New container routes from Asia to Europe: “Children” Geopolitics
GEopolitical reality can often play a major role in re -forming trade routes. In its latest weekly report, Shipbroker Intermodal said that “China is set to mark a milestone this September with the launch of its first liner-type-type container service between Asia and Europe via the Northern Sea Route (NSR). For the first time, a scheduled service reserves a conventional ASIA-Europe Loop will transit the Russian Arctic, Linking Qingdao, Shanghai, and Ningbo-Zhoushan with Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Gdansk.
“But under the main headline lies a more complicated picture. Arctic liner services will remain seasonal, limited to the window of July-november to high ice class containers can extend the operation season. This year, only one trip is planned. Conversely, the Suez route offers annual dependence. Be aware of the waterway that is closer to geopolitics than with commercial stability, “said the Head of the Intermodal Research Department, Mr. Yiannis Parganas.
According to Intermodal analysts, “Indeed, geopolitics cannot be separated from this story. Russia has made NSR as a strategic priority, assign Rosatom by expanding infrastructure and ice breaking. Arkhangelsk, and a joint plan for new ice classes, underlined that Beijing played a long game.
Mr. Parganas added that “From the perspective of the shipping market, the emergence of NSR as an attractive and marginal route. Interesting, because it offers an original alternative when the global supply chain craves resilience and diversification. Marginal, due to the trading scale that can be carried (seasonal, small season, small doubles, high rago) for high push Seasonal, to sustain seasonal, to raise seasonal, for seasonal, for seasonal, smaller, for seasonal, for seasonal, for seasonal, to raise, for-for, for-for, for-for, for-for, for-for Commerce.
“For the broader shipping industry, the lesson is not to view the north pole as a substitute for Suez, but as a protective seasonal value, the pressure valve exploited by Chinese operators, especially those that can be exploited in favorable conditions. NSR services are not longer, but if there is no connection, but it has nothing to do with development, but there is no connection Transformative, but has nothing to do with cables.
Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News worldwide
