Mediterranean Shipping Company Launches Direct Shipping Line to Australia from Qingdao

The direct shipping route to Australia launched by Mediterranean Shipping Company was opened at Qingdao Port in Shandong Province (hereinafter referred to as “Qingdao Port”) on January 4th.
Mediterranean Shipping Company is the world’s largest container liner company. On that day, the “Mediterranean Jessia” vessel berth at Qingdao Port, carrying a full load of electromechanical products, chemicals, textiles, and other goods for direct voyages to the two hub ports of Brisbane and Sydney in Australia.
Xie Dongmei, Director of the Foreign Trade Business Department of Qingdao Port Jifa Company, explained that the direct shipping route launched this time is the first foreign trade route opened by the port in 2026. The direct voyage from Qingdao to Brisbane takes about 20 days, and the direct voyage to Sydney takes about 25 days.
According to reports, Mediterranean Shipping Company has maintained close cooperation with Qingdao Port. In 2025, the company’s container volume at Qingdao Port exceeded 3 million TEUs, setting a new record. With the opening of new routes, the total number of routes operated by the company at Qingdao Port has reached 18.
It is reported that Qingdao Port is an international shipping hub in Northeast Asia. Currently, the port boasts nearly 240 foreign trade routes, ranking first among ports in northern China in terms of quantity, connecting to over 700 ports in more than 180 countries and regions worldwide.