The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is entering a new stage in 2025, combining record foreign interest with major Russian infrastructure plans. The Arctic corridor is increasingly being used for containerized cargo, proving its viability as an alternative route between Asia and Europe.
Rising foreign presence
Foreign carriers are strengthening their presence on the NSR:
-
In 2024, 14 international container voyages were made; in 2025, this figure is expected to exceed 20.
-
The first-ever direct container transit from China to Europe via the NSR started in September 2025, with the Istanbul Bridge sailing from Ningbo to the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland.
This demonstrates that global carriers see the Arctic route as economically feasible and safe, despite its seasonal challenges.
Russian operators enter the market
Alongside foreign players, Russian companies are making their debut:
-
Aurora Line sent its first container vessel HONG CHANG SHENG from St. Petersburg to China in August 2025, carrying chemicals, pulp, timber, and metals. On the return leg, it will deliver Chinese cars and consumer goods.
-
This marks the first Russian-organized commercial shipment on the NSR, while Chinese operators such as NewNew Shipping Line, Safetrans Line, and OVP Shipping have already been active on the route since 2023–2024.
Infrastructure and regional projects
New agreements are expanding the NSR’s role:
-
Murmansk region signed a cooperation deal with NewNew Shipping Line to develop regular container traffic through the ice-free port of Murmansk.
-
The project includes joint development of port infrastructure, strengthening Murmansk as a hub within the Trans-Arctic transport corridor.
Meanwhile, Russia projects that Arctic port capacities may rise to nearly 5 million TEU annually by 2030, but experts caution that rail and hinterland bottlenecks must be addressed for these plans to succeed.
Implications for international logistics
For Chinese and Turkish forwarders, the NSR offers:
-
A shorter route to Europe, cutting up to 22 days compared to traditional southern lanes.
-
New opportunities for multimodal logistics, balancing Far Eastern congestion.
-
Risks related to seasonality, icebreaker support, and customs procedures, which require careful planning.
Growex’s perspective
At Growex, we closely monitor NSR developments and support our partners in evaluating Arctic logistics. While not yet a year-round alternative, the NSR is becoming a strategic addition to supply chains between Asia and Russia, offering flexibility and potential cost savings.
