Shipping from China to Zarqa, Jordan — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Zarqa · via AMM air / Aqaba sea · clearance by Jordan Customs Department
Zarqa is the main industrial city, and it is served through AMM air / Aqaba sea. That combination is what actually sets your delivery date on this lane — allow +1 day for the inland leg on top of clearance.
The clearing authority is Jordan Customs Department. Historical dwell on this gateway is around 3–8 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.
What you will pay on arrival in Jordan
Jordan Customs Department assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Zarqa consignees. Current regime: General sales tax 16%; customs duty 0–30%, with a de-minimis position of 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 Zarqa | AMM air / Aqaba sea |
| Inland leg to Zarqa | +1 day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–8 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Before you book: Zarqa checklist
- Confirm the consignee in Zarqa can act as importer of record — Jordan Customs Department will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Put the Zarqa delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Jordan duty rate against it yourself.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Jordan lane.
Air, sea or overland into Zarqa?
| 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 +1 day inland leg to Zarqa and 3–8 days of clearance.
Mode guides for Zarqa
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Zarqa 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 +1 day inland leg to Zarqa.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Zarqa?
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 Zarqa.
Which port or airport does cargo for Zarqa clear through?
Cargo for Zarqa 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.
What certification do I need for Jordan?
For regulated goods, plan for: JSMO conformity for regulated goods; Arabic labelling for consumer products. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Zarqa?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via AMM (Amman Queen Alia). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Zarqa?
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 +1 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 Zarqa
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.