APM Terminals plans expansion of Aqaba Logistics Village
APM Terminals, operator of Aqaba Container Terminal –the Red Sea Gateway to the Levant region – has announced plans to upgrade the supply chain capabilities of its subsidiary, Aqaba Logistics Village (ALV) to serve the growing demand from importers and exporters for more efficient logistics services. The IMF forecasts GDP for Iraq and Jordan combined at 8% annual growth for the 2014-2018 period, the Group said Tuesday in a press release.
ALV is currently 13 hectares in size and experiencing strong customer demand due its optimal location. The new facility will add 11 hectares and be operational by February 2015.
Sandeep Mehta, Regional Director of APM Terminals Inland Services, commented “our logistics business in Jordan is designed to offer our customers better cargo visibility, lower transport costs and ideal market access while they are ramping up volumes to hinterland markets, especially the Anbar province and Greater Baghdad areas of Iraq. Our Iraq market access will now be the industry’s safest, most economical and most reliable with this upgraded supply chain capacity”.
Jeppe Jensen, CEO of Aqaba Container Terminal agrees that ALV’s further development will help serve Iraq’s high growth market: “ALV’s plans will add essential infrastructure to the regional supply chain and generate more efficient cargo support options for the customers of Aqaba Container Terminal”.
As well as hinterland market access, the project will widen Aqaba’s geographical reach as a Regional distribution hub. Key commodities targeted for this upgraded service are: cars, project cargoes, manufacturing materials, industrial supplies, domestic appliances and timber.
The upgraded logistics village will ensure the highest standards of safety, efficiency and operational performance are installed for the world’s leading importers and exporters. Services include:
- Less than containerload: (LCL) stripping, sorting and storage of containers.
- Cross-docking: rehandling of cargo due to changed routings or quantities.
- Warehousing: storage, handling and value-added services.
- Open space: Outdoor storage yard with covered section; office rental space to help new importers/exporters be onsite to manage supply chains and grow the business through high service levels.
APM Terminals Inland Services has a JV partnership with the Kawar Group (60:40). The Kawar Group is a family-owned, Jordanian-based company, established in 1925 that has extensive commercial relations with all major shipping agencies.
APM Terminals is the world’s leading port and inland operator with 55 operating port facilities in 36 countries and providing Inland Services operations in over 150 locations in 46 countries. APM Terminals operates a Global Port, Terminal and Inland Services Network of 24,000 employees in 63 countries including interests in 63 ports and terminals and 154 Inland Services locations. The company provides port management and terminal operations to over 60 liner shipping and port customers, and a wide range of local inland transportation and cargo services around the world performing a central role in global trade and logistics.