The Jordan Shipping Association has announced the release of its 2024 annual report, providing a comprehensive overview and a detailed comparison with 2023 data. The report highlights significant changes across various sectors related to maritime and shipping, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities this vital industry faced during the year.
Increase in Vessel and Cargo Traffic via Aqaba Ports
Aqaba ports experienced a 7.9% increase in incoming vessels, totaling 1,989 ships in 2024 compared to 1,844 in 2023. The Kingdom’s imports grew by 10.1%, reaching 10,296,302 tons in 2024, up from 9,353,834 tons the previous year. Exports showed a slight increase of 0.1%, totaling 11,222,324 tons compared to 11,211,959 tons.
Significant Growth in Passenger Movement via Arab Bridge Maritime
Passenger traffic through Arab Bridge Maritime vessels rose by 21.8%, with 250,876 travelers in 2024 compared to 205,974 in 2023. This increase is attributed to the rise in operating vessels between Nuweiba and Aqaba, which reached 1,127 passenger vessels in 2024, up from 847 in the previous year.
Sharp Decline in Vehicle Imports and Exports via Aqaba Ports
The vehicle sector saw a noticeable decline, with car carrier vessels dropping by 58.7%, registering only 71 vessels in 2024 compared to 172 in 2023. Vehicle imports decreased by 64.4%, reaching 39,005 units in 2024 compared to 109,479 units in 2023. Similarly, vehicle exports plummeted by 91.1%, totaling just 567 vehicles compared to 6,372 in the previous year.
Growth in Imports of Petroleum Products and LPG
The Kingdom’s imports of petroleum products increased by 12.3%, reaching 4,219,890 tons in 2024 compared to 3,756,587 tons in 2023. LPG imports showed a remarkable 90.1% rise, amounting to 1,116,907 tons compared to 587,535 tons the year before.
Increase in Wheat, Livestock, and Steel Imports
Wheat: Imports rose by 11.5% to 1,061,868 tons in 2024 compared to 952,693 tons in 2023.
Livestock: Livestock vessel arrivals increased by 8.1%, reaching 107 ships compared to 99 in 2023. The number of imported calves surged by 204.4%, reaching 190,201 head compared to 62,494, driven by the opening of export routes to Iraq via Aqaba ports.
Steel: Steel imports soared by 84.7%, reaching 577,986 tons compared to 312,937 tons in 2023.
Mixed Performance in Phosphate and Container Sectors
Phosphate: Exports increased by 5.3%, totaling 7,016,950 tons in 2024 compared to 6,662,062 tons in 2023.
Containers: Container vessel arrivals grew by 44%, reaching 494 vessels compared to 343 in 2023. However, inbound container volumes decreased by 5.6%, amounting to 426,991 TEUs compared to 445,678 TEUs in 2023. Outbound container volumes also dropped by 19.8%, totaling 108,736 TEUs compared to 135,536 TEUs in the previous year.
Significant Decline in Cruise Ship Traffic
Cruise ship traffic was severely affected by political crises in the Red Sea region and ongoing tensions in Gaza, with a 95.4% drop in arrivals. Only three cruise ships visited in 2024, compared to 65 in 2023.
Impact of Political Crises on Regional Shipping
Suez Canal: Transit traffic fell by 55%, with 12,093 vessels crossing in 2024 compared to 26,884 in 2023.
Bab al-Mandab Strait: Vessel traffic declined by 64.6%, totaling 9,608 ships compared to 27,157 the previous year.
Cape of Good Hope: Conversely, vessel traffic increased by 62.6%, reaching 29,047 ships compared to 17,862 in 2023.
The Jordan Shipping Association’s 2024 statistics highlight a mix of growth in certain sectors and declines in others, with clear impacts from regional political crises and global economic shifts. These findings underscore the need for continued support to strengthen the maritime sector’s competitiveness on both regional and international levels.
Source: shipping
