Russia's Amur River revival aims to restore Soviet-era shipping glory by 2030

The Amur River, once a bustling freight route, could soon regain its former importance. Governor Dmitry Demeshin has unveiled plans to revive shipping along the waterway, which now operates at just 6% of its Soviet-era capacity. The initiative aims to reconnect Chinese industrial centres with Khabarovsk’s ports and global trade networks. In 1989, the Amur handled over 32 million tons of cargo, but by 2025, that figure had plummeted to 2 million tons. Now, efforts are underway to reverse this decline. An interregional programme has been drafted to upgrade infrastructure, modernise the fleet, and establish new shipping routes.

Two major ports in the Khabarovsk Advanced Development Territory—Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Nikolayevsk-on-Amur—are leading investment drives. The Amur’s strategic location links Chinese hubs like Fuyuan and Tongjiang with Khabarovsk’s ports and trans-Pacific lanes. It also offers potential integration with the Northern Sea Route and broader Asia-Pacific trade. This autumn, the Transport Cooperation Subcommission will meet in Khabarovsk as part of the Russia-China Forum to discuss further development. Meanwhile, the Khabarovsk Shipyard is preparing to launch a high-speed passenger vessel in 2025, serving the Khabarovsk-Fuyuan route. The region’s port network, including Vanino and key Chinese terminals, is set to play a central role in the revival plan.

The revival of Amur shipping could transform trade flows between China and the Pacific. With upgraded infrastructure and new vessels, the river’s capacity may gradually return to past levels. The upcoming forum in Khabarovsk will shape the next steps for this transport corridor.