The MSC JESSENIA, starting Mediterranean Shipping Company's (MSC) new KANGAROO direct service, docked at Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal on Jan 4. Loaded with machinery, chemicals, and textiles from northern China, it marks Qingdao Port's first new international shipping route this new year.

This service establishes a direct link from Northern China to Oceania, sailing to Brisbane and Sydney, and provides a strong start for foreign trade at the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–30).

The start of this service highlights Qingdao Port's growing appeal as a hub and the close collaboration between port and shipping. As the world's largest container line, MSC's throughput at Qingdao surpassed 3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for the first time in 2025. This new route increases MSC's services at Qingdao Port to 18, strengthening the port's global network and facilitating trade between northern China and Australia with faster, more efficient connections.

The route includes stops at Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Brisbane, Sydney, and returns to Qingdao, giving direct access between key Chinese and Australian ports. It significantly reduces transit time, with voyages from Qingdao to Brisbane and Sydney taking around 20 and 25 days, respectively, offering a streamlined logistics channel.

Qingdao customs statistics show cross-border trade with Australia via Qingdao port totaled about 100.57 billion yuan ($14.4 billion) from January to November 2025, with exports up 10.6 percent year-on-year. This new route will further streamline logistics, reduce costs for businesses, and support stable industrial and supply chains.

As a leading Northeast Asian shipping hub, Qingdao Port now hosts nearly 240 international routes, the most among northern Chinese ports, connecting to over 700 ports worldwide. It operates 56 inland dry ports and 86 rail-sea intermodal services, leading the country in intermodal volume.

The MSC JESSENIA, starting Mediterranean Shipping Company's (MSC) new KANGAROO direct service, docks at Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal on Jan 4. [Photo/Guanhai News]