Zarqa reexport revenues drop

AMMAN — The Zarqa reexport revenues dropped to JD114 million during the first-half of 2017, compared to JD181 million during the same period last year, an official said on Wednesday.

For August, exports plummeted to JD17.1 million in comparison to JD24 million during the same period last year, according to figures made available to The Jordan Times by Zarqa Chamber of Commerce.

Regarding certificates of origin, the Chamber’s President Hussein Shraim told The Jordan Times that 3,025 certificates were issued, compared to 5,122 in the same period of 2016.

Shraim added that the number of certificates in August dropped to 562, compared to 666 in same month last year.

He noted that the majority of Zarqa exports were vehicles and their equipment, electric generators, home and office furniture, plumbing tools, stones for building, drugs, garments, accessories and perfumes.

The president said he expected exports to increase after the reopening of the Jordan-Iraq Tureibil border crossing.

 “Closure of the borders inflicted hefty additional fees on exporters and producers as shipments used to be carried through Kuwait to reach Iraq. The reopening will help cut down the expenses and will also reduce the losses which traders have incurred over the past two years,” Shraim said.

Iraq is a major destination for Jordanian exports and a priority for Jordanian industrialists and businessmen.