September saw a 46% rise in Arctic Northern Sea Route voyages, totaling 133, driven by melting ice and global security concerns.
In September, 133 voyages were recorded on the Arctic Northern Sea Route. The retreat of sea ice and security issues along traditional trade routes are increasing interest in this alternative route.
Ship traffic along Russia's Northern Sea Route, which stretches along its Arctic coast, rose in September. According to a report by the Financial Times based on Lloyd’s List Intelligence data, the 133 voyages recorded in September 2026 represent a 46% increase compared to August. Approximately half of these voyages were carried out by Russian-flagged vessels.
The report noted that the retreat of sea ice, along with disruptions in the Middle East and the Red Sea, has influenced shipowners to turn to alternative routes.
Also used for Russian oil shipments
The Northern Sea Route is increasingly being used for transporting Russian oil to Asia. According to a Reuters report dated August 11, 2026, at that time, seven shipments carrying a total of approximately 6 million barrels of crude oil were directed to Asia via the Arctic route.
Trade sources speaking to Reuters reported that favorable ice conditions, along with logistical issues in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea, supported these shipments. The agency noted that the route can shorten the travel time to China by about two weeks compared to shipments made via the Suez Canal.
Rosatom expects a 14% growth in cargo volume
In a statement published on September 1, Alexei Likhachev, General Director of Rosatom, the infrastructure operator of the route, stated that they expect the cargo volume transported via the Northern Sea Route to increase by 14% annually in 2026.
According to the statement reported by Interfax, the route transported a total of 37.02 million tons of cargo in 2025, with shipments between Chinese and Russian ports reaching 5.4 million tons. It was noted that Chinese carriers plan to conduct more than 30 container voyages between these ports in 2026.
Navigation and environmental safety are on the agenda
With the increase in traffic, the safety of operations in the Arctic region is also coming to the forefront. The Financial Times report highlighted the limited search and rescue and pollution response infrastructure, as well as the navigational difficulties at high latitudes.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
