NSR transits surpass 2025 total, Arctic shipping on record pace

Commercial transits through Russia's Northern Sea Route exceeded the full-year 2025 count by end-September, signaling another record season as cargo volumes rise and more vessels use the route between Asia and Europe. The trend reflects growing reliance on Arctic shipping amid geopolitical shifts and climate-driven ice retreat, though infrastructure and regulatory constraints remain. This development underscores a structural shift in Eurasian trade flows, with implications for shipping costs and energy transit routes.