Container ship of China's NNSL to deliver 26,000 tonnes of potash fertilizers from Murmansk to Southeast Asia
MURMANSK. Sept 8 (Interfax) - A dry cargo ship of the Chinese container line New New Shipping Line (NNSL) has departed on its first return voyage from the port of Murmansk along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) with export cargo, the press service of Murmansk Bulk Terminal LLC (MBT, managed by Port Alliance) said on Tuesday.
On board the container ship are 26,400 tonnes of potash fertilizers. The cargo will be delivered to ports in Southeast Asia.
"This voyage opens an additional export corridor for fertilizer producers. The availability of an alternative logistics route in conditions of uncertainty in key regions of the world increases the sustainability of supplies. The Northern Sea Route provides direct access to the markets of Southeast Asia, reduces delivery time and reduces dependence on transit zones. In the future, this route may be in demand not only for Russian, but also for foreign fertilizer producers using the infrastructure of the Murmansk transport hub," the commercial director of MBT, Vladislav Yakovchuk, was quoted as saying in a statement.
For effective backloading of the vessel, the Big Ring logistics scheme was used, which was developed by the National Transport Company (NTC) with the participation of Port Alliance, MBT's press service said. This scheme optimizes the wagon flows of mineral fertilizers and apatite concentrate.
Simultaneously with this, the dispatch from Murmansk Commercial Sea Port (MCSP, also managed by Port Alliance) of containers previously delivered by the NNSL dry cargo ship continues. The delivery of the entire consignment, which included 502 containers, to Central Russia will be completed by the end of September.
As reported, on the night of August 19, a container ship of NNSL moored at the berth of JSC Murmansk Commercial Sea Port for the first time. The vessel delivered containers with automotive components. For MCSP, this was the first experience of receiving container cargo delivered along the route from China via the NSR.
NNSL General Director Ke Jin said that the company is interested in developing port infrastructure in Murmansk. "We are seeking to launch more services. We need investment and joint plans for the time being. We need a larger site to accommodate a different type of vessel," he said.
Murmansk Region First Deputy Arctic Development and Economy Minister Artyom Kuksa told Interfax on August 21 that Chinese companies may consider the possibility of creating a specialized terminal in the seaport of Murmansk for the active development of the transport route between China and Murmansk along the Northern Sea Route routes, but for now the existing infrastructure is being used.
In addition, the Murmansk regional authorities are working with Indian companies on launching container cargo transportation along the NSR through the deep-water universal seaport of Murmansk.
Murmansk Commercial Sea Port is considered the largest stevedoring company in Russia's Arctic zone. Its capacity is 24 million tonnes of cargo per year. In 2025, MCSP handled 9.73 million tonnes of cargo, down 30.4% from a year earlier.
Murmansk Bulk Terminal is located within the boundaries of the seaport of Murmansk on the shore of the Kola Bay. The company is engaged in the transshipment of apatite concentrate and mineral fertilizers, and the transshipment of potash fertilizers since December 2025. The processing capacity of MBT is 8.7 million tonnes per year. MBT handled 2.8 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, down 28.2% from the previous year.
Established in March 2024, JSC Port Alliance includes MCSP, MBT, Murmansk Container Terminal LLC, Tuapse Bulker Terminal LLC, JSC Daltransugol and Maly Port Stevedoring Company LLC in Nakhodka. The combined capacity of the five assets exceeds 53 million tonnes of cargo per year.
