Russia expects to begin regular year-round eastbound shipping along the Northern Sea Route in early 2027, as additional nuclear icebreaker capacity, newer ice-class LNG carriers and pressure to redirect energy exports toward Asia bring the long-delayed ambition closer to reality.

Russia expects cargo transits along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) to more than double in 2026, marking a substantial increase in Arctic shipping despite Western sanctions, although volumes remain far below Moscow’s original ambitions for the route.

Russia's oil exports through its Northern Sea Route (NSR) in 2026 have already exceeded last year's by nearly 50%, with some 20 million barrels shipped to Asia from the start of navigation in July to mid-October, traders said and data showed.

The number of commercial transit voyages through Russia’s Northern Sea Route (NSR) had already surpassed the full-year 2025 total by the end of September, putting Arctic shipping on course for another record season as cargo volumes rise and more vessels test the route between Asia and Europe.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung welcomed the PanStar Acro and its crew home on Tuesday after the container ship completed the country’s first round-trip commercial trial through the Arctic to Europe, hailing the voyage as a potential alternative to traditional shipping lanes even as questions remain over commercial viability and cooperation with Russia.

By Joyce Lee SEOUL, Oct 11 (Reuters) – A South Korean container ship completed the country’s first commercial round trip to Europe via the Arctic on Sunday, as authorities bank on the...

The United Kingdom on Thursday sanctioned 12 oil tankers it identified as part of Russia's shadow fleet, including the 22-year-old Dakar that is currently making an unusual late-season voyage on the Northern Sea Route.

A 22-year-old product tanker sanctioned by the European Union is making an unusual late-season voyage along Russia's Northern Sea Route, highlighting the growing use of older, lower-specification vessels to move petroleum products through the Arctic.

China has completed the first season of regular weekly container shipping between China and Europe via the Northern Sea Route, with the operator completing all eight sailings planned for 2026 before ending departures slightly earlier than scheduled because of Arctic ice forecasts.