Sveza Group is embracing the Northern Sea Route for its logistics export expansion

 Monday, November 3, 2025

Sveza Group has drastically increased the volume of shipments it uses the Northern Sea Route (NSR) when evaluating the business viability of Arctic maritime routes. The company’s dedication to maximising its global export network and reducing geopolitical and seasonal transit risks is demonstrated by this strategic change.

Northern Sea Route

Between January and September 2025, Sveza Group’s shipments traveling via the NSR witnessed a dramatic surge, growing from 44 to 76 containers—an impressive increase of 73% compared to the same period in 2024.

The NSR, which runs along the northern coast of Russia, has evolved from a seasonal, trial corridor for the company’s timber and plywood exports into a fully integrated and reliable component of its supply chain. The route offers one of the shortest maritime connections between Western Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region, providing significant advantages for bulk shippers like Sveza.

Tatiana Kosterina, Head of Centralized Logistics at Sveza, affirmed the route’s established role: “The Northern Sea Route is no longer an experiment for us. It is a proven and reliable link in our logistics chain that allows us to maintain consistent service levels while choosing the most efficient routes in terms of timing and cost. The NSR has proven itself as a practical solution.”

The primary appeal of the Arctic route for high-volume, containerised cargo—such as manufactured forest products—is the considerable reduction in transit time and distance compared to traditional southern passages. For Sveza, this focus on efficiency has already yielded positive results:

• Shorter transit times: Average delivery times for Sveza’s products via the NSR were reduced to 41 days in 2025, a two-day improvement from the 43 days recorded in 2024. This efficiency translates directly into a quicker inventory turnover and enhanced market responsiveness.
• Cost optimisation: The shortened distance offers substantial savings on fuel consumption and vessel operating costs, which are critical factors in maintaining competitive pricing in international timber markets.

As global trade continues to face volatility in established shipping lanes, the predictability and cost-effectiveness of the NSR make it a compelling alternative for large-scale forest product exporters looking to secure market stability and competitiveness. While the NSR offers clear benefits, the forest industry—which often transports heavy, specialised cargo—requires robust solutions that are not dependent on a single route or mode. A key element of Sveza’s logistics strategy in 2025 has been the continued expansion of its multimodal transport capabilities.

Multimodal transport involves using two or more different modes of transport (e.g., rail, road, and sea) under a single contract, often utilising the same intermodal container. This approach is essential for the forest industry because it:

1. Improves network flexibility: It allows Sveza to seamlessly transfer cargo between various transport options, routing shipments around bottlenecks, disruptions, or seasonal constraints (such as periods when the NSR is closed due to ice).
2. Reduces logistic risks: By diversifying away from single-mode or single-corridor dependence, the company significantly reduces its exposure to delays and costs caused by isolated incidents, be they weather-related or geopolitical.
3. Expands export reach: Combining rail and road infrastructure with the strategic sea route enables the company to efficiently reach a broader range of international markets from its production sites.

This blend of increased Arctic shipping, coupled with robust multimodal planning, solidifies Sveza Group’s position in the international market, ensuring their timber and plywood products can be delivered reliably and affordably to customers worldwide.

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Tags: Arctic Shipping, Forest Products Logistics, Multimodal Transport, Northern Sea Route (NSR), Plywood Export, Sveza Group Exports, timber supply chain