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The New Frontier: Arctic Trade Reaches New Heights in 2024

Maggie Johnson

By Maggie Johnson

December 15, 2024


Image Credit: “The Future of Shipping & Trade in Arctic Waters,” available at Yahoo Images (12/10/2024).


Despite expanding Western sanctions, Russia has achieved a significant milestone by increasing Arctic transit cargo by nearly 50% in 2024. The Northern Sea Route recorded 97 transits, carrying nearly 3 million tonnes of cargo, surpassing previous records. This substantial increase in total cargo volume, including domestic traffic, which reached approximately 40 million tonnes, underscores the growing importance of the Arctic as a transit route.

Trade between Russia and China accounted for 95% of transit cargo, with 2.9 million tonnes transported. China imported 1.9 million tonnes of crude oil, equivalent to 14.1 million barrels, a 30% increase from 2023. Shipments originated from Murmansk, Primorsk, and the Prirazlomnaya oil platform, with additional deliveries from the Russian Arctic excluded from transit figures. Oil shipments were completed by 16 tankers making 18 voyages, with two vessels completing two trips each. Persistent summer sea ice shortened the transit season by about a month, ending mid-October, though it lasted nearly four months. Most tankers returned in ballast, completing 17 additional voyages. Unlike in 2023, all tankers this year had ice-class certifications ranging from Ice 2 to Arc 6, addressing safety concerns.

The growth in container shipping is another promising development in Arctic transit. Nine bulk carriers transported nearly 900,000 tonnes of iron ore, coal, and fertilizers from Russia to China. Container shipping also saw significant growth, with 17 voyages, including 14 between Russia and China. This year marked the first use of Panamax container ships in the Arctic, carrying up to 5,000 containers. These vessels bypassed the Suez Canal, emphasizing the Arctic's increasing viability as a shipping route. In September, two large containerships passed within 750 nautical miles of the North Pole, a historic milestone. The fact that container ships typically carried light ice classifications or none highlights the improved conditions for standard carriers in the Arctic.

Russia's nuclear icebreaker fleet played a pivotal role in keeping the Arctic routes open through late summer and early winter ice. The three icebreakers—Sibir, Ural, and Vaygach—rotated during the transit season, ensuring the safe passage of cargo. This contrasts with recent summers when icebreaker usage was limited. The addition of the newest nuclear icebreaker, Yakutiya, which began sea trials this week, brings the fleet to a record eight vessels. Russia's ambitious plan to expand its icebreaker fleet to at least ten by 2030 underscores the strategic importance of these vessels in enabling year-round navigation.


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