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Russian trade in goods with North Korea in Q4 2017

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 2017: exports, imports, products, dynamics.

Russia’s Trade with North Korea

In the 4th quarter of 2017, Russia’s trade with North Korea was $3,933,077, down 84.35% ($21,191,352) from the 4th quarter of 2016.

Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2017 were $3,263,797, down 85.41% ($19,099,923) from the 4th quarter of 2016.

Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2017 were $669,280, down 75.76% ($2,091,429) from the 4th quarter of 2016.

Russia’s trade surplus with North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2017 was $2,594,517, a 86.76% decrease ($17,008,494) over the 4th quarter of 2016.

North Korea was Russia’s 148th largest trading partner in the 4th quarter of 2017 (down from 115th in the 4th quarter of 2016), accounting for 0.0024% of Russia’s total trade (down from 0.0184% in the 4th quarter of 2016).

North Korea was Russia’s 140th largest export market in the 4th quarter of 2017 (down from 100th in the 4th quarter of 2016), accounting for 0.0032% of Russia’s total exports (down from 0.0267% in the 4th quarter of 2016).

North Korea was Russia’s 133rd largest supplier in the 4th quarter of 2017 (down from 111th in the 4th quarter of 2016), accounting for 0.0010% of Russia’s total imports (down from 0.0053% in the 4th quarter of 2016).

Russia’s Exports to North Korea

The major share of Russian exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2017 (and in the 4th quarter of 2016) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 50.88% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (8.26% in the 4th quarter of 2016);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 34.67% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (85.96% in the 4th quarter of 2016);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 10.37% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (0.39% in the 4th quarter of 2016);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 3.10% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (4.81% in the 4th quarter of 2016).

The largest gains in Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2017 over the 4th quarter of 2016 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes (HS code 15) - an increase of $520,253;
  • Pharmaceutical products (HS code 30) - an increase of $241,695;
  • Miscellaneous edible preparations (HS code 21) - an increase of $219,937;
  • Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten (HS code 11) - an increase of $177,733;
  • Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates (HS code 16) - an increase of $47,135;
  • Sugars and sugar confectionery (HS code 17) - an increase of $16,198;
  • 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 $15,905;
  • Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares (HS code 19) - an increase of $12,920.

The largest declines in Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2017 over the 4th quarter of 2016 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 $18,069,023;
  • Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (HS code 03) - a decrease of $945,817;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - a decrease of $733,835;
  • Cereals (HS code 10) - a decrease of $242,639;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - a decrease of $200,928;
  • Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code 25) - a decrease of $24,100;
  • Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal (HS code 82) - a decrease of $23,367;
  • 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 $22,221;
  • Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted (HS code 61) - a decrease of $20,356;
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - a decrease of $18,154;
  • Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder (HS code 12) - a decrease of $17,101;
  • Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans (HS code 49) - a decrease of $15,188;
  • Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - a decrease of $14,811;
  • Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials (HS code 68) - a decrease of $12,760;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - a decrease of $11,120.
Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2017 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of exports
in Q4 2017,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total export Value of exports
in Q4 2016,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in Q4 2017
over Q4 2016
03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 0 0.00 945,817-100.00
04 Dairy produce; birds eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 6,257 0.19 0
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 1,336 0.04 0
10 Cereals 21,499 0.66 264,138-91.86
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 377,475 11.57 199,74288.98
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 0 0.00 17,101-100.00
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 932,280 28.56 412,027126.27
16 Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates 47,135 1.44 0
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 24,473 0.75 8,275195.75
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 2,296 0.07 0
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 12,920 0.40 0
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 6,830 0.21 0
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 219,943 6.74 63,665,616.67
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 8,233 0.25 0
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 40,836 1.25 64,936-37.11
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 1,090,865 33.42 19,159,888-94.31
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 3,200 0.10 5,543-42.27
30 Pharmaceutical products 290,910 8.91 49,215491.10
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 723 0.02 2,106-65.67
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 373 0.01 132,769.23
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 29,636 0.91 13,731115.83
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 109 0.00 248-56.05
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 6,368 0.20 5,59213.88
39 Plastics and articles thereof 1,974 0.06 3,489-43.42
40 Rubber and articles thereof 5,192 0.16 7,952-34.71
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 58 0.00 215-73.02
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 456 0.01 25380.24
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 1,922 0.06 1,50827.45
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 0 0.00 15,188-100.00
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 0 0.00 234-100.00
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 0 0.00 1-100.00
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 0 0.00 20,356-100.00
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 0 0.00 3,764-100.00
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 71 0.00 3,148-97.74
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 0 0.00 1,520-100.00
65 Headgear and parts thereof 55 0.00 84-34.52
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 372 0.01 13,132-97.17
69 Ceramic products 5,943 0.18 0
70 Glass and glassware 192 0.01 0
72 Iron and steel 0 0.00 11,120-100.00
73 Articles of iron or steel 13,064 0.40 27,875-53.13
74 Copper and articles thereof 342 0.01 3197.21
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 4,795 0.15 1642,823.78
81 Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof 0 0.00 26-100.00
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 3,398 0.10 26,765-87.30
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 509 0.02 36340.22
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 12,365 0.38 213,293-94.20
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 27,432 0.84 49,653-44.75
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 0.00 246-100.00
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 50,790 1.56 784,625-93.53
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 10,542 0.32 28,696-63.26
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 333 0.01 0
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 100 0.00 0
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 180 0.01 1,022-82.39
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 15 0.00 331-95.47

