Latest news with #Zarqa
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: Arab countries receive 44% of Zarqa's exports in H1 2025
AMMAN — President of the Zarqa Chamber of Industry (ZCI) Fares Hammoudeh said on Tuesday that the Arab countries topped the list of importers of industrial products in Zarqa during the first half of this year with a share of 44 per cent of the total exports. The Arab countries' imports of ZCI reached $294 million in the January-June period of 2025, compared with $254.6 million during the same period of 2024, with a growth rate of 15 per cent, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. This progress reflects "qualitative" leaps in the volume of trade exchange with a number of Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Algeria, ZCI said in a statement, noting that Saudi Arabia and Iraq accounted for 77 per cent of exports for Arab markets. Iraq's share of exports reached $113.1 million, ranking first in the Arab world, with a growth rate of 32 per cent compared with $85.4 million the previous year, while exports to Saudi Arabia recorded an increase of 35 per cent to $82.3 million, compared with $61 million in the same period of 2024. Exports to Algeria witnessed an "exceptional" growth of 266 per cent, reaching $32.9 million compared with only $9 million in the first half of last year, while the percentage of exports to Syria jumped by 57 per cent to $8.5 million, compared with $5.4 million in the same period. Hammoudeh pointed out that the total value of Zarqa's exports for the first half of this year reached $666.2 million, achieving a slight increase of 1 per cent compared with $661 million during the same period of 2024. At the international level, North America ranked second after the Arab countries, accounting for 40.8 per cent of the total exports with a value of $272.1 million. The value of exports to non-Arab Asian countries amounted to about $42.6 million, marking an increase of 3 per cent from last year, while the EU countries recorded a decline in imports from Zarqa by 33 per cent to only $20 million, compared with $29.7 million in the same period of 2024. With regard to sectorial performance, Hammoudeh said that the leather and knitting industries sector maintained its lead, with a value of $291.3 million, a decrease of 15 per cent compared with last year. The food, catering, agricultural and livestock industries sector ranked second with $125.4 million, with a growth rate of 2 per cent, followed by the construction industries sector with $70.5 million, recording a jump of 51 per cent. The engineering, electrical and information technology industries came fourth with exports of $65.3 million, achieving 'strong' growth of 52 per cent, followed by the chemical and cosmetics industries sector with a value of $37 million, up by 11 per cent from last year. With regard to the performance of the rest of the industrial sectors, the exports of the packaging, paper, cardboard and office supplies sector amounted to $28.3 million. The therapeutic industries and medical supplies sector amounted to $27.4 million, the plastic and rubber industries sector amounted to $18.9 million, while the exports of the wood and furniture industries sector amounted to $1.6 million.
Arab News
01-07-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Nine die, 27 hospitalized from methanol poisoning in alcoholic beverages in Jordan
LONDON: The Jordanian Ministry of Health announced that nine people died and 27 others were hospitalized this week due to poisoning after consuming alcoholic drinks contaminated with methanol. The affected individuals are currently receiving intensive medical treatment, including dialysis to remove the toxic substance from their bloodstream, at hospitals in Zarqa, Amman and Balqa, Director of the Technical Affairs Department at the Ministry Imad Abu Yaqeen told Petra news agency. Most patients were in a critical condition, he said, with some requiring ventilator support in intensive care units. Methanol, a highly toxic substance, is not intended for oral consumption and is used as a solvent in paints and as a fuel additive. Abu Yaqeen said that dialysis remained the most crucial life-saving measure, along with ventilator support. However, these interventions might be less effective if significant amounts of methanol were ingested, he added. He said that the first cases reported over the weekend were at Zarqa Government Hospital, and the ministry is continuing to enhance preparedness in the emergency and ambulance departments to handle any new cases. On Monday, Jordan's Public Security Directorate, or PSD, arrested several individuals suspected of producing toxic alcoholic beverages using industrial methanol. The PSD raided a factory where suspects purchased methyl alcohol and used it to manufacture illicit alcoholic beverages, as well as a warehouse that supplied the substance to the market. Additionally, authorities seized large quantities of alcohol from stores that the factory produced.
