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Russian trade in goods with North Korea in Q4 2018

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 2018: exports, imports, products, dynamics.

Russia’s Trade with North Korea

In the 4th quarter of 2018, Russia’s trade with North Korea totaled $16,721,009, up 325.14% ($12,787,932) from the 4th quarter of 2017.

Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2018 totaled $16,236,930, up 397.49% ($12,973,133) from the 4th quarter of 2017.

Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2018 were $484,079, down 27.67% ($185,201) from the 4th quarter of 2017.

Russia’s trade surplus with North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2018 was $15,752,851, a 507.16% increase ($13,158,334) over the 4th quarter of 2017.

North Korea was Russia’s 131st largest trading partner in the 4th quarter of 2018 (up from 148th in the 4th quarter of 2017), accounting for 0.0089% of Russia’s total trade (up from 0.0024% in the 4th quarter of 2017).

North Korea was Russia’s 118th largest export market in the 4th quarter of 2018 (up from 140th in the 4th quarter of 2017), accounting for 0.0130% of Russia’s total exports (up from 0.0032% in the 4th quarter of 2017).

North Korea was Russia’s 138th largest supplier in the 4th quarter of 2018 (down from 133rd in the 4th quarter of 2017), accounting for 0.0008% of Russia’s total imports (down from 0.0010% in the 4th quarter of 2017).

Russia’s Exports to North Korea

The major share of Russian exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2018 (and in the 4th quarter of 2017) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 77.17% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (34.67% in the 4th quarter of 2017);
  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 20.45% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (50.88% in the 4th quarter of 2017);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 1.84% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (10.37% in the 4th quarter of 2017);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 0.49% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (3.10% in the 4th quarter of 2017).

The largest gains in Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2018 over the 4th quarter of 2017 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 $11,352,428;
  • Cereals (HS code 10) - an increase of $1,070,230;
  • Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten (HS code 11) - an increase of $843,830;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - an increase of $62,891.

The largest declines in Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2018 over the 4th quarter of 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Miscellaneous edible preparations (HS code 21) - a decrease of $218,047;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - a decrease of $50,530.
Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2018 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of exports
in Q4 2018,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total export Value of exports
in Q4 2017,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in Q4 2018
over Q4 2017
04 Dairy produce; birds eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 9,972 0.06 6,25759.37
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 0 0.00 1,336-100.00
10 Cereals 1,091,729 6.72 21,4994,978.05
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 1,221,305 7.52 377,475223.55
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 19,155 0.12 0
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 977,016 6.02 932,2804.80
16 Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates 0 0.00 47,135-100.00
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 0 0.00 24,473-100.00
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 0 0.00 2,296-100.00
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 0 0.00 12,920-100.00
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 0 0.00 6,830-100.00
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 1,896 0.01 219,943-99.14
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 0 0.00 8,233-100.00
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 86,547 0.53 40,836111.94
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 12,443,293 76.64 1,090,8651,040.68
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 1,002 0.01 3,200-68.69
30 Pharmaceutical products 287,929 1.77 290,910-1.02
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 3,060 0.02 723323.24
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 0 0.00 373-100.00
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 0 0.00 29,636-100.00
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 0 0.00 109-100.00
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 9 0.00 6,368-99.86
39 Plastics and articles thereof 3,305 0.02 1,97467.43
40 Rubber and articles thereof 3,350 0.02 5,192-35.48
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 0 0.00 58-100.00
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 0 0.00 456-100.00
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 0 0.00 1,922-100.00
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 32 0.00 0
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 388 0.00 0
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 295 0.00 71315.49
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 186 0.00 0
65 Headgear and parts thereof 0 0.00 55-100.00
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 1,154 0.01 372210.22
69 Ceramic products 0 0.00 5,943-100.00
70 Glass and glassware 0 0.00 192-100.00
72 Iron and steel 2,905 0.02 0
73 Articles of iron or steel 1,305 0.01 13,064-90.01
74 Copper and articles thereof 73 0.00 342-78.65
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 874 0.01 4,795-81.77
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 0 0.00 3,398-100.00
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 0 0.00 509-100.00
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 75,256 0.46 12,365508.62
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 1,893 0.01 27,432-93.10
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 2,032 0.01 0
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 260 0.00 50,790-99.49
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 77 0.00 10,542-99.27
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 0 0.00 333-100.00
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 0 0.00 100-100.00
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 625 0.00 180247.22
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 7 0.00 15-53.33

Russia’s Imports from North Korea

The major share of Russian imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2018 (and in the 4th quarter of 2017) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 11.91% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (19.99% in the 4th quarter of 2017);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 2.71% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (0.36% in the 4th quarter of 2017);
  • Textiles, textile products and footwear (HS codes 50-67) - 0.53% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (13.23% in the 4th quarter of 2017);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 0.43% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (16.59% in the 4th quarter of 2017).

The largest gains in Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2018 over the 4th quarter of 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles (HS code 92) - an increase of $74,499;
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - an increase of $23,247;
  • Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - an increase of $10,910;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - an increase of $2,878;
  • Cotton (HS code 52) - an increase of $2,547;
  • Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 95) - an increase of $1,561.

The largest declines in Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2018 over the 4th quarter of 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - a decrease of $104,440;
  • Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted (HS code 61) - a decrease of $87,965;
  • 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 $85,673;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - a decrease of $16,607;
  • Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - a decrease of $4,332.
Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2018 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of imports in Q4 2018,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total import Value of imports in Q4 2017,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in Q4 2018
over Q4 2017
29 Organic chemicals 1,148 0.24 0
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 265 0.05 579-54.23
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 0 0.00 964-100.00
39 Plastics and articles thereof 4 0.00 104,444-100.00
40 Rubber and articles thereof 688 0.14 5,020-86.29
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 81 0.02 885-90.85
52 Cotton 2,547 0.53 0
54 Man-made filaments 0 0.00 168-100.00
55 Man-made staple fibers 0 0.00 387-100.00
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 0 0.00 87,965-100.00
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 0 0.00 5-100.00
65 Headgear and parts thereof 0 0.00 6-100.00
69 Ceramic products 0 0.00 110-100.00
73 Articles of iron or steel 13,124 2.71 2,214492.77
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 0 0.00 221-100.00
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 5 0.00 0
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 8,143 1.68 5,26554.66
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 25,710 5.31 111,383-76.92
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 0 0.00 16,607-100.00
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 23,795 4.92 5484,242.15
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 406,757 84.03 332,25822.42
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 1,812 0.37 251621.91
Russian foreign trade statistics
Source: Federal Customs Service of Russia