A Chinese shipping company is launching a new container shipping service via the Arctic that will significantly reduce transit times between Asia and Europe.
The 18-day Arctic Express route, scheduled to commence in September, will connect three major Chinese ports with four key destinations in Western Europe, according to High North News.
The route, launched by Haijie Shipping Co, will start from Qingdao, Shanghai and Ningbo in China and stop at the ports of Felixstowe in the United Kingdom, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburg in Germany and Gdansk in Poland.
Using ice-strengthened containerships, the service will follow the Northeast Passage, allowing vessels to bypass the longer traditional shipping routes through the Suez Canal.
This initiative is part of China’s broader strategy to capitalise on emerging Arctic shipping lanes made more accessible by retreating sea ice.
According to China’s Ministry of Transport, the new route will facilitate faster delivery times, enhance trade efficiency between Asia and Europe, and promote the development of the Arctic’s maritime infrastructure.
The ministry has also started releasing real-time sea ice monitoring data to support navigation safety along the Arctic route, reflecting heightened attention to the environmental and operational challenges posed by Arctic shipping.
Industry analysts have described the Arctic Express as a potential game-changer for global supply chains, particularly for time-sensitive cargo, shaving off approximately two weeks from current maritime transit times.
However, the route also raises environmental and geopolitical concerns among Arctic stakeholders, including the Clean Arctic Alliance, which has called for rigorous oversight to ensure sustainable practices and to protect the fragile Arctic ecosystem.
