First-ever China–Europe transit completed via Northern Sea Route

The first-ever container transit voyage from China to Europe via the Northern Sea Route has been successfully completed, the Russian state corporation Rosatom announced on October 14.

The trans-Arctic route reduced cargo delivery time by half compared to traditional southern sea routes.

According to Rosatom’s statement, cited by Russian media, the vessel departed from the Chinese port of Ningbo on September 23 and arrived at the British port of Felixstowe on October 13, 2025. 

The corporation described the event as a historic milestone marking another step toward turning the Northern Sea Route into a stable and sustainable logistics corridor between Europe and Asia. It emphasised that the route would not replace but rather complement existing maritime paths, contributing to the expansion of global trade.

The container ship, carrying cargo with a total weight of nearly 25,000 tons, entered the waters of the Northern Sea Route on October 1. After completing its unloading operations in Felixstowe, the vessel is expected to continue on to other European ports.

Rosatom highlighted that the voyage through the Russian Arctic took only 20 days, almost twice as fast as the journey via conventional southern routes.

The Northern Sea Route remains the shortest maritime passage between Western Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region, serving as a key component of Russia’s national transport system.

Stretching approximately 5,600 kilometres, it plays an increasingly vital role in international trade. In 2024, cargo volumes transported along the route reached a record 37.9 million tons — an increase of more than 1.6 million tons compared to the previous year, according to Rosatom.

By Tamilla Hasanova