Countries with fastest growing economies 2022
Russian foreign trade
reports and reviews

Russian trade with North Korea in 2012

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 2012: exports, imports, products, dynamics.

Russia’s Trade with North Korea

In 2012, Russia’s trade with North Korea was $68,645,206, down 39.63% ($45,055,299) from 2011.

Russia’s exports to North Korea in 2012 were $58,428,252, down 41.09% ($40,762,362) from 2011.

Russia’s imports from North Korea in 2012 were $10,216,954, down 29.59% ($4,292,937) from 2011.

Russia’s trade surplus with North Korea in 2012 was $48,211,298, a 43.07% decrease ($36,469,425) over 2011.

North Korea was Russia’s 126th largest trading partner in 2012 (down from 115th in 2011), accounting for 0.0082% of Russia’s total trade (down from 0.0138% in 2011).

North Korea was Russia’s 110th largest export market in 2012 (down from 98th in 2011), accounting for 0.0111% of Russia’s total exports (down from 0.0192% in 2011).

North Korea was Russia’s 118th largest supplier in 2012 (up from 121st in 2011), accounting for 0.0032% of Russia’s total imports (down from 0.0047% in 2011).

Russia’s Exports to North Korea

The major share of Russian exports to North Korea in 2012 (and in 2011) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 42.15% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (40.62% in 2011);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 21.18% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (10.42% in 2011);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 16.55% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (9.55% in 2011);
  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 13.37% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (22.50% in 2011);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 2.83% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (3.36% in 2011);
  • Wood and wood products (HS codes 44-49) - 1.93% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (6.30% in 2011).

The largest gains in Russia’s exports to North Korea in 2012 over 2011 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - an increase of $5,970,360;
  • 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) - an increase of $5,030,527;
  • Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten (HS code 11) - an increase of $1,471,399;
  • Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - an increase of $571,749;
  • Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes (HS code 15) - an increase of $485,046;
  • 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 (HS code 34) - an increase of $175,298.

The largest declines in Russia’s exports to North Korea in 2012 over 2011 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes (HS code 27) - a decrease of $14,923,780;
  • Cereals (HS code 10) - a decrease of $14,305,556;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - a decrease of $3,815,818;
  • Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials (HS code 68) - a decrease of $3,667,905;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - a decrease of $3,314,909;
  • Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal (HS code 44) - a decrease of $2,877,076;
  • Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (HS code 03) - a decrease of $2,269,695;
  • 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 (HS code 94) - a decrease of $2,192,406;
  • Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard (HS code 48) - a decrease of $1,502,262;
  • Ships, boats and floating structures (HS code 89) - a decrease of $860,000;
  • Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code 25) - a decrease of $750,805;
  • Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard (HS code 47) - a decrease of $742,998;
  • Fertilizers (HS code 31) - a decrease of $725,955;
  • Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - a decrease of $716,997;
  • Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - a decrease of $701,913;
  • 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 $443,864;
  • Organic chemicals (HS code 29) - a decrease of $369,862;
  • Man-made staple fibers (HS code 55) - a decrease of $288,985;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - a decrease of $277,032.
Russia’s exports to North Korea in 2012 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of exports
in 2012,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total export Value of exports
in 2011,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2012
over 2011
03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 0 0.00 2,269,695-100.00
04 Dairy produce; birds eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 529 0.00 39135.29
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 18 0.00 58-68.97
08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 35 0.00 76-53.95
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 22 0.00 153-85.62
10 Cereals 636,992 1.09 14,942,548-95.74
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 6,191,292 10.60 4,719,89331.17
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 75,600 0.13 0
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 725,356 1.24 240,310201.84
16 Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates 2,205 0.00 2,544-13.33
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 110 0.00 569-80.67
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 21,640 0.04 0
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 107 0.00 14,934-99.28
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 65 0.00 441-85.26
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 286 0.00 27,572-98.96
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 158,209 0.27 98,97559.85
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 1,318,412 2.26 2,069,217-36.28
26 Ores, slag and ash 9,828 0.02 0
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 23,297,783 39.87 38,221,563-39.05
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 136,182 0.23 9,0941,397.49
29 Organic chemicals 0 0.00 369,862-100.00
30 Pharmaceutical products 237,964 0.41 361,393-34.15
31 Fertilizers 0 0.00 725,955-100.00
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 118,625 0.20 47,575149.34
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 389,856 0.67 214,55881.70
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 14,277 0.02 4083,399.26
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 28,093 0.05 730,006-96.15
39 Plastics and articles thereof 643,856 1.10 72,107792.92
40 Rubber and articles thereof 85,122 0.15 802,119-89.39
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 408 0.00 2,975-86.29
43 Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof 0 0.00 4-100.00
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 1,002,635 1.72 3,879,711-74.16
47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard 96,104 0.16 839,102-88.55
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 26,645 0.05 1,528,907-98.26
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 525 0.00 36145.43
52 Cotton 0 0.00 17-100.00
53 Other vegetable textile fibers; paper yarn and woven fabric of paper yarn 3,235 0.01 1,024215.92
54 Man-made filaments 5,021 0.01 0
55 Man-made staple fibers 0 0.00 288,985-100.00
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 34,236 0.06 64,653-47.05
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 0 0.00 593-100.00
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 7,012 0.01 153,200-95.42
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 6,166 0.01 6,0152.51
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 14,851 0.03 38,996-61.92
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 9,221 0.02 21,643-57.40
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 4,540 0.01 10,084-54.98
65 Headgear and parts thereof 613 0.00 1,058-42.06
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 518,363 0.89 4,186,268-87.62
69 Ceramic products 124 0.00 1185.08
70 Glass and glassware 5,321 0.01 3,64346.06
72 Iron and steel 177,340 0.30 3,993,158-95.56
73 Articles of iron or steel 12,077,500 20.67 6,107,14097.76
74 Copper and articles thereof 69,845 0.12 65,2237.09
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 9,996 0.02 42,810-76.65
78 Lead and articles thereof 4 0.00 25-84.00
80 Tin and articles thereof 0 0.00 112-100.00
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 25,944 0.04 96,334-73.07
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 12,101 0.02 30,039-59.72
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 1,117,534 1.91 1,394,566-19.87
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 8,347,613 14.29 3,317,086151.66
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 0.00 443,864-100.00
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 73,543 0.13 3,388,452-97.83
89 Ships, boats and floating structures 0 0.00 860,000-100.00
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 129,510 0.22 68,85988.08
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 67 0.00 146-54.11
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 208,957 0.36 2,401,363-91.30
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 814 0.00 3,064-73.43
SS Classified 350,000 0.60 9 0003,788.89

