Aqaba Container Terminal Reports Strong Performance in H1 2026 Across Operations, Safety, Sustainability, and Community Impact

Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT), the preferred gateway to Jordan, the Levant, and beyond, reported strong performance during the first half of 2026, driven by operational excellence, commercial growth, health and safety standards, and a commitment to sustainability and community development.

During the first half of 2026, ACT handled 472,680 TEUs, compared with 468,062 TEUs during the same period in 2025, while transit cargo volumes reached 60,178 TEUs, a 155.1% increase from the 23,593 TEUs in H1 2025. This performance was supported by consistently high productivity across terminal operations despite evolving regional trade dynamics. The terminal also recorded 188,927 truck gate in/out movements during the six-month period, in comparison to 182,490 movements in H1 2025, reflecting continued cargo flow efficiency across the supply chain.

This performance was supported by terminal enhancement measures implemented over the past year, including the refurbishment of quayside infrastructure and improved vessel handling capabilities enabled by the introduction of new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes. These investments have strengthened ACT's ability to maintain high productivity despite geopolitical challenges affecting vessel scheduling and the increasing variability in vessel sizes calling at the terminal.

Further reinforcing its role as a regional logistics gateway, ACT handled eight vessels carrying more than 5,000 TEUs, including one vessel with a throughput of 10,884 TEUs—the largest in terms of container throughput. On the other hand, ACT welcomed the first LNG-powered container vessel “KOTA ODYSSEY” on maiden call to Jordan. The terminal also strengthened its position as a regional transshipment hub by handling 4,412 TEUs of transshipment cargo, responding to evolving trade patterns across the region.

ACT's commercial performance reflected continued customer confidence and strong market positioning. The terminal recorded a high Net Promoter Score (NPS), underscoring sustained customer satisfaction and service quality. During the reporting period, ACT also advanced the deployment of APM Terminals' global Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system, further digitalizing and standardizing contract management processes to improve transparency, strengthen compliance, and enhance collaboration with customers while supporting faster turnaround times and greater operational efficiency.

Alongside its operational achievements, ACT continued to prioritize health, safety, security, and environmental (HSSE) excellence across all areas of operation. During the first half of the year, the terminal successfully conducted a series of emergency preparedness exercises in cooperation with key stakeholders, including oil spill and bromine release response drills, both of which received strong evaluations from the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) for their effective execution. ACT also successfully completed multiple external audits, including safety assessments conducted by ASEZA-appointed auditors and the Social Security Corporation, as well as a comprehensive security audit under Maersk's global standards, reinforcing the terminal's commitment to maintaining the highest international health, safety, and security standards.

ACT also marked Global Safety Day under the theme “We Are Safer Together,” bringing employees together through safety culture sessions, capability demonstrations, awareness workshops, GEMBA walks, community cleanup initiatives, and educational visits by school students. These efforts were complemented by ACT's annual Go Green Week, which engaged employees in environmental initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable practices and embedding environmental responsibility across daily operations.

Environmental sustainability remained a strategic priority throughout the reporting period. Building on its long-term decarbonization roadmap, ACT achieved a 29% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with its 2022 baseline, including a 75% reduction in Electricity emissions. This progress was supported by continued advancement toward ISO 50001 Energy Management System certification, progress on the terminal's 6 MW solar project, deployment of a Reefer Electricity Monitoring System to improve energy efficiency, and the expansion of electric-powered equipment to reduce diesel consumption and emissions. These initiatives support ACT's commitment to reducing emissions by 65% by 2030 and achieving Net Zero emissions by 2040.

Beyond operational excellence, ACT remained committed to creating meaningful social impact through its long-standing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillars of well-being, education, and environmental stewardship. Throughout the first half of 2026, the company continued supporting community initiatives and strategic partnerships that directly contribute to improving livelihoods and expanding opportunities across Jordan.

As part of these efforts, ACT partnered with Zaha Cultural Center on community engagement activities focused on education and environmental awareness, while continuing programs supporting orphaned children through initiatives that promote inclusion and access to opportunities. ACT further strengthened its commitment to education through collaborations with the Queen Rania Foundation, supporting initiatives designed to empower youth and enhance learning opportunities. In Aqaba, the company also contributed to community development and healthcare initiatives through support for business incubators and the provision of newborn ventilators to strengthen local healthcare services.

Commenting on the performance during the first half of the year, Jose Rueda, Chief Executive Officer of Aqaba Container Terminal, said, “Our performance in the first half of 2026 reflects the strength of our operational capabilities, the trust of our customers, and the dedication of our people. At ACT, we remain focused on delivering reliable and efficient services while continuing to advance safety, sustainability, and meaningful community impact.

As regional trade dynamics continue to evolve, we remain committed to building on this momentum and further strengthening Aqaba's position as a strategic gateway for Jordan and the wider region.”