Increasing Shipping via the Northern Sea Route Is a Priority in Russia-China Relations

March 20, 2026

Governor of Arkhangelsk region announced the signing of a memorandum of cooperation with the China on organizing voyages of the Arctic Express No. 1 in 2026. Viktoria Pestova, Deputy Minister and Head of the Arctic Projects Implementation Department at the Ministry of Economic Development, Industry, and Science of Arkhangelsk Oblast, comments on the development of the multimodal route connecting Moscow, Arkhangelsk, and China via the Northern Sea Route (NSR).

The People’s Republic of China is currently one of the main trading partners of Arkhangelsk Oblast—in terms of trade turnover, China ranks 1st among foreign countries, accounting for about 50% of the region’s foreign trade turnover. Over the past three years, the share of the People’s Republic of China in the trade turnover structure of Arkhangelsk Oblast has almost doubled. These results underscore the high potential for expanding cooperation.

Today, cooperation in logistics and increasing shipping via the NSR is one of the priorities in Russia-China relations.

We have been working productively with New New Shipping Line for several years on organizing a container line between the seaport of Arkhangelsk and major ports of China via the NSR. Over the years of cooperation, we have been able to achieve high results in the development of our joint project, Arctic Express No. 1, thanks to the mutual understanding, openness, and professionalism of both sides.

Arctic Express No. 1 connects Moscow and Arkhangelsk with China through unified logistics by rail and the NSR. The total length of this route is 1,200 kilometers by rail and 6,600 nautical miles by sea, with a transit time of 20–25 days. This route reduces transportation time for products from central regions of Russia to Chinese ports by up to 55% compared to the southern route via the Suez Canal.

Since 2024, within the framework of the Arctic Express, 7 import and 7 export voyages have been completed, with total shipping volumes reaching approximately 17.5 thousand twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Import products include automotive parts, construction equipment and materials, passenger cars, clothing, footwear, and chemical products; export products include lumber, pulp, polyethylene, cardboard, food products, and nickel concentrate.

A agreement on organizing Arctic Express voyages for the summer-autumn navigation of this year was signed at the First Russia-China Logistics Business Forum New Horizons and Opportunities. We plan with our Chinese partners that 5–6 export-import voyages will be carried out in 2026, with the prospect of annually increasing the number of voyages and cargo volumes.

Due to growing interest from Chinese partners in utilizing the NSR for shipping, Arkhangelsk Commercial Sea Port LLC, the primary operator of the Arkhangelsk seaport, is actively modernizing its infrastructure. It is reconstructing two cargo areas, the renovation of which will allow for handling two container trains simultaneously, which, in turn, will multiply container transshipment capacity. Construction is also continuing on an additional container area totaling 4 hectares, with completion planned for 2026–2027. The acquisition of additional loading equipment has increased the company’s operational efficiency—loading and unloading speeds have increased by 30–40%.

It is important to note that Arkhangelsk region is interested not only in logistics projects with China but also in establishing joint production facilities, for example, in the field of construction materials based on common minerals and assembly plants for automobiles and machinery. The region is ready to offer Chinese investors sites for locating production facilities and preferential regimes for doing business, taking into account the specific conditions of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation.

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