BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 1. Jordan’s Aqaba port has recorded a significant increase in transit cargo as commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been largely disrupted amid the US-Iran conflict, according to port officials and terminal data.
Angshuman Mustafi, chief commercial officer at the Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT), said container trade volumes had increased by around 5 percent, driven mainly by higher shipments to the wider Levant region and Iraq.
“In terms of container trade, we have grown easily by 5 percent, and the growth is driven by increased volumes to the greater Levant and Iraq in particular,” Mustafi said.
According to ACT, transit cargo volumes increased by 155.1 percent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.
Before US and Israeli attacks on Iran triggered a wider regional conflict in late February, the Strait of Hormuz served as a key route for global oil shipments and other commercial trade.
However, security concerns have significantly reduced traffic through the strategic waterway, forcing traders to search for alternative routes.
Among the alternative corridors being considered are routes through Syria, which have gained attention as businesses seek to maintain regional trade flows.
