Specialty goods from Shandong Province can now reach Australian shelves without prolonged delays. This vision became a reality at Qingdao Port at the beginning of 2026, as Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) launched its new Australia Direct Service (KANGAROO) on January 4. The inaugural vessel, MSC Jessenia , successfully docked at Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal, marking a significant milestone in the port's expansion of international shipping networks.
The new route connects major Chinese ports, including Qingdao, Shanghai, and Ningbo, with key Australian cities such as Brisbane and Sydney before returning to Qingdao. The direct transit time from Qingdao to Brisbane has been reduced to approximately 20 days , while shipments to Sydney now take around 25 days . Compared to previous transshipment models, this represents a substantial reduction in both transportation time and logistics costs, providing tangible benefits for Sino-Australian trade enterprises.
With this addition, MSC now operates 18 shipping routes from Qingdao Port, which has seen its total number of international routes approach 240 —maintaining its leading position among northern Chinese ports. The launch of this direct Australia service is expected to significantly enhance cargo transport efficiency between northern China and Australia while further strengthening bilateral economic cooperation.