Arctic Shipping Boom Continues as China and Russia Push Cargo Volume To New Heights

By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) –

Arctic shipping continues to have a breakout year setting new records for transit traffic and container ship voyages.

As of September 30, total transit cargo stood at 2.38 million tonnes transported across 79 voyages, according to the latest figures released by the Center for High North Logistics. 

This year’s transit figures set a new record for Russia’s Northern Sea Route in terms of both cargo volume and number of trips. With around three weeks remaining in the main navigation season the figures are likely to increase further.

China’s activity is a primary driver for the growth of Arctic shipping. The country has identified the region as strategically important, dispatching three icebreakers to the Arctic for the first time this summer and conducting a patrol off Alaska’s coast. 

Cargo flows between Russia and China account for around 95 percent of all voyages, highlighting the two countries’ growing strategic partnership in the region. The bulk of cargo traffic arises from the transport of crude oil, iron ore, and coal. Together they account for around 2 million tonnes.

Nascent Arctic container shipping also continues on its growth path. After seven voyages in 2023, this year has already seen 14 trips connecting Russian and Chinese ports. 

The size of vessels has also increased substantially to include several Panamax container ships, a significant upgrade over the smaller feeder vessels used during previous trial voyages. The 4,843 TEU vessel Flying Fish 1 alone carried around 40,000 tons of cargo through the Arctic.

Across the 14 voyages, box ships transported around 150,000 tons of cargo. A modest figure in comparison to major shipping arteries like the Suez Canal, but a significant growth for Arctic shipping over just the last few summers. The first containership transited the Arctic only six years ago when Maersk sent the feeder vessel Venta Maersk from Asia to Europe.

The container shipping record is especially noteworthy as this year’s shipping season was shorter due to persistent sea ice in parts of the Arctic.

“We see that the number of container shipments has increased, while the favorable period of time for transit passage in 2024 is much shorter than usual due to difficult ice conditions in the eastern part of NSR,” explained the experts at the CHNL.

Several vessels remain on the route finishing up transits before the shipping window closes during the second half of October, including at least two container ships and several oil tankers.

Arctic shipping as a whole also looks set to reach a new high point. Transit traffic accounts for only a small share of overall activity. The bulk of the volume arises from destinational traffic for the export of Russian hydrocarbon resources to markets in Europe and Asia. 

This year Russia’s oil and gas projects in the region will account for around 35-40 million tonnes of cargo. That figure is set to double over the next several years as new projects, including the massive Vostok Oil facility, come online.

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