On April 26, Qianwan Container Terminal of Qingdao Port was bustling with activity. A new West Africa shipping route independently operated by CMA CGM embarked on its maiden voyage. The vessel CMA CGM Savannah was busy loading Chinese-manufactured goods including auto parts, tires, and solar panels, before setting sail for major West African ports such as Tema and Lagos. This marks the official launch of Qingdao Port’s second Africa container route this year.

The service deploys 13 vessels in total and operates on a weekly basis, with Qingdao Port established as a key regular port of call in northern China. As the route stabilizes, it will further improve the port’s shipping network connecting Africa, offering enterprises across Shandong and the Yellow River Basin hinterland more reliable, sufficient container space and diversified logistics solutions.

To date, Qingdao Port has launched 11 container routes to Africa, covering East, West, and North African key markets. Connected with 32 international freight train lines, it has built a mature sea–rail intermodal network serving 23 Belt and Road partner countries, steadily expanding foreign trade access.

As one of northern China’s largest foreign trade hubs, the continuous expansion of Qingdao Port’s route network has fueled rapid growth in trade with Africa. Customs data shows that in 2025, exports to Africa via Qingdao Port rose by 28.9% year-on-year. In the first quarter of 2026, exports exceeded 43.56 billion yuan, representing a 26.3% year-on-year increase. Exports of mechanical and electrical products grew by 37.4%, while high-tech products increased by 25.7%, reflecting continuous optimization of the trade structure.

To streamline clearance procedures, Qingdao Customs has introduced an integrated supervision model of land–sea coordination and direct sea–rail transit. By extending port functions inland and adopting facilitation measures such as pre-inspection and direct loading and delivery, it enables efficient customs clearance featuring one-time declaration, unified document processing, and mutual recognition across customs jurisdictions. This strongly supports the smooth export of machinery, equipment, and emerging flagship export products.

Qingdao Port has evolved into a vital hub for Chinese manufactured goods bound for Africa, as well as a key gateway for African specialty commodities including coffee, cocoa, and copper ore entering the Chinese market. Meanwhile, the port continues to deepen cooperation with African counterparts, establishing sister-port ties with ports such as Alexandria and Lomé. By sharing smart port expertise, it further boosts in-depth China–Africa economic and trade collaboration.