Chinese "minibuses" to Europe enter the Northern Sea Route

China is switching to regular cargo ship flights to Europe via the Northern Sea Route (NSR). Rosatom gave permission.

China's Sealegend Shipping launches the first ever regular container service between China and Europe via the Northern Sea Route. "Minibuses" will depart every week and, for example, the journey to the UK will be almost twice as short.

"The Chinese shipping company Sealegend Shipping is indeed planning to launch the first regular route to Europe. And Rosatom has already issued permits for the passage of seven vessels in the waters of the NSR. Unlike previous container shipments, which were largely experimental or one—time in nature, the program for 2026 provides for a full-fledged linear communication with the departure of ships every week during the navigation season," the head of the state corporation Alexei Likhachev told the corporate publication Strana Rosatom.

According to him, container ships will run in August-October, if the ice situation allows. Eight flights of seven small and medium-class container ships are planned.

The "rolling out" of the NSR takes place against the background of a permanently difficult situation in The Persian Gulf. Over the past two months, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels has been officially announced only four times. Against the background of such logistical and political uncertainty, the initiative of the Chinese company has become another confirmation of the growing demand for our Arctic route and a natural stage in the development of the NSR, which is becoming a full—fledged transport artery of global importance," explained Alexey Likhachev.

The growth of container flights of Chinese shipping companies through the NSR is growing year by year.

"In 2023 there were only seven such flights, in 2024 - 14, and in 2025 — already 24. This year we expect more than 30 such flights. Transportation between the ports of China and Russia already accounts for almost 15% of the total freight traffic along the NSR. According to our joint plans, the cargo flow between Russia and China should reach 20 million tons by 2030," said the head of Rosatom.