Russia’s Imports from North Korea

The major share of Russian imports from North Korea in 2012 (and in 2011) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Textiles, textile products and footwear (HS codes 50-67) - 29.78% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (15.21% in 2011);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 19.36% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (21.24% in 2011);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 19.21% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (31.74% in 2011);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 17.58% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (20.89% in 2011);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 4.16% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (3.10% in 2011);
  • Wood and wood products (HS codes 44-49) - 0.27% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (1.10% in 2011).

The largest gains in Russia’s imports from North Korea in 2012 over 2011 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted (HS code 62) - an increase of $763,301;
  • Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles (HS code 92) - an increase of $383,362;
  • Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - an increase of $310,683;
  • Man-made filaments (HS code 54) - an increase of $235,131;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - an increase of $198,244;
  • Organic chemicals (HS code 29) - an increase of $93,054;
  • Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes (HS code 28) - an increase of $89,604;
  • Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials (HS code 68) - an increase of $38,830.

The largest declines in Russia’s imports from North Korea in 2012 over 2011 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Ships, boats and floating structures (HS code 89) - a decrease of $1,335,739;
  • Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code 25) - a decrease of $1,234,015;
  • Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - a decrease of $1,231,105;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - a decrease of $735,397;
  • Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - a decrease of $307,521;
  • 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 $272,122;
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - a decrease of $215,693;
  • Miscellaneous manufactured articles (HS code 96) - a decrease of $190,999;
  • Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 95) - a decrease of $159,632;
  • Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard (HS code 48) - a decrease of $137,923;
  • Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - a decrease of $119,597;
  • Cotton (HS code 52) - a decrease of $80,404;
  • Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal (HS code 82) - a decrease of $74,752;
  • Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations (HS code 33) - a decrease of $55,869;
  • Aluminum and articles thereof (HS code 76) - a decrease of $49,147;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - a decrease of $48,992;
  • Knitted or crocheted fabrics (HS code 60) - a decrease of $37,670;
  • 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 $34,713.
Russia’s imports from North Korea in 2012 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of imports in 2012,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total import Value of imports in 2011,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2012
over 2011
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 649 0.01 0
08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 0 0.00 617-100.00
10 Cereals 11,220 0.11 12,638-11.22
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 1,360 0.01 0
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 0 0.00 1,333-100.00
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 10,988 0.11 0
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 1,796,422 17.58 3,030,437-40.72
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 180,600 1.77 90,99698.47
29 Organic chemicals 136,656 1.34 43,602213.42
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 8,465 0.08 8,700-2.70
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 0 0.00 55,869-100.00
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 2,650 0.03 4,976-46.74
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 826,644 8.09 2,057,749-59.83
39 Plastics and articles thereof 432,656 4.23 740,177-41.55
40 Rubber and articles thereof 390,397 3.82 79,714389.75
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 21,675 0.21 16,66630.06
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 4 0.00 1,245-99.68
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 19,871 0.19 157,794-87.41
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 7,689 0.08 3462,122.25
52 Cotton 0 0.00 80,404-100.00
54 Man-made filaments 235,131 2.30 0
55 Man-made staple fibers 4,307 0.04 3621,089.78
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 0 0.00 1,615-100.00
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 4,411 0.04 588,120.00
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 196 0.00 354-44.63
60 Knitted or crocheted fabrics 0 0.00 37,670-100.00
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 30,313 0.30 57,819-47.57
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 2,729,760 26.72 1,966,45938.82
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 17,590 0.17 32,265-45.48
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 20,851 0.20 0
65 Headgear and parts thereof 0 0.00 29,377-100.00
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 49,217 0.48 10,387373.83
70 Glass and glassware 5,995 0.06 9,032-33.62
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 1,241 0.01 187563.64
72 Iron and steel 198,698 1.94 45443,666.08
73 Articles of iron or steel 154,459 1.51 274,056-43.64
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 4,132 0.04 53,279-92.24
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 30,634 0.30 105,386-70.93
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 37,329 0.37 15,957133.93
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 861,488 8.43 1,596,885-46.05
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 857,829 8.40 1,129,951-24.08
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 17,289 0.17 52,002-66.75
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 198,807 1.95 247,799-19.77
89 Ships, boats and floating structures 0 0.00 1,335,739-100.00
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 27,440 0.27 243,133-88.71
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 0 0.00 70-100.00
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 786,895 7.70 403,53395.00
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 9,215 0.09 30,260-69.55
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 63,121 0.62 222,753-71.66
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 22,660 0.22 213,659-89.39
SS Classified 0 0.00 56 180-100.00
Russian foreign trade statistics
Source: Federal Customs Service of Russia