U.S. fresh produce to Jordan.
Weekly air-cargo programs into Queen Alia International (AMM) — plus ocean reefer through the Port of Aqaba — for Jordanian modern-trade chains, the Amman wholesale market, HORECA across the tourism corridors, and Levant-directed re-export.
A Levant gateway with a stable logistics base.
Jordan's population is approximately 11.5 million, including a large refugee and expatriate population, concentrated in the Amman metro region. The market is more price-sensitive than the wealthy Gulf states, but it has a stable, well-developed organized-retail and HORECA sector and — critically — relatively stable logistics infrastructure in a region where that is not a given. For U.S. exporters, Jordan offers both a domestic market and a gateway role into the broader Levant.
Jordan has two main entry points. Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), near Amman, handles air-cargo perishable lanes via Royal Jordanian Cargo and partner carriers. The Port of Aqaba, on the Red Sea, is Jordan's only seaport and operates within the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) framework — which provides streamlined customs and re-export incentives designed to make Aqaba a regional logistics hub. Produce landed at either point can move overland into the Jordanian interior and onward into adjacent Levant markets where conditions allow.
What USME does in this market: calibrate to a more price-sensitive buyer base than the Gulf while maintaining the documentation and cold-chain discipline that JFDA and JSMO require. The tourism corridors — Petra, the Dead Sea, Aqaba — drive concentrated HORECA demand that rewards reliable supply. For re-export traders, the ASEZA framework at Aqaba offers a relatively stable Levant base.
- Population
- ~11.5M (Amman metro + large refugee/expat population)
- Primary entry — air
- AMM (Queen Alia International)
- Primary entry — sea
- Port of Aqaba (Red Sea, only seaport)
- Food regulator
- JFDA + Ministry of Agriculture (raw goods license)
- Standards
- JSMO Codex-based standards
- Aqaba framework
- Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZA) — streamlined customs
- Labeling
- Arabic required, JSMO-conformant
- Gateway role
- Levant overland onward routing where conditions allow
- Currency / FX
- JOD pegged to USD at ~0.709 — currency stability
- Demand pattern
- Price-sensitive base; tourism HORECA (Petra, Dead Sea, Aqaba)
Entry points and the gateway role.
| AMM — Queen Alia International Airport | Primary air-cargo perishable gateway near Amman. Royal Jordanian Cargo plus partner carriers. Default for berries, stone fruit, leafy greens, and time-sensitive retail/HORECA programs. |
|---|---|
| Port of Aqaba | Jordan's only seaport, on the Red Sea, within the ASEZA framework. Ocean reefer for apples, melons, volume citrus. Streamlined customs and re-export advantages. |
| Overland onward (Levant) | From either entry point, produce can move overland into the Jordanian interior and onward to adjacent Levant markets where conditions allow. Relevant for re-export traders. |
| ASEZA re-export | The Aqaba Special Economic Zone supports re-export consolidation with incentives — a relatively stable Levant logistics base. |
JFDA compliance and documentation.
| Commercial invoice | Original. Typically attested at U.S. origin. |
|---|---|
| Packing list | Carton-level breakdown — weights, counts, variety, packer. |
| Certificate of origin | USDA or chamber-issued. |
| USDA APHIS phytosanitary certificate | Required for all fresh produce. |
| Ministry of Agriculture import license | Required for raw agricultural goods (importer-side). |
| Air waybill / bill of lading | Per mode of shipment. |
| JSMO labeling compliance | Codex-based standards. Arabic text. Product name, packer, origin, shelf life. |
| Aqaba SEZ customs | Goods through Aqaba use the ASEZA customs framework — streamlined procedures. |
| Halal certificate | For animal-derived ingredients. Common on private-label retail packs. |
“Jordan is the market where you earn the relationship on consistency and fair pricing, not on premium positioning. Get that calibration right and it's a durable, repeatable program.”
What we ship to Jordan.
Year-round oranges, mandarins, lemons. Air to AMM; sea via Aqaba for volume.
May–January California — air for premium retail and tourism-corridor HORECA.
Summer cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums — air to AMM for premium programs.
Year-round strawberries, blueberries — air to AMM. Tight cold chain.
Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew — sea reefer via Aqaba for volume.
Year-round Washington CA storage. Ocean reefer via Aqaba — price-efficient.
