Sanctions on Russia dull the attraction of Arctic shipping route

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The Northern Sea Route had fewer shipments passing along it than the year before, as non-Russian companies have steered away from it. Problems with infrastructure as well as sanctions have made the shipping lane, which cuts more than  2,000 nautical miles from a Rotterdam to Shanghai voyage going through the Suez Canal. President Putin promoted the Arctic route as a key new trade lane ? but shipping lines have yet to be convinced.