Qingdao Port of Shandong Port has launched a direct shipping route to the Philippines, adding a new engine to China–Philippines economic and trade cooperation.

2026-03-13

Recently, at Berth U2 of the Container Terminal in the Qianwan Port Area of Qingdao Port, Shandong Port, the vessel “Haifeng Hainan,” carrying agricultural and sideline products, chemical raw materials, and other cargo, successfully completed its loading and unloading operations and set sail on a direct route to Iloilo, Philippines. This marks the successful maiden voyage of Haifeng Logistics’ newly launched Philippine shipping line at Qingdao Port, adding a new engine to deepen China–Philippines economic and trade ties and to further streamline bilateral logistics channels.

The first direct flight, offering fast, non-stop service throughout the journey.
   This route marks the first direct shipping line between Qingdao and Iloilo, eliminating the need to transship via other ports along the way. Compared with traditional transshipment models, it bypasses intermediate steps such as barge transfers and trucking, significantly reducing overall logistics costs for businesses while shortening the total transit time by at least one day. This ensures fast, direct, and cost‑effective two‑way cargo flow between the two regions. With a stable schedule and ample cabin capacity, the route connects key ports including Qingdao, Iloilo, Cebu, and Cagayan, perfectly aligning with the diverse and personalized logistics needs of China–Philippines trade and injecting strong momentum into the continued deepening of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

Optimize operations to ensure hub functionality.
   To ensure the smooth operation of the inaugural voyage, Qingdao Port proactively formulated a dedicated operational plan, optimized vessel stowage and cargo handling procedures, and achieved seamless coordination and integrated operations across all stages—ship berthing and departure, loading and unloading, and customs clearance and inspection. The port’s overall berth efficiency reached 83.8 TEUs per hour, successfully completing the inaugural voyage with reliable, high‑quality services. This not only showcased Qingdao Port’s robust service capabilities as an international shipping hub in Northeast Asia but also laid a solid foundation for the stable operation of weekly scheduled services on this route.

Continuously strengthen our presence in Southeast Asia to support China’s broader strategy of opening up to the outside world.
   It is reported that since the beginning of this year, Qingdao Port has launched three new shipping routes to Southeast Asia, further strengthening its logistics network in the region and building a more convenient bridge for regional economic and trade cooperation. Moving forward, Qingdao Port will remain committed to the broader goal of opening up to the outside world, continuously optimizing its route operation and support system, and contributing even more to the nation’s strategy of opening up through more professional operations, higher‑quality services, and more comprehensive supply chain solutions.