Could the Arctic rewrite global trade?

Could the Arctic rewrite global trade?

Author: BBC World Service March 24, 2026 Duration: 17:28

We explore the potential and the challenges for Arctic shipping. As global warming causes sea ice to retreat, passages are opening up through this vast frozen Arctic Ocean. We explore what these routes are, who’s using them, and examine the players with big ambitions to develop these shipping shortcuts.

We also take a closer look at the realities of operating in extreme conditions so far north, asking if the rewards really outweigh the risks?

And we hear from local Arctic leaders, concerned about the growing shipping traffic. Might the global trade map really be redrawn?

To get in touch with the team, send us an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Adrienne Murray

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

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We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Arctic ship leaving Tasiilaq in Greenland after having unloaded at the docks in the harbour. Credit: Getty Images)


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