While Russias oil shipments to China via the Northern Sea Route have increased significantly in 2026, tankers loaded in Murmansk and Primorsk are proceeding along this route.
Sea-news.az reports that in 2026, Russias oil supplies to China via the Northern Sea Route have increased significantly. While at least six tankers loaded in Murmansk and Primorsk are already moving in this direction, only one vessel passed through this route in July of last year. According to Bloomberg, the increase in supplies has reached a remarkable level.
One of the tankers, named “Breeze,” is proceeding through the Laptev Sea escorted by an icebreaker. The other five tankers are waiting near the port of Dikson before entering the ice fields.
The Arctic route is considerably shorter than the traditional routes to Asia via the Suez Channel or around Africa. However, due to the short navigation season, it is not possible to fully utilize this route year-round. Nevertheless, Bloomberg noted that the early start of voyages this year has created expectations for a noticeable increase in supply volume.
Along with the route being cheaper, the shorter sailing time accelerates the turnaround cycle of the ships. Thus, tankers can return in a shorter time to pick up new oil cargoes.
Due to domestic oil refining problems and a lack of storage capacities, Russia’s seaborne oil exports have exceeded four million barrels per day for the fifth consecutive week. At the same time, Russia has suspended exports of not only gasoline but also diesel fuel and has begun purchasing products from an Indian oil refinery.
