Jordan’s leather and textile industry is targeting an extra $5.5 billion in exports and $3.1 billion in new investment under the country’s Economic Modernization Vision, even as heavy dependence on the U.S. market leaves shipments exposed, an industry representative said.
Iyhab Qadri, who speaks for the sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that exports rose 3.2% in the first seven months of the year to about $1.5 billion, compared with $2.4 billion in 2025. The United States accounts for 77.3% of sector exports, he said, underscoring the need for new buyers.
Jordanian products reach 80 markets, with growth recorded in Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, Britain, Germany and Mexico. The International Trade Centre estimates untapped export opportunities at about $918 million.
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Dating back to 1920, the sector is among Jordan’s oldest industries. Production has more than doubled to exceed $3 billion last year, including $600 million in domestic sales, with added value making up 42% of output. It employs about 99,000 people across 818 establishments, or 38% of industrial employment. Jordanians number more than 31,000, up over 130% in a decade, and the national vision envisages 149,000 jobs for Jordanians in the coming years. The sector accounts for about 2% of Jordan’s GDP, and progress is tracked through periodic reports, he said.
To climb the value chain, the Chamber is working with the International Finance Corporation on an integrated industrial cluster, choosing a host industrial zone and completing detailed studies. A fabric manufacturer has opened in Mafraq, while garment and fabric warehouses are being expanded in Aqaba to cut lead times.
Factories are also preparing for European Union rules on ecodesign, traceability and digital product passports, and a national roadmap aims to attract investors to textile waste recycling, Qadri said.