Arctic shipping surges: Northeast Passage traffic doubles, transit time halved

Shipping traffic through the Northeast Passage has already matched last year's record by September 2026, with 104 transits and up to 150 expected by year-end. Reduced ice and nearly halved transit times are making the route increasingly viable for global shipping, potentially reshaping trade flows between Asia and Europe. The trend is driven by climate change and could have significant geopolitical and commercial implications.