--- title: "First time in 30 years: Russia to ship 65,000 tons of metal via Murmansk to bypass Black Sea strikes" description: "For the first time since 1996, Russia will direct over 65,000 tons of metal through the Arctic port of Murmansk to bypass Ukrainian strikes on vessels in the Black Sea. The new route is twice as expensive and takes 10 days longer than usual." date: 2026-11-07T12:30:09.483Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russia-metal-export-via-murmansk tags: [russia, black-sea, murmansk, metal-export, cast-iron, turkey, logistics, war] author: "Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # First time in 30 years: Russia to ship 65,000 tons of metal via Murmansk to bypass Black Sea strikes ![A worker in safety gear looks at rail cars loaded with metal at the port of Murmansk with cranes and a ship in the background](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/07/rossiya-eksport-metalla-cherez-murmansk/rossiya-eksport-metalla-cherez-murmansk-1.webp) ## Key Points - For the first time since 1996, Russia is exporting metal through the Arctic port of Murmansk. - Over 65,000 tons of metal are planned to be shipped via Murmansk; pig iron was delivered in 180+ rail cars. - Turkey is considered the likely buyer following the EU ban on Russian pig iron imports starting January 1, 2026. - The new route takes 10 days longer and is almost twice as expensive, with carrier surcharges of about $100 per ton. - The reason is over 700 attacks on vessels in the Black Sea since the beginning of 2026, according to analysts. For the first time since 1996, Russia will export metal through the Arctic port of Murmansk. According to the Financial Times, cited by Ukrainian media, this logistical reorientation was a response to threats to shipping in the Black Sea, where analysts estimate over 700 attacks on Russian and Ukrainian vessels have been recorded since the beginning of 2026. More than 65,000 tons of metal are planned to be shipped to the Mediterranean Sea via the Murmansk port, and pig iron in over 180 railway cars has already been delivered to the port. ### New Arctic route instead of the Black Sea Previously, export pig iron went through the port of Novorossiysk, but the last such shipment reportedly took place on July 31. Following this, Russia effectively relocated a portion of its metallurgical supplies to the north. The Murmansk port, historically used primarily for oil exports, is now becoming a channel for metal and, as sources note, for grain as well. Thus, the Arctic hub is turning into a multi-profile alternative to Black Sea ports. ### Why Turkey is considered the likely buyer Turkey has been named as the likely destination for the cargo. The key factor here is a trade restriction: starting January 1, 2026, the European Union banned the import of Russian pig iron. This narrows the circle of traditional European buyers and makes Mediterranean and Middle Eastern counterparts more attractive to Russian exporters. For this reason, the logistics chain leading from Murmansk to the Mediterranean Sea looks to Moscow like a rational way to bypass both sanctions and military pressure. ### The price of the bypass: plus 10 days and double the costs Switching to the Arctic route, however, significantly increases export costs. According to the publication, delivering metal from Murmansk to Turkey takes approximately 10 days longer than transport via the Black Sea, and transportation costs are nearly twice as high. According to the same information, some Russian carriers have to pay an additional fee of about $100 for every ton of cargo. For exporters, this means a direct reduction in margins and a revision of contracts where prices and delivery times were fixed under the previous Black Sea logistics. ### Diplomatic background: calls to end attacks These logistical adjustments are taking place against the backdrop of public statements about the need to de-escalate the situation in the Black Sea. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi stated that Kyiv expects a number of countries dependent on exports through this sea to urge Russia to cease fire in the waters. Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, in turn, reiterated Ankara's call on Ukraine and Russia to halt attacks in the Black Sea and threatened "legal measures" in the event of strikes on vessels linked to Turkey. These signals emphasize that Black Sea shipping remains a zone where military and diplomatic dynamics directly influence trade flows. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Россия будет экспортировать металл через арктический порт, чтобы избежать ударов Украины, - FT](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rosiya-eksportuvatime-metal-cherez-arktichniy-1794053823.html) - Primary source basis: 65k tons, 180+ rail cars, EU ban from 01.01.2026, +10 days, ~$100/ton, 700+ attacks, last shipment from Novorossiysk on 31.07, statements by Tykhyi and Güler. - [Чтобы избегать украинских ударов. россия впервые за 30 лет начнет экспортировать металл через ...](https://hromadske.ua/ru/voyna/273972-chtoby-izbegat-ukrainskih-udarov-rossiya-vpervye-za-30-let-nachnet-eksportirovat-metall-cherez-arkticheskiy-port-ft) - Independent retelling of the same FT information: matches on all key figures and formulations, no discrepancies with source 1. ## FAQ ### Why is Russia moving metal exports to Murmansk? According to the FT, to avoid threats to shipping in the Black Sea amid attacks on vessels of both sides; the last shipment of pig iron through Novorossiysk was reportedly on July 31. ### Where is the cargo likely to go? Turkey has been named as the likely destination, as the EU banned imports of Russian pig iron starting January 1, 2026. ### How much does this cost carriers? The route via Murmansk takes approximately 10 days longer and is nearly twice as expensive; some carriers have to pay an extra $100 per ton.