On September 12, Poland blocked its border with Belarus citing "security risks," stranding nearly 300 China-Europe Railway Express (CERE) trains and goods worth 25 billion euros. This disruption directly hit the Malaszewicze hub—through which 90% of China-Europe railway freight passes—causing turbulence in China-Europe trade logistics .
2. Response: Inaugural Voyage of China-Europe Arctic Express
On September 23 at 4:30 a.m., the vessel "Istanbul Bridge" departed from the Beilun Port Area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port bound for the UK’s Felixstowe Port, marking the official launch of the world’s first China-Europe Arctic Container Express (referred to as "China-Europe Arctic Express") .
A day earlier (September 22), the ship completed loading over 1,000 TEUs of containers at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. Taking the Arctic Northeast Passage via the Bering Strait, it shortens the one-way voyage to approximately 18 days—nearly half the time of traditional Suez Canal routes and a new record for shipping efficiency between Ningbo and Europe .
3. Route Layout & Cargo Profile
Port Connections: The route links major Chinese ports including Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, and Dalian with key European basic ports such as the UK’s Felixstowe, the Netherlands’ Rotterdam, Germany’s Hamburg, and Poland’s Gdansk, becoming the fastest container route between China and mainstream European ports .
Cargo Types: Onboard goods cover a wide range, including daily necessities, clothing, spare parts, and "new three major exports" like energy storage cabinets and power batteries, which will be distributed across Europe after arrival. It also carries cross-border e-commerce packages to meet Europe’s Christmas season stock-up demand .
Trade Background: The EU is currently Ningbo Port’s largest trading partner. In the first eight months of this year, the total import and export value between Ningbo Port and the EU reached 330.74 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 12%, accounting for about 18% of Ningbo Port’s total import and export value.
The route significantly shortens voyage distance and transportation time, improving ship turnover efficiency while reducing fuel consumption and transportation costs. Its carbon emissions are 30% lower than those of the Suez Canal route, contributing to green and sustainable development .
Strategic Value
Supply Chain Resilience: Sailing mainly on high seas, it avoids inconveniences caused by geopolitical conflicts in some regions, reducing risks such as blockades, restrictions, piracy, and congestion, and securing a third channel for China-Europe supply chains .
Network Complementarity: It complements the CERE (which is less affected by weather and convenient for Central and Eastern Europe) by directly reaching Northern and Western Europe, further densifying the China-Europe logistics network .
Hub Port Enhancement: The route completes the "last piece of the puzzle" in Ningbo-Zhoushan Port’s global network, connecting it to the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic Oceans, and consolidating its status as an international hub port .
5. Policy Alignment: Practice of "Polar Silk Road"
The launch of the China-Europe Arctic Express is a vivid practice of the "Polar Silk Road" initiative. As early as 2017, the "Arctic 航道" was identified as one of the three major maritime channels for the "Belt and Road" initiative, and China later proposed joint development of the "Polar Silk Road" in policy documents such as the 2018 China’s Arctic Policy white paper .
This route extends China’s Arctic cooperation achievements into the global logistics system, embodies the concept of international collaboration in Arctic affairs, and is open to other Asian countries for participation in development, aiming to build a shared international shipping route .
