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Russian foreign trade
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Russian trade with North Korea in 2013

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 2013: exports, imports, products, dynamics.

Russia’s Trade with North Korea

In 2013, Russia’s trade with North Korea totaled $112,717,067, up 64.20% ($44,071,861) from 2012.

Russia’s exports to North Korea in 2013 totaled $103,426,479, up 77.01% ($44,998,227) from 2012.

Russia’s imports from North Korea in 2013 were $9,290,588, down 9.07% ($926,366) from 2012.

Russia’s trade surplus with North Korea in 2013 was $94,135,891, a 95.26% increase ($45,924,593) over 2012.

North Korea was Russia’s 113th largest trading partner in 2013 (up from 126th in 2012), accounting for 0.0134% of Russia’s total trade (up from 0.0082% in 2012).

North Korea was Russia’s 96th largest export market in 2013 (up from 110th in 2012), accounting for 0.0196% of Russia’s total exports (up from 0.0111% in 2012).

North Korea was Russia’s 123rd largest supplier in 2013 (down from 118th in 2012), accounting for 0.0029% of Russia’s total imports (down from 0.0032% in 2012).

Russia’s Exports to North Korea

The major share of Russian exports to North Korea in 2013 (and in 2012) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 43.56% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (42.15% in 2012);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 33.58% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (16.55% in 2012);
  • Wood and wood products (HS codes 44-49) - 6.65% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (1.93% in 2012);
  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 6.47% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (13.37% in 2012);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 2.85% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (21.18% in 2012);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 2.66% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (2.83% in 2012).

The largest gains in Russia’s exports to North Korea in 2013 over 2012 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - an increase of $21,760,802;
  • Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes (HS code 27) - an increase of $20,288,617;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - an increase of $9,531,637;
  • Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard (HS code 47) - an increase of $3,582,802;
  • Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials (HS code 68) - an increase of $3,285,928;
  • Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal (HS code 44) - an increase of $1,420,406;
  • Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - an increase of $1,193,991;
  • Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (HS code 03) - an increase of $1,003,159;
  • Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard (HS code 48) - an increase of $744,722;
  • Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes (HS code 15) - an increase of $615,447.

The largest declines in Russia’s exports to North Korea in 2013 over 2012 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - a decrease of $9,263,019;
  • 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 $6,275,625;
  • Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten (HS code 11) - a decrease of $2,316,865;
  • Cereals (HS code 10) - a decrease of $567,789.
Russia’s exports to North Korea in 2013 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of exports
in 2013,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total export Value of exports
in 2012,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2013
over 2012
01 Live animals 139,432 0.13 0
03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 1,003,159 0.97 0
04 Dairy produce; birds eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 1,772 0.00 529234.97
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 0 0.00 18-100.00
08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 0 0.00 35-100.00
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 0 0.00 22-100.00
10 Cereals 69,203 0.07 636,992-89.14
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 3,874,427 3.75 6,191,292-37.42
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 47,609 0.05 75,600-37.03
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 1,340,803 1.30 725,35684.85
16 Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates 20,161 0.02 2,205814.33
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 1,665 0.00 1101,413.64
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 16,183 0.02 21,640-25.22
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 308 0.00 107187.85
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 2,741 0.00 654,116.92
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 5,478 0.01 2861,815.38
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 167,797 0.16 158,2096.06
23 Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed 786 0.00 0
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 223 0.00 0
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 1,432,220 1.38 1,318,4128.63
26 Ores, slag and ash 32,547 0.03 9,828231.17
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 43,586,400 42.14 23,297,78387.08
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 2,718 0.00 136,182-98.00
30 Pharmaceutical products 211,122 0.20 237,964-11.28
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 31,556 0.03 118,625-73.40
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 222,968 0.22 389,856-42.81
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 92 0.00 14,277-99.36
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 171,566 0.17 28,093510.71
39 Plastics and articles thereof 1,837,847 1.78 643,856185.44
40 Rubber and articles thereof 271,368 0.26 85,122218.80
41 Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather 122,540 0.12 0
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 1,758 0.00 408330.88
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 2,423,041 2.34 1,002,635141.67
47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard 3,678,906 3.56 96,1043,728.05
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 771,367 0.75 26,6452,794.98
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 256 0.00 525-51.24
53 Other vegetable textile fibers; paper yarn and woven fabric of paper yarn 0 0.00 3,235-100.00
54 Man-made filaments 0 0.00 5,021-100.00
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 10,288 0.01 34,236-69.95
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 3,551 0.00 7,012-49.36
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 4,386 0.00 6,166-28.87
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 5,680 0.01 14,851-61.75
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 2,893 0.00 9,221-68.63
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 1,348 0.00 4,540-70.31
65 Headgear and parts thereof 1,206 0.00 61396.74
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 3,804,291 3.68 518,363633.90
69 Ceramic products 9 0.00 124-92.74
70 Glass and glassware 281 0.00 5,321-94.72
72 Iron and steel 76,706 0.07 177,340-56.75
73 Articles of iron or steel 2,814,481 2.72 12,077,500-76.70
74 Copper and articles thereof 4,222 0.00 69,845-93.96
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 4,530 0.00 9,996-54.68
78 Lead and articles thereof 0 0.00 4-100.00
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 12,371 0.01 25,944-52.32
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 36,124 0.03 12,101198.52
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 22,878,336 22.12 1,117,5341,947.22
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 2,071,988 2.00 8,347,613-75.18
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 15,308 0.01 0
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 9,605,180 9.29 73,54312,960.63
89 Ships, boats and floating structures 49,950 0.05 0
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 111,142 0.11 129,510-14.18
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 0 0.00 67-100.00
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 341,950 0.33 208,95763.65
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 1,319 0.00 81462.04
SS Classified 78,920 0.08 350 000-77.45

