The number of commercial voyages through the Northern Sea Route (NSR) reached 104 by the end of September 2024, surpassing the total for the year 2025. This significant increase in vessel traffic heralds another record-breaking season in polar maritime transport.
Increase in Cargo Volume
According to information from the Center for Northern Logistics (CHNL), the estimated cargo volume reached 3.7 million tons, representing a 15 percent increase compared to 3.2 million tons for the entire year of 2025. The total tonnage of transiting vessels also increased to about 7.8 million tons, up 26 percent from 6.2 million tons in 2025. This data indicates that commercial activities on this route are on the rise, and it is expected that the number of voyages will reach 150 in 2026.
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Key Role of Tankers and Cargo Ships
Tankers, as the largest segment of cargo, played a significant role in this increase with 22 voyages eastward carrying 2.1 million tons of crude oil. The port of Murmansk was recognized as the main departure point, followed by the ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga operating on this route. This highlights the importance of this route in transporting Russian oil from Baltic ports to Asian markets.
Cargo ships also had significant activity. During this period, there were 13 eastward voyages with a cargo of 1.1 million tons and 27 westward voyages, indicating substantial movement of vessels towards Baltic ports and Murmansk. This pattern shows that the Northern Sea Route acts not only as a cargo corridor but also as a seasonal route for the movement of commercial cargo.
Development of Container Transport
Container transport also reflects the evolving use of this route. CHNL recorded 13 container voyages by the end of September, which included voyages between Asian and European ports that neither started nor ended in Russia. Four Asia-Europe international voyages were completed, compared to just one voyage for the entire year of 2025, indicating increased interest in using the Northern Route as an alternative corridor from Asia to Europe.
Controlling companies such as Panstar Acro and Dubai Tower container ships had voyages from South Korea and China to the UK. Additionally, the cargo ship Nan Xin completed its 27 voyages from China to Klaipeda, Lithuania. Although these voyages still represent a small share of the total NSR traffic, they indicate a growing interest in using the Arctic as an alternative corridor.
Ice Conditions and Their Impact on Voyages
Ice conditions had a significant impact on the season's development. In the first half of August, considerable traffic was diverted north of the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, bypassing the traditional route through the Vilkitsky Strait. As conditions improved in late August, traffic was able to return to traditional routes. By early September, a continuous open water corridor had developed across most of the NSR.
Better conditions were observed in late season compared to 2024 and 2025, when ice formation ended the navigation period earlier. Open water conditions continued past September 30 this year, but seasonal icing was expected to gradually limit vessel movements without ice capabilities from mid-October.
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