equipped trucks meeting safety standards are now permitted to carry two 20-foot containers per vehicle. Priority in handling, clearance, and release will be given to national food supplies, imports intended for the local market, and national exports.
​These decisions aim to enhance the readiness of Aqaba's ports and logistics system against regional shipping disruptions, reduce delay costs, and maintain a steady flow of goods to local markets. Previous interventions have already yielded tangible results: average transit container dwell times dropped from roughly 15 days to 12 days, local import container dwell times averaged around 8 days, and daily container exit gate capacity increased from 900 to 1,200 containers.
​Source: Rum News Agency