Zawya
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
Jordan: Lower customs duties on vehicles expected to stimulate automotive sector, boost economy
AMMAN — In a bid to ease vehicle ownership and stimulate economic growth, the government has announced wide reductions in customs duties on imported vehicles, including petrol, hybrid and electric cars. The Cabinet's decision, unveiled on Saturday, announced major tax cuts on vehicles, reducing customs duties on petrol cars from 71 per cent to 51 per cent, setting a unified 27 per cent rate for all EVs, and cutting hybrid vehicle taxes from 60 per cent to 39 per cent. Officials and analysts say the move aims to boost consumer purchasing power, stimulate activity in the automotive sector, and align with international shifts towards greener transport solutions. 'This is a significant step that benefits both citizens and the broader economy,' said Sakher Ajlouni, Chairman of the Jordan Free and Development Zones Group, in a statement to The Jordan Times. 'Lowering customs and tax burdens will make vehicles more affordable and stimulate automotive trade. The ripple effects will extend to related sectors such as maintenance, insurance and spare parts.' According to data from the Free Zones Corporation, 32,908 vehicles were cleared for the local market from the Zarqa Free Zone, the Kingdom's main hub for vehicle imports, as of June 28, 2025. Electric vehicles comprised 63 per cent of the total, followed by hybrids at 21 per cent, and petrol vehicles at 16 per cent. The figures reflect a growing public shift towards sustainable mobility, a trend expected to accelerate further under the new, harmonised customs framework, according to officials. Director-General of the Free Zones Corporation Abdulhamid Gharaibeh said that the reform goes beyond cost reduction. 'This is about fostering a more competitive, balanced market,' he noted. 'Instead of transferring the financial burden to consumers or businesses, the government is adjusting its own revenue share to create room for market growth.' He stressed that these decisions are expected to significantly increase the flow of vehicles from free zones to the local market. 'The reforms aim to enable citizens to purchase all types of vehicles, whether petrol, hybrid, or electric, at lower prices than before, regardless of their country of origin. The key regulatory benchmark is now the safety standards of vehicles entering the local market, to ensure public safety,' Gharaibeh said. He added that the move would also empower traders to expand their inventories and increase sales, as the reduction in vehicle prices stems from the treasury's portion of the customs and tax revenues. 'This will drive both supply and demand across all vehicle categories and fuel types,' he noted. Financial analyst Yousef Suboh told The Jordan Times that the reduced rates could spark a rise in market transactions, ultimately increasing customs revenues despite the lower duty rates. 'This decision strikes a balance between fiscal responsibility and citizen support, especially in light of international economic headwinds,' he said. As the new tariff structure comes into force, stakeholders are hopeful the initiative would lower car prices, encourage eco-friendly vehicle adoption and act as a springboard for broader economic recovery. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Al Bawaba
30-06-2025
- Health
- Al Bawaba
Alcohol poisoning kills 9, injures 17 in Jordan
Published June 30th, 2025 - 10:22 GMT ALBAWABA - The death toll from methyl alcohol poisoning has risen to 9, with 17 infections, according to the Public Security Directorate in Jordan. It also added in a brief statement on Monday that all injuries are being treated, and the investigation into the case is still ongoing. For his part, the Director of the Technical Affairs Department at the Ministry of Health, Imad Abu Yaqeen, said that more than 15 cases of alcohol poisoning arrived at hospitals yesterday, with their conditions ranging from critical to very serious. These cases were admitted as a result of alcohol consumption, which was found to contain a toxic substance, methanol, Yaqeen confirmed. He explained that Zarqa Government Hospital received three patients with symptoms mimicking toxicity, which led to elevated blood acidity. وزارة الصحة : 15 حالة تسمم كحولي بالمستشفيات حتى صباح الاثنين وجميعهم بحالة حرجة — Hala Abadii (@HalaAbad361756) June 30, 2025 © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Zawya
19-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan, Iraq in positive talks to extend oil import agreement — ministry
AMMAN — Jordan has officially requested an extension of its memorandum of understanding with Iraq for the import of crude oil, according to Iman Awad, Director of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The current agreement is due to expire on June 26, 2025, according to Al Mamlaka TV. Awad said that discussions between the two sides are progressing smoothly and in a positive atmosphere, with no obstacles reported so far. She noted that the memorandum allows for annual renewal, and both countries are working constructively toward its continuation. Under the agreement, Jordanian tankers continue to transport Iraqi crude at the agreed daily rate of 10,000 barrels. The pricing is based on the monthly average price of Brent crude, with a discount of $16 per barrel to account for differences in quality and transport costs. The imported Iraqi oil represents around 7 per cent of Jordan's total oil consumption. Awad added that Jordan is responsible for providing the tanker trucks used to transport the oil from Iraq to the Jordan Petroleum Refinery in Zarqa. The fleet of tankers is shared equally between Jordanian and Iraqi companies, in line with the terms of the memorandum. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
