Amman, March 11 (Petra) -- It is business as usual in Aqaba Port with inbound and outbound cargo being handled though with a slight freight fare increase imposed by global shipping firms amid regional tensions, Jordanian Logistics Association (JLA) President Nabil Khatib said on Wednesday.

He told Petra in an interview that some shipping lines suspended outbound cargo shipping from certain Gulf ports at the center of the ongoing regional developments, while exports to Europe, the United States, China, and many other destinations were normal.

Khatib noted a "modest" rise in shipping costs on imports from some countries, attributing it to surging oil prices and marine insurance premiums. He added that the increase applies across the region and is not limited to Jordan.

He said that since the outbreak of the war in the region, most major shipping lines have imposed "emergency conflict surcharges" of $2,000 for a 20-foot container and $4,000 for a 40-foot container, whether for imports or exports, warning that the measure will negatively impact exports.

Khatib said the decision will particularly impact lower-priced domestic goods, adding that despite the latest developments affecting maritime shipping, navigational conditions are still "manageable." According to data released by the JLA, the number of import-loaded containers entering the Kingdom through the Aqaba Container Terminal rose by 15.1 percent during the first two months of 2026, compared with the same period last year.

It showed inbound container traffic through the Aqaba Container Terminal surged to 82,659 containers in the first two months of the year, up from 71,822 containers in the same period last year.

//Petra// AO