August 3 2026

This number includes dozens of transit voyages

Chinese shipping companies plan to conduct 64 voyages along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) in 2026, including dozens of transit voyages, according to the press service of the Ministry of Arctic Development and Economy of the Murmansk Territory.

These figures were announced at a meeting of the Seafaring working group of the NSR Cooperation Subcommittee of the Russian-Chinese Commission for the Preparation of Regular Meetings of Heads of Government. Mr. Li Qing, Deputy Director of the Water Transport Department, PRC the Ministry of Transport, and Mr. Azamat Khochuev, Deputy Director of the Arctic Directorate and Director of the NSR and Arctic Development Department of the “Rosatom” State Corporation, chaired the meeting.

The subcommittee has been in operation since 2024. The roadmap approved on October 14, 2025 in Harbin, calls for cargo traffic along the NSR to reach 20 million tons by 2030. The annual volume of freight traffic between the countries along the NSR is growing steadily, exceeding 5 million tons this year.

More than 30 container shipments along the NSR waterways are expected in 2026 (2025 – 23 voyages).

“The first container ship will call at the Murmansk Commercial Sea Port as early as August. This is not only a practical step in implementing joint plans to increase cargo traffic along the NSR, but also an opportunity to clearly demonstrate to our partners the infrastructure capabilities of the Murmansk Region as a hub for Arctic logistics. Importantly, the future establishment of regular container service opens up the prospect of return shipments for local companies, thereby expanding opportunities for the export of regional products and increasing the economic efficiency of transportation,” said Svetlana Panfilova, Deputy Governor and Minister of Arctic Development and Economy of the Murmansk Territory.

The meeting agenda included discussions on the possibility of mutually preferential terms for services provided to vessels navigating the NSR in Russian and Chinese ports, customs inspection procedures for goods transiting the NSR from Chinese ports to European ports, and other issues.

Source: https://portnews.ru/news/395007/