Aqaba Cuts Charges

Jordan's Aqaba port will soon halve its loading charges on container cargo exports to boost sales of local goods in outside markets and help attract more regional business, shippers said on Sunday. The move applies to all container traffic of Jordanian or non-Jordanian origin exported via the kingdom's Red Sea port of Aqaba and is expected to come into effect early next month after it is published in the official gazette. Jordan Aqaba Port Authority's recommendation has already won cabinet approval. But it excludes empty containers and bulk cargo exported under bilateral protocols such as the country's main foreign currency earners potash and phosphates cargo mostly sold to traditional markets in long-term supply deals.