Salinas/Yuma year-round — air to AMM for retail and hotel HORECA.
Private-label and specialty for Jordanian chains and ASEZA re-export.
How USME runs Jordan programs.
- Price-calibrated program design — variety, pack, and mode tuned to a Levant buyer's economics.
- AMM air for perishables; Aqaba ocean reefer for tolerant, price-sensitive categories.
- ASEZA customs framework leveraged for Aqaba-entry and re-export programs.
- JFDA / JSMO documentation and Ministry of Agriculture import-license coordination.
- Arabic labeling coordinated with the packer.
- Tourism-corridor HORECA demand (Petra, Dead Sea, Aqaba) planned into the calendar.
- Coordination with the buyers currently active in Jordan's shifting retail landscape.
- Honest claim handling settled on real cold-chain record.
Frequently asked questions
Can USME ship fresh produce to Jordan weekly?
Yes. Weekly air-cargo programs into Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) on PMC and LD7 ULDs serve Jordanian modern-trade chains, the Amman wholesale market, and HORECA. Ocean reefer arrives through the Port of Aqaba — Jordan's only seaport — for volume programs like apples, melons, and ocean-grade citrus. Jordan also functions as a Levant gateway, with overland onward routing into adjacent markets where conditions allow.
Which Jordan entry points does USME use?
Air cargo: Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) near Amman — Royal Jordanian Cargo plus partner-carrier capacity, the primary perishable gateway. Sea: the Port of Aqaba on the Red Sea — Jordan's only seaport, operating within the Aqaba Special Economic Zone with its own customs framework. From either entry point, produce can move overland into the Jordanian interior and onward to adjacent Levant markets where conditions permit.
What regulations govern fresh-produce imports into Jordan?
Import licenses are required from the Ministry of Health for specific food products and from the Ministry of Agriculture for raw agricultural goods. The Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) has authority to inspect food at retail and wholesale levels and can collect samples, and remove and destroy products that fail technical requirements. Imported food and agricultural products must conform to the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) Codex-based standards. Virtually all prepared and mixed foods are tested at the border; fresh produce is subject to random inspection.
What documents does a U.S. fresh-produce shipment to Jordan require?
Standard set: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, USDA APHIS phytosanitary certificate, and air waybill (or bill of lading). An import license from the Ministry of Agriculture is required for raw agricultural goods. Labels must conform to JSMO Codex-based standards with Arabic text. Goods entering through Aqaba use the Aqaba Special Economic Zone customs framework, which has its own streamlined procedures.
Which Jordan retail chains and HORECA buyers does USME work with?
Modern-trade: Jordanian chains including Sameh Mall, Cozmo, Spinneys Jordan, Safeway Jordan (TMG), Miles, and the C-Town/Carrefour-format operators, plus the growing organized-retail sector in Amman. Wholesale distribution runs through the Amman central market and specialist importer-distributors. HORECA includes the major hotel brands across Amman and the Dead Sea / Petra / Aqaba tourism corridors, plus Royal Jordanian catering. Note: retail operators in Jordan shift periodically — we coordinate with the buyers currently active.
How does Jordan function as a Levant gateway?
Jordan sits at the crossroads of the Levant with relatively stable logistics infrastructure. Produce landed at Aqaba or AMM can move overland into the Jordanian interior and, where conditions allow, onward to adjacent markets. The Port of Aqaba in particular serves as a Red Sea entry point that can feed inland distribution beyond Jordan itself. For re-export traders, Jordan offers a relatively stable base for Levant-directed distribution.
What's distinctive about the Aqaba Special Economic Zone?
The Port of Aqaba operates within the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) framework, which has streamlined customs procedures and incentives designed to position Aqaba as a regional logistics and trade hub. Food import regulations were adopted at the Aqaba Special Economic Customs Center in 2002. For produce importers, ASEZA can offer faster clearance and re-export advantages compared with standard inland customs.
What's the seasonal demand pattern for U.S. produce in Jordan?
Year-round base demand from Jordan's resident population (~11.5M including a large refugee and expat population). Ramadan compression with pre-Ramadan stocking. Tourism peaks at Petra, the Dead Sea, and Aqaba drive HORECA demand, concentrated in spring and autumn shoulder seasons. Jordan's currency is pegged to the USD, providing FX stability, though the market is more price-sensitive than the wealthier Gulf states — programs need to be calibrated accordingly.