Shipping from China to Madaba
China โ Madaba ยท via AMM air / Aqaba sea ยท clearance by Jordan Customs Department
Freight from China into Madaba clears through AMM air / Aqaba sea. Madaba is central governorate town, and allow +1 day for the inland leg on top of clearance.
On the destination side, Jordan Customs Department handles clearance; budget 3โ8 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
How this lane actually runs
Aqaba is Jordan's only seaport and also the transit gateway for cargo continuing to Iraq and, historically, the wider Levant. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone offers reduced duty for goods consumed inside it, which is worth checking before assuming standard rates apply.
| Air gateways used | AMM (Amman Queen Alia) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 3โ6 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Aqaba |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 20โ28 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Madaba | AMM air / Aqaba sea |
| Inland leg to Madaba | +1 day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3โ8 days |
| Peak season to plan around | SepโNov |
Import duty and tax position for Madaba
Imports into Jordan are cleared by Jordan Customs Department. The headline position is: General sales tax 16%; customs duty 0โ30%. The de-minimis threshold is JOD 200 for personal consignments.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: JSMO conformity for regulated goods; Arabic labeling for consumer products. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Jordan: Aqaba Special Economic Zone rules differ from the rest of the country. Transit cargo to neighboring markets needs bonded documentation. Arabic labeling required for retail goods.
Air, sea or overland into Madaba?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| โ๏ธ Air Freight | 3โ6 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| ๐ข Sea Freight | 20โ28 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Jordan gateway and excludes the +1 day inland leg to Madaba and 3โ8 days of clearance.
Pre-shipment checklist for Madaba
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: JSMO conformity for regulated goods; Arabic labeling for consumer products.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (LรWรH รท 6000) โ the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Check the de-minimis position (JOD 200 for personal consignments) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Jordan duty rate against it yourself.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front โ retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
Mode guides for Madaba
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Madaba take?
China to the Jordan gateway is 3โ6 business days by air, 20โ28 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 3โ8 days of clearance with Jordan Customs Department and a +1 day inland leg to Madaba.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Madaba?
Jordan Customs Department applies: General sales tax 16%; customs duty 0โ30%. The de-minimis position is JOD 200 for personal consignments. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Madaba.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Madaba?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965โ970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via AMM (Amman Queen Alia). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
What certification do I need for Jordan?
For regulated goods, plan for: JSMO conformity for regulated goods; Arabic labeling for consumer products. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.
When is the busiest time on the ChinaโJordan lane?
Space and rates tighten around SepโNov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Madaba?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight โ length ร width ร height in centimeters divided by 6000 for air โ and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
Other delivery cities in Jordan
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Jordan change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling โ confirm the current position for your own HS code with Jordan Customs Department or your broker before you ship.
- Jordan Customs
- WTO โ Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IMO โ IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
- IATA โ Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965โ970)
- World Bank โ Logistics Performance Index
Page data last reviewed: 10 ๆ 2026.
Shipping by industry
This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending โ these guides cover that by commodity.
- Wall Panels Building Materials & Construction Products
- Injection Molded Parts Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Home Storage Products Furniture & Home Products
- Exhibition Display Equipment Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Aluminum Coils Steel & Metal Materials
- Pipe Fittings Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Generators New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Ceramic Tiles Building Materials & Construction Products
- Paper Packaging Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Packaging Materials Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Laboratory Furniture Furniture & Home Products
Checking the Jordan duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Jordan Customs Department against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.
Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.
For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.
If this is your first shipment into Jordan, the Jordan Country Commercial Guide covers the practical import environment in more depth than a rate page reasonably can, and it is written by a party with no stake in your booking.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Madaba. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
What Is CBM? Sea Freight Volume Explained (Calculate Shipping Cost Fast!) — DDPCHAIN. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.
Customs clearance in Jordan
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border โ plus who files the entry.
Jordan clearance requirements →