Russia’s Imports from North Korea

The major share of Russian imports from North Korea in 2013 (and in 2012) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Textiles, textile products and footwear (HS codes 50-67) - 45.13% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (29.78% in 2012);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 23.05% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (19.21% in 2012);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 10.56% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (19.36% in 2012);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 1.70% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (17.58% in 2012);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 0.89% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (4.16% in 2012).

The largest gains in Russia’s imports from North Korea in 2013 over 2012 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted (HS code 62) - an increase of $1,120,500;
  • Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles (HS code 92) - an increase of $494,136;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - an increase of $269,870;
  • 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) - an increase of $244,579;
  • 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) - an increase of $208,731;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - an increase of $154,888;
  • Man-made staple fibers (HS code 55) - an increase of $113,478;
  • Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics (HS code 32) - an increase of $90,283;
  • Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard (HS code 48) - an increase of $47,333.

The largest declines in Russia’s imports from North Korea in 2013 over 2012 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code 25) - a decrease of $1,645,269;
  • Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - a decrease of $532,957;
  • 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 $436,690;
  • Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - a decrease of $313,838;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - a decrease of $171,626;
  • Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - a decrease of $137,038;
  • Organic chemicals (HS code 29) - a decrease of $136,656;
  • Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - a decrease of $103,552;
  • Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 95) - a decrease of $53,320;
  • Miscellaneous articles of base metal (HS code 83) - a decrease of $36,612;
  • Man-made filaments (HS code 54) - a decrease of $31,653;
  • Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal (HS code 82) - a decrease of $29,147.
Russia’s imports from North Korea in 2013 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of imports in 2013,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total import Value of imports in 2012,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2013
over 2012
06 Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage 10 0.00 0
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 142 0.00 649-78.12
10 Cereals 0 0.00 11,220-100.00
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 0 0.00 1,360-100.00
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 5,644 0.06 0
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 310 0.00 10,988-97.18
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 14,430 0.16 0
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 151,153 1.63 1,796,422-91.59
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 6,363 0.07 0
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 193,843 2.09 180,6007.33
29 Organic chemicals 0 0.00 136,656-100.00
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 98,748 1.06 8,4651,066.54
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 1,287 0.01 0
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 20,907 0.23 2,650688.94
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 293,687 3.16 826,644-64.47
39 Plastics and articles thereof 118,818 1.28 432,656-72.54
40 Rubber and articles thereof 253,359 2.73 390,397-35.10
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 12,737 0.14 21,675-41.24
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 453 0.00 411,225.00
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 67,204 0.72 19,871238.20
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 11,826 0.13 7,68953.80
54 Man-made filaments 203,478 2.19 235,131-13.46
55 Man-made staple fibers 117,785 1.27 4,3072,634.73
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 224 0.00 4,411-94.92
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 9,441 0.10 1964,716.84
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 9,242 0.10 30,313-69.51
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 3,850,260 41.44 2,729,76041.05
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 2,695 0.03 17,590-84.68
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 0 0.00 20,851-100.00
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 53,075 0.57 49,2177.84
70 Glass and glassware 7,434 0.08 5,99524.00
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 0 0.00 1,241-100.00
72 Iron and steel 27,072 0.29 198,698-86.38
73 Articles of iron or steel 50,907 0.55 154,459-67.04
74 Copper and articles thereof 727 0.01 0
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 2,233 0.02 4,132-45.96
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 1,487 0.02 30,634-95.15
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 717 0.01 37,329-98.08
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 1,131,358 12.18 861,48831.33
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 421,139 4.53 857,829-50.91
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 226,020 2.43 17,2891,207.31
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 353,695 3.81 198,80777.91
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 9,157 0.10 27,440-66.63
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 1,281,031 13.79 786,89562.80
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 253,794 2.73 9,2152,654.14
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 9,801 0.11 63,121-84.47
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 16,895 0.18 22,660-25.44
Russian foreign trade statistics
Source: Federal Customs Service of Russia