Jordan Times
Sunday, March 14, 2004
In-transit cargo to Iraq, oil imports boost Aqaba Port activity
By Khalid Dalal
AMMAN — The volume of incoming and outgoing shipments at Aqaba Port increased by 47.6 per cent during the first two months of this year, according to Director General Saud Srour.Srour indicated that the volume reached 3.1 million tonnes from 2.1 million tonnes in the first two months last year.
The official attributed the rise to higher in-transit cargo heading to the Iraq and to the Kingdom's oil imports through the port.
Following the US-UK invasion of Iraq, international humanitarian organisations relied on Aqaba as a major corridor for aid shipped to Jordan's eastern neighbour.
Furthermore, since war erupted last year Jordan depends on Aqaba to import its need of oil.
Jordan used to totally depend on Iraq to meet its oil needs of 5.5 million tonnes for more than 13 years until the war broke out and supplies were completely halted. The Kingdom is now importing 90,000 barrels per day from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) Deputy Chief Commissioner Emad Fakhouri said the Danish APM Terminals company will help increase the volume of cargo heading and leaving the port by operating and developing the facility.
The terminal has handled around 60,000 containers during the first two months of this year compared to 45,000 last year.
Srour indicated that there was also a 226 per cent increase in the number of vehicles imported to the Kingdom through its port.
While the number of imported vehicles through Aqaba stood at 11,500 in January and February last year, it jumped to 37,500 in the past two months.
This increase was coupled with rise in the number of passengers coming to Jordan through Aqaba — from 79,000 in the first two months in 2003 to 102,000 this during the same period of this year.