China Concludes Seasonal Arctic Shipping Operations to Europe

SHANGHAI, October 3. /TASS/. China has concluded its seasonal container shipping operations to Europe via the Arctic route, including the Northern Sea Route (NSR), with services set to resume in summer 2027, China Central Television (CCTV) reported, citing customs data from the port city of Ningbo.

"The route is seasonal in nature and will resume operations next summer," the broadcaster said.

Eight voyages were completed along the northern route this year, carrying nearly 8,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of cargo. Goods worth 5.33 billion yuan ($79.5 million) were shipped from China to Europe via the Arctic, primarily including energy storage systems, batteries, and electric vehicles.

In China, the route is known as the Ice Silk Road or the China-Europe Arctic Express. The journey takes approximately 18-20 days, about half the time required for the traditional route through the Suez Canal.

On August 15, Chinese shipping company Sealegend Shipping announced the launch of its first weekly service to Europe via the Northern Sea Route, which runs along Russia’s Arctic coast.

The Northern Sea Route is a major shipping corridor and the principal maritime artery of the Russian Arctic. It follows Russia’s northern coastline through the seas of the Arctic Ocean, stretching approximately 5,600 kilometers from the Kara Strait to Providence Bay.