Shipping from China to Aqaba, Jordan — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Aqaba · via AMM air / Aqaba sea · clearance by Jordan Customs Department
Freight from China into Aqaba clears through AMM air / Aqaba sea. Aqaba is the only seaport and a special economic zone, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, Jordan Customs Department handles clearance; budget 3–8 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
Duty, tax and clearance into Aqaba
Imports into Jordan are cleared by Jordan Customs Department. The headline position is: General sales tax 16%; customs duty 0–30%. The de-minimis threshold is JOD 200 for personal consignments.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: JSMO conformity for regulated goods; Arabic labelling for consumer products. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Jordan: Aqaba Special Economic Zone rules differ from the rest of the country. Transit cargo to neighbouring markets needs bonded documentation. Arabic labelling required for retail goods.
How this lane actually runs
Aqaba is Jordan's only seaport and also the transit gateway for cargo continuing to Iraq and, historically, the wider Levant. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone offers reduced duty for goods consumed inside it, which is worth checking before assuming standard rates apply.
| Air gateways used | AMM (Amman Queen Alia) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 3–6 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Aqaba |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 20–28 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Aqaba | AMM air / Aqaba sea |
| Inland leg to Aqaba | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–8 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Jordan duty rate against it yourself.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: JSMO conformity for regulated goods; Arabic labelling for consumer products.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Check the de-minimis position (JOD 200 for personal consignments) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Put the Aqaba delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
Air, sea or overland into Aqaba?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 3–6 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 20–28 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Jordan gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Aqaba and 3–8 days of clearance.
Mode guides for Aqaba
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Aqaba take?
China to the Jordan gateway is 3–6 business days by air, 20–28 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 3–8 days of clearance with Jordan Customs Department and a same-day inland leg to Aqaba.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Aqaba?
Jordan Customs Department applies: General sales tax 16%; customs duty 0–30%. The de-minimis position is JOD 200 for personal consignments. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Aqaba.
Which port or airport does cargo for Aqaba clear through?
Cargo for Aqaba is routed via AMM air / Aqaba sea. Sea gateways for Jordan are Aqaba; air gateways are AMM (Amman Queen Alia). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Aqaba?
Yes. Delivery to a Aqaba address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Jordan Customs Department, and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfilment centre or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
What documents does Jordan Customs Department require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (JSMO conformity for regulated goods; Arabic labelling for consumer products). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Aqaba?
Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 20–28 calendar days by sea versus 3–6 business days by air to the Jordan gateway, before clearance and the same-day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
Other delivery cities in Jordan
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Jordan change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Jordan Customs Department or your broker before you ship.
- Jordan Customs
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Aqaba
This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.