China has concluded the first season of regular container transport services between China and Europe via the Northern Sea Route by completing eight scheduled trips. Sea Legend Shipping launched the China-Europe Arctic Express service in August, deploying seven icebreaker container ships for eight weekly trips from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and other ports in China.
Details of Trips and Export Cargoes
The last two ships departed from Ningbo Port on September 27, completing all scheduled trips for the current year. These trips were initially set to continue until early October, but due to forecasts of sea ice expansion in October, the final schedules were moved forward.
In total, this season transported over 14,000 twenty-foot equivalent units of export cargo through eight trips. Cargoes exported from Zhejiang Province accounted for about 59% of the total cargo, equivalent to over 8,300 TEU. Additionally, Ningbo Customs reported that registered cargoes through its jurisdiction reached 7,761 TEU, valued at 5.33 billion yuan (750 million dollars).
Analysis and Future of Maritime Services
The composition of cargoes has significantly shifted towards high-value industrial goods, and the travel time on the Arctic route is about 18 to 20 days between China and Northern Europe. This time is nearly half that of traditional routes through the Suez Canal. The conclusion of Sea Legend's trips does not signify the end of China's container activities on the Northern Sea Route in 2026. Other Chinese operators, including NewNew Shipping, continue to utilize this route.
However, no additional trips from Sea Legend are scheduled for this year. These services are explicitly seasonal, with the normal Arctic navigation window identified as the suitable time for maritime activities from July to October. Sea Legend has announced its intention to resume these services next summer.
