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The Arctic Is the New Express Lane for Russia’s Oil Exports
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia has increased crude oil shipments to China via the Northern Sea Route (NSR), with at least six tankers already transiting or preparing to cross the Arctic passage, according to Bloomberg on July 28.
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The seasonal route allows Moscow to shorten delivery times to Asia while reducing reliance on shipping lanes through the Red Sea.
According to Bloomberg, one tanker, Breeze, is already crossing the Laptev Sea under the escort of a nuclear-powered icebreaker, while five more are waiting near the Arctic port of Dikson before entering ice-covered waters. The agency noted that Arctic shipments have started earlier than usual this year and already exceed last July’s pace, when only one tanker used the route.
Russia’s seaborne crude exports have remained above 4 million barrels per day for a fifth consecutive week, Bloomberg reported.
The shorter Arctic route enables tankers to return more quickly for new cargoes, increasing the efficiency of Russia’s export fleet. It also allows vessels to avoid the Red Sea, where Russia-linked tankers have previously faced attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement.
At the same time, exports from the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk were temporarily disrupted by Ukrainian drone attacks on nearby vessels and infrastructure before operations resumed over the weekend, according to Bloomberg.
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The agency also reported that Russia’s weekly seaborne crude export revenue rose by about $440 million to $2.01 billion in the week ending July 26, supported by higher oil prices and steady export volumes.
France has intensified enforcement against Russia’s shadow fleet in recent months. In June, French authorities detained the sanctioned tanker Deliver after it departed Russia’s Primorsk port, with President Emmanuel Macron stating the vessel was being used to circumvent sanctions and help finance Russia’s war against Ukraine. Earlier, the United Kingdom also detained the shadow fleet tanker SMYRTOS.
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