Russia Expands Northern Sea Route for LNG and Oil Shipments

Russia is increasing its use of the Northern Sea Route to supply liquefied natural gas and oil to Asian countries, reducing its dependence on the Suez Canal. The route runs from the Kara Gates area to the Bering Strait and is approximately 5,600 kilometers long.

A voyage from Murmansk to Qingdao, China, via this Arctic route takes about 20 days and covers a distance of around 6,400 kilometers. In comparison, the Suez Canal route is about 12,400 kilometers long and takes around 39 days.

The main navigation period on the Northern Sea Route lasts from June or July through October. However, warming and an increase in vessels adapted to Arctic conditions are extending this season. The Arctic LNG 2 project has been producing LNG at a rate below design capacity due to U.S. sanctions and a shortage of specialized tankers.

Since the beginning of 2026, 41 LNG cargoes totaling about 3.1 million tonnes have been loaded at the project. In August 2026, approximately 500,000 tonnes of LNG from the Yamal LNG plant were transported eastward via the Northern Sea Route, compared with 350,000 tonnes in August 2025.

Oil shipments are also increasing, with six Urals cargoes passing along this route in 2023 and nine in 2025. By September 2026, six Urals cargoes had already passed along this route. Rosneft's Vostok Oil project could further increase shipping volumes in the future.