Jordan’s Maritime Commission said on October 6 that the Aqaba–Shidiya–Ma’an railway is expected to improve port efficiency and logistics for mineral exports. Commission director general Ahmad Asasleh told Petra the line aims to reduce vessel waiting and berth delays, improve cargo handling and strengthen port competitiveness.

The stated design targets are about 13 million metric tonnes of phosphate and 2.6 million tonnes of potash annually. The project is intended to add rail to a multimodal system connecting production and mining areas with Aqaba Port; it is not planned to replace road transport. Petra gives no investment amount, firm construction schedule or commissioning date. Throughput and port-performance outcomes can be measured after the line becomes operational.