Russia and China expand trade via Arctic sea route

Beijing has pledged to deepen shipping cooperation with Moscow as part of its “Ice Silk Road” initiative

Russia and China have expanded trade links through the Arctic, with the first Chinese container ship arriving at Russia’s northern port of Murmansk via the Northern Sea Route (NSR), Rosatom announced on Monday. Beijing has described the growing cooperation with Moscow as part of its “Ice Silk Road” initiative.

The NSR runs through Russia’s Arctic waters and exclusive economic zone, relying on Russian ports and icebreakers. State atomic energy corporation Rosatom oversees the route’s development, navigation, infrastructure and maritime safety.

NewNew Shipping Line’s Xin Xin Hai 1 arrived in Murmansk on Wednesday carrying 500 containers of automotive components, Rosatom said.

“This was the first container ship from China to arrive at the Murmansk Commercial Sea Port,” the corporation said.

NewNew Shipping Line has operated along the NSR since 2023, although its vessels have previously generally carried cargo to ports in Russia’s Far East or the Baltic.

China is ready to continue “playing the role of a bridge” to support cooperation between Chinese companies and the Murmansk Region and further develop the “Ice Silk Road,” Chinese Consul General in St. Petersburg Luo Zhanhui said on Thursday.

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Earlier this month, NewNew Shipping Line CEO Ke Jin announced plans to deploy six new Arctic-class container ships on the NSR, each capable of carrying around 4,800 standard containers. Four are due to enter service in October, enabling two voyages a month between Chinese and Russian ports, with another two expected to join the fleet in June 2027.

Ke has also expressed interest in investing in the ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk in Russia’s far north and acquiring a stake in the port of Ust-Luga.

China accounted for around 40% of the Murmansk Region’s foreign trade in 2025, when the region traded with 48 countries, according to Governor Andrey Chibis.

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Russia has long used the Arctic corridor for energy exports. LNG shipments from the Yamal LNG project began in 2017, with the first cargoes delivered eastward to China via the NSR the following year. Russia has also shipped other hydrocarbons along the route to Asian markets since 2010.

The Northern Sea Route provides a shorter maritime link between East Asia and northern Europe and can cut around two weeks from a voyage between China and Europe compared with the route through the Suez Canal, according to Rosatom.

Interest in the Arctic corridor has also grown as the US war with Iran and instability in the Middle East have disrupted shipping through the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. South Korea launched its first trial container voyage to Europe via the NSR on Saturday, while India plans to send its first cargo ship along the route in 2027.