Jordan River Crossing to Extend Operating Hours to Ease Supply Chain Woes

The Manufacturers Association has reached an initial agreement with the Land Crossings Authority to extend operating hours at the Jordan River Crossing by three hours daily, starting October 4, 2026. The crossing will now operate until 8 PM, instead of 5 PM, from Sunday to Thursday. This decision aims to alleviate significant congestion and delays in the supply of raw materials and goods.

The move comes in response to a backlog of over 600 trucks that were stranded on the Jordanian side in recent weeks. The extended hours are expected to free up these trucks, providing a vital lifeline for local factories and preventing further escalation of the supply chain crisis. The increased flow of materials will accelerate production, reduce transportation and logistics costs, and help factories avoid hefty fines for delayed shipments, thereby maintaining operational efficiency and competitiveness.

This intervention by the Manufacturers Association followed a sharp decline in traffic at the crossing. Daily truck crossings dropped from between 230 to 250 in September 2024 to only 100 to 150 trucks per day. The association had previously warned authorities about the crisis, citing reduced operating hours, tightened security, and staffing shortages as causes for supply chain disruptions and unprecedented shipping cost increases.

The Jordan River Crossing is a critical artery for goods and raw materials destined for Gulf Arab countries via Jordan. The association highlighted the exorbitant economic cost of alternative routes, noting that rerouting trucks to the Allenby or Arava crossings would inflate shipping costs from 1,500 shekels to approximately 6,000 shekels per truck. Additionally, driver waiting costs amount to $100 per day per truck.

The Manufacturers Association expressed gratitude to the Ports and Airports Authority and the Land Crossings Authority for their understanding and swift action in providing practical solutions. Dr. Mohammed Zahalka, head of the Arab Industries Committee at the association, emphasized the crossing's strategic commercial importance, particularly following the Abraham Accords, and noted that its significance has increased due to slower trade via the Nitzana crossing with Egypt and congestion at Israeli ports.