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Russian trade with North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2016

by Russian Foreign Trade
based on data from the Federal Customs Service of Russia
The Report on Russia’s foreign trade in goods with North Korea in the fourth quarter of 2016: exports, imports, products, dynamics.

Russia’s Trade with North Korea

In the 4th quarter of 2016, Russia’s trade with North Korea totaled $25,124,429, up 18.26% ($3,879,921) from the 4th quarter of 2015.

Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2016 totaled $22,363,720, up 25.32% ($4,518,419) from the 4th quarter of 2015.

Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2016 were $2,760,709, down 18.78% ($638,498) from the 4th quarter of 2015.

Russia’s trade surplus with North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2016 was $19,603,011, a 35.70% increase ($5,156,917) over the 4th quarter of 2015.

North Korea was Russia’s 115th largest trading partner in the 4th quarter of 2016 (up from 118th in the 4th quarter of 2015), accounting for 0.0184% of Russia’s total trade (up from 0.0162% in the 4th quarter of 2015).

North Korea was Russia’s 100th largest export market in the 4th quarter of 2016 (up from 107th in the 4th quarter of 2015), accounting for 0.0267% of Russia’s total exports (up from 0.0216% in the 4th quarter of 2015).

North Korea was Russia’s 111th largest supplier in the 4th quarter of 2016 (down from 108th in the 4th quarter of 2015), accounting for 0.0053% of Russia’s total imports (down from 0.0070% in the 4th quarter of 2015).

Russia’s Exports to North Korea

The major share of Russian exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2016 (and in the 4th quarter of 2015) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 85.96% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (76.04% in the 4th quarter of 2015);
  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 8.26% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (18.00% in the 4th quarter of 2015);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 4.81% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (0.94% in the 4th quarter of 2015);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 0.30% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (1.92% in the 4th quarter of 2015);
  • Wood and wood products (HS codes 44-49) - 0.08% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (1.74% in the 4th quarter of 2015).

The largest gains in Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2016 over the 4th quarter of 2015 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes (HS code 27) - an increase of $5,590,187;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - an increase of $743,648;
  • Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (HS code 03) - an increase of $708,469;
  • Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes (HS code 15) - an increase of $405,586;
  • Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten (HS code 11) - an increase of $187,902;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - an increase of $152,452.

The largest declines in Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2016 over the 4th quarter of 2015 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Cereals (HS code 10) - a decrease of $2,455,903;
  • Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal (HS code 44) - a decrease of $309,216;
  • Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - a decrease of $248,039;
  • Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares (HS code 19) - a decrease of $136,797.
Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2016 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of exports
in Q4 2016,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total export Value of exports
in Q4 2015,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in Q4 2016
over Q4 2015
01 Live animals 0 0.00 2,868-100.00
03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 945,817 4.23 237,348298.49
04 Dairy produce; birds eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 0 0.00 7,816-100.00
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 0 0.00 2,821-100.00
10 Cereals 264,138 1.18 2,720,041-90.29
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 199,742 0.89 11,8401,587.01
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 17,101 0.08 16,0806.35
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 412,027 1.84 6,4416,296.94
16 Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates 0 0.00 11,884-100.00
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 8,275 0.04 25,404-67.43
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 0 0.00 20,963-100.00
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 0 0.00 136,797-100.00
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 6 0.00 5,689-99.89
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 0 0.00 2,744-100.00
23 Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed 0 0.00 3,252-100.00
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 64,936 0.29 15741,260.51
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 19,159,888 85.67 13,569,70141.20
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 5,543 0.02 0
30 Pharmaceutical products 49,215 0.22 51,518-4.47
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 2,106 0.01 0
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 13 0.00 573-97.73
34 Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modeling pastes, "dental waxes" and dental preparations with a basis of plaster 13,731 0.06 0
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 248 0.00 0
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 5,592 0.03 18,275-69.40
39 Plastics and articles thereof 3,489 0.02 9,105-61.68
40 Rubber and articles thereof 7,952 0.04 8,015-0.79
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 215 0.00 800-73.13
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 253 0.00 309,469-99.92
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 1,508 0.01 93860.77
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 15,188 0.07 0
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 234 0.00 0
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 1 0.00 0
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 20,356 0.09 39,000-47.81
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 3,764 0.02 1,552142.53
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 3,148 0.01 10,732-70.67
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 1,520 0.01 9,934-84.70
65 Headgear and parts thereof 84 0.00 42,000.00
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 13,132 0.06 0
70 Glass and glassware 0 0.00 494-100.00
72 Iron and steel 11,120 0.05 5,489102.59
73 Articles of iron or steel 27,875 0.12 275,914-89.90
74 Copper and articles thereof 319 0.00 0
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 164 0.00 10,689-98.47
81 Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof 26 0.00 0
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 26,765 0.12 50,214-46.70
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 363 0.00 59515.25
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 213,293 0.95 60,841250.57
85 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles 49,653 0.22 9,793407.03
86 Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds 246 0.00 18,560-98.67
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 784,625 3.51 40,9771,814.79
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 28,696 0.13 37,065-22.58
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 0 0.00 850-100.00
94 Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated sign illuminated nameplates and the like; prefabricated buildings 1,022 0.00 22,666-95.49
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 0 0.00 22,747-100.00
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 331 0.00 31967.74
SS Classified 0 0.00 47 151-100.00

