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DOI: 10.15862/17FAOR325 (https://doi.org/10.15862/17FAOR325)

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Korzun I.A. Comparative analysis of the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Oblasts in the context of the development of the Northern Sea route in 2020–2025. Russian journal of resources, conservation and recycling. 2025; 12(s3). Available at: https://resources.today/PDF/17FAOR325.pdf (in Russian). DOI: 10.15862/17FAOR325

Comparative analysis of the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Oblasts in the context of the development of the Northern Sea route in 2020–2025

Korzun Ilya Aleksandrovich
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
E-mail: nuzrokeli@gmail.com

Academic adviser: Pashtova Lelya Germanovna
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
E-mail: lgpashtova@fa.ru

Abstract. This article presents a comparative analysis of the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Oblasts as Arctic support zones in the context of the development of the Northern Sea Route in 2020–2025. The relevance of the study is driven by the steady growth of cargo traffic along the NSR, which reached a record high of 37,89 million tonnes in 2024, as well as intensifying competition among Arctic regions for infrastructure investment, federal support, and the status of logistics hubs. The central finding of the study was the fundamental asymmetric nature of the relationship between the two regions. The Murmansk Region occupies a dominant position across all key parameters; cargo turnover at the port of Murmansk in 2024 amounted to 52,1 million tonnes, the investment portfolio of residents of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and the «Capital of the Arctic» priority development area exceeds 371 billion rubles, and ice-free deepwater waters ensure year-round navigation for large-capacity vessels. The Arkhangelsk Region, with a cargo turnover of only 2,6 million tonnes, nevertheless demonstrates recovery growth of 39,4 % in 2024 and retains prospects in specialized segments, such as container logistics, northern deliveries, ship repair, and regional cargo distribution. The identified difference in investment models reflects the fundamentally different development patterns of the two regions. The Murmansk Region is implementing an industrial and infrastructure model with a concentration of large, capital-intensive projects — the Murmansk Transport Hub and the Lavna Port. The Arkhangelsk Region is developing a project-based logistics model focused on flexibility and specialization with a lower average investment volume per resident. The key conclusion of the study is that regional interaction is best described as asymmetric competition with elements of potential cooperation. The competitive component manifests itself in the struggle for federal funding, Arctic hub status, and cargo capacity. The author argues that the long-term effectiveness of the Northern Sea Route’s development is determined not by the isolated strengthening of individual ports, but by the formation of a balanced network of complementary Arctic support zones.

Keywords: Northern Sea Route; Murmansk Oblast; Arkhangelsk Oblast; Arctic ports; Arctic zone of the Russian Federation; cargo turnover; logistics hub; investment activity; asymmetric competition; functional cooperation

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