- China completed 14 Asia–Europe container voyages via the Northern Sea Route in 2025
- Container volumes on the route rose to around 400,000 tons
- Seasonal navigation window shortened due to early sea ice formation
- Overall NSR traffic reached record levels in 2025
China significantly increased its use of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) in 2025, completing 14 container ship voyages between Asia and Europe, up from 11 voyages in 2024 and seven in 2023. The latest figures highlight a steady expansion of Chinese-led container activity along the Arctic corridor, reports gCaptain.
Growth in Arctic Container Services
The increase reflects rising confidence among Chinese operators in the seasonal NSR, which offers a shorter distance between northern China and Europe compared with traditional routes via the Suez Canal. Shipping companies NewNew Shipping Line and Sea Legend have already indicated plans to further expand Arctic container services in 2026, targeting additional sailings and improved schedule reliability during the limited summer navigation season.
2025 Navigation Season Overview
The 2025 Arctic container season began on July 16 with a departure from Shanghai to the Russian port of Arkhangelsk and concluded on October 30 with a transit from Shanghai to Kaliningrad. The operating window was approximately three weeks shorter than in 2024, attributed to the early formation of sea ice in eastern sections of the route.
Record Container Volumes
Russia’s state-owned nuclear icebreaker operator reported that the growth in container traffic resulted in a record year for containerized cargo on the NSR. Container volumes reached approximately 400,000 tons in 2025, representing a 2.6-fold increase compared with the previous year.
Notable Voyages and Route Performance
Among the most prominent voyages of the season was a containership transit that established the first direct container connection between China and the United Kingdom via the Northern Sea Route. The passage was completed in 20 days, with the vessel maintaining an average speed of 16.7 knots along the Arctic corridor, underscoring the route’s time-saving potential under favorable ice and weather conditions.
Industry Participation and Market Structure
While Arctic container shipping has been discussed for years, development has been gradual. A one-off trial voyage conducted in 2018 by a major Western container operator demonstrated technical feasibility, but most large Western liner companies have since reiterated that they do not plan to operate regular NSR container services. Environmental considerations, limited infrastructure, insurance constraints, and uncertain commercial viability continue to be cited as key challenges.
As a result, container activity on the Northern Sea Route remains largely driven by Russian and Chinese interests, supported by Russia’s expanding fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers and state-backed Arctic infrastructure development.
Overall NSR Traffic at Record Levels
Beyond container shipping, total traffic on the Northern Sea Route also reached new highs in 2025. Authorities reported a record 103 transit voyages carrying approximately 3.2 million tons of cargo, with crude oil, liquefied natural gas, and bulk commodities accounting for the majority of volumes.
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Source: gCaptain