Russia’s Imports from North Korea

The major share of Russian imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2016 (and in the 4th quarter of 2015) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 56.01% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (9.66% in the 4th quarter of 2015);
  • Textiles, textile products and footwear (HS codes 50-67) - 26.70% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (28.09% in the 4th quarter of 2015);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 3.70% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (0.78% in the 4th quarter of 2015);
  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 0.00% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (52.19% in the 4th quarter of 2015).

The largest gains in Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2016 over the 4th quarter of 2015 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - an increase of $1,425,707;
  • Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - an increase of $82,322;
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - an increase of $66,996;
  • Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles (HS code 92) - an increase of $53,578;
  • Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted (HS code 61) - an increase of $47,894;
  • Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes (HS code 35) - an increase of $8,700.

The largest declines in Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2016 over the 4th quarter of 2015 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (HS code 03) - a decrease of $1,681,218;
  • Man-made filaments (HS code 54) - a decrease of $204,266;
  • Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds (HS code 86) - a decrease of $175,443;
  • Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles (HS code 85) - a decrease of $100,768;
  • Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares (HS code 19) - a decrease of $51,080;
  • Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten (HS code 11) - a decrease of $41,652;
  • Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof (HS code 56) - a decrease of $36,101;
  • Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted (HS code 62) - a decrease of $25,922;
  • Organic chemicals (HS code 29) - a decrease of $15,000.
Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2016 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of imports in Q4 2016,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total import Value of imports in Q4 2015,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in Q4 2016
over Q4 2015
03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 0 0.00 1,681,218-100.00
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 0 0.00 41,652-100.00
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 0 0.00 51,080-100.00
29 Organic chemicals 0 0.00 15,000-100.00
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 8,543 0.31 10,881-21.49
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 8,700 0.32 0
37 Photographic or cinematographic goods 0 0.00 105-100.00
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 82,322 2.98 0
39 Plastics and articles thereof 2,590 0.09 564359.22
40 Rubber and articles thereof 26 0.00 12,500.00
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 0 0.00 254-100.00
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 0 0.00 1,254-100.00
54 Man-made filaments 3,248 0.12 207,514-98.43
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 0 0.00 36,101-100.00
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 65,378 2.37 17,484273.93
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 667,855 24.19 693,777-3.74
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 515 0.02 114,581.82
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 523 0.02 0
69 Ceramic products 0 0.00 2,006-100.00
73 Articles of iron or steel 5,213 0.19 0
74 Copper and articles thereof 0 0.00 76-100.00
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 6 0.00 0
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 0 0.00 200-100.00
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 14,701 0.53 13,14311.85
85 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles 23,327 0.84 124,095-81.20
86 Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds 0 0.00 175,443-100.00
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 1,426,370 51.67 663215,038.76
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 81,868 2.97 14,872450.48
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 364,994 13.22 311,41617.20
94 Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated sign illuminated nameplates and the like; prefabricated buildings 29 0.00 190-84.74
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 405 0.01 20795.65
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 4,096 0.15 0
td
Russian foreign trade statistics
Source: Federal Customs Service of Russia