Russia’s Imports from North Korea

The major share of Russian imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2017 (and in the 4th quarter of 2016) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 19.99% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (56.01% in the 4th quarter of 2016);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 16.59% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (3.70% in the 4th quarter of 2016);
  • Textiles, textile products and footwear (HS codes 50-67) - 13.23% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (26.70% in the 4th quarter of 2016).

The largest gains in Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2017 over the 4th quarter of 2016 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - an increase of $101,854;
  • 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 $88,056;
  • Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted (HS code 61) - an increase of $22,587;
  • Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - an increase of $4,994.

The largest declines in Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2017 over the 4th quarter of 2016 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - a decrease of $1,409,763;
  • Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted (HS code 62) - a decrease of $667,855;
  • Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - a decrease of $82,322;
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - a decrease of $81,320;
  • Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles (HS code 92) - a decrease of $32,736;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - a decrease of $9,436;
  • Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes (HS code 35) - a decrease of $8,700;
  • Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations (HS code 33) - a decrease of $7,964;
  • Miscellaneous manufactured articles (HS code 96) - a decrease of $4,096;
  • Man-made filaments (HS code 54) - a decrease of $3,080;
  • Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - a decrease of $2,999.
Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 4th quarter of 2017 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of imports in Q4 2017,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total import Value of imports in Q4 2016,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in Q4 2017
over Q4 2016
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 579 0.09 8,543-93.22
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 964 0.14 0
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 0 0.00 8,700-100.00
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 0 0.00 82,322-100.00
39 Plastics and articles thereof 104,444 15.61 2,5903,932.59
40 Rubber and articles thereof 5,020 0.75 2619,207.69
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 885 0.13 0
54 Man-made filaments 168 0.03 3,248-94.83
55 Man-made staple fibers 387 0.06 0
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 87,965 13.14 65,37834.55
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 0 0.00 667,855-100.00
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 5 0.00 515-99.03
65 Headgear and parts thereof 6 0.00 0
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 0 0.00 523-100.00
69 Ceramic products 110 0.02 0
73 Articles of iron or steel 2,214 0.33 5,213-57.53
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 221 0.03 63,583.33
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 5,265 0.79 14,701-64.19
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 111,383 16.64 23,327377.49
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 16,607 2.48 1,426,370-98.84
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 548 0.08 81,868-99.33
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 332,258 49.64 364,994-8.97
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 0 0.00 29-100.00
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 251 0.04 405-38.02
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 0 0.00 4,096-100.00
Russian foreign trade statistics
Source: Federal Customs Service of Russia