Russian trade in goods with North Korea in Q1 2018
May 18, 2018
by Russian Foreign Trade
based on data from the Federal Customs Service of Russia
based on data from the Federal Customs Service of Russia
The Report on Russia’s foreign trade in goods with North Korea in the first quarter of 2018: exports, imports, products, dynamics.
Russia’s Trade with North Korea
In the 1st quarter of 2018, Russia’s trade with North Korea was $5,254,069, down 83.50% ($26,583,191) from the 1st quarter of 2017.
Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 1st quarter of 2018 were $4,666,405, down 85.15% ($26,750,089) from the 1st quarter of 2017.
Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 1st quarter of 2018 totaled $587,664, up 39.67% ($166,898) from the 1st quarter of 2017.
Russia’s trade surplus with North Korea in the 1st quarter of 2018 was $4,078,741, a 86.84% decrease ($26,916,987) over the 1st quarter of 2017.
North Korea was Russia’s 144th largest trading partner in the 1st quarter of 2018 (down from 106th in the 1st quarter of 2017), accounting for 0.0033% of Russia’s total trade (down from 0.0248% in the 1st quarter of 2017).
North Korea was Russia’s 128th largest export market in the 1st quarter of 2018 (down from 89th in the 1st quarter of 2017), accounting for 0.0045% of Russia’s total exports (down from 0.0377% in the 1st quarter of 2017).
North Korea was Russia’s 136th largest supplier in the 1st quarter of 2018 (down from 134th in the 1st quarter of 2017), accounting for 0.0011% of Russia’s total imports (up from 0.0009% in the 1st quarter of 2017).
Russia’s Exports to North Korea
The major share of Russian exports to North Korea in the 1st quarter of 2018 (and in the 1st quarter of 2017) was accounted for the following product types:
- Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 68.77% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (90.77% in the 1st quarter of 2017);
- Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 22.93% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (7.18% in the 1st quarter of 2017);
- Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 8.04% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (0.32% in the 1st quarter of 2017);
- Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 0.22% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (1.55% in the 1st quarter of 2017).
The largest gains in Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 1st quarter of 2018 over the 1st quarter of 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:
- Pharmaceutical products (HS code 30) - an increase of $318,447;
- Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten (HS code 11) - an increase of $215,421.
The largest declines in Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 1st quarter of 2018 over the 1st 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) - a decrease of $25,261,145;
- Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (HS code 03) - a decrease of $979,586;
- Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes (HS code 15) - a decrease of $241,676;
- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - a decrease of $240,723;
- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - a decrease of $171,633;
- Cereals (HS code 10) - a decrease of $145,392;
- 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 $71,680;
- Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code 25) - a decrease of $47,098;
- 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) - a decrease of $26,374;
- Sugars and sugar confectionery (HS code 17) - a decrease of $25,077;
- Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard (HS code 48) - a decrease of $17,477.
| HS code |
Name of product group | Value of exports in Q1 2018, US dollars ($) |
Percent share in total export | Value of exports in Q1 2017, US dollars ($) |
Percent change in Q1 2018 over Q1 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | Meat and edible meat offal | 70 | 0.00 | 0 | ∞ |
| 03 | Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates | 0 | 0.00 | 979,586 | -100.00 |
| 04 | Dairy produce; birds eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included | 0 | 0.00 | 5,520 | -100.00 |
| 09 | Coffee, tea, maté and spices | 4 | 0.00 | 0 | ∞ |
| 10 | Cereals | 0 | 0.00 | 145,392 | -100.00 |
| 11 | Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten | 231,101 | 4.95 | 15,680 | 1,373.86 |
| 15 | Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes | 838,115 | 17.96 | 1,079,791 | -22.38 |
| 17 | Sugars and sugar confectionery | 3 | 0.00 | 25,080 | -99.99 |
| 21 | Miscellaneous edible preparations | 441 | 0.01 | 4,826 | -90.86 |
| 22 | Beverages, spirits and vinegar | 261 | 0.01 | 0 | ∞ |
| 24 | Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes | 131 | 0.00 | 0 | ∞ |
| 25 | Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement | 29,400 | 0.63 | 76,498 | -61.57 |
| 27 | Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes | 3,179,557 | 68.14 | 28,440,702 | -88.82 |
| 28 | Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes | 0 | 0.00 | 200 | -100.00 |
| 30 | Pharmaceutical products | 361,268 | 7.74 | 42,821 | 743.67 |
| 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 | 26,374 | -100.00 |
| 38 | Miscellaneous chemical products | 2,438 | 0.05 | 1,359 | 79.40 |
| 39 | Plastics and articles thereof | 627 | 0.01 | 11,825 | -94.70 |
| 40 | Rubber and articles thereof | 10,712 | 0.23 | 16,823 | -36.33 |
| 42 | Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) | 0 | 0.00 | 202 | -100.00 |
| 48 | Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard | 0 | 0.00 | 17,477 | -100.00 |
| 62 | Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted | 2,119 | 0.05 | 4,001 | -47.04 |
| 63 | Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags | 0 | 0.00 | 10,540 | -100.00 |
| 64 | Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles | 0 | 0.00 | 3,967 | -100.00 |
| 65 | Headgear and parts thereof | 0 | 0.00 | 193 | -100.00 |
| 68 | Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials | 0 | 0.00 | 43 | -100.00 |
| 73 | Articles of iron or steel | 0 | 0.00 | 7,703 | -100.00 |
| 76 | Aluminum and articles thereof | 0 | 0.00 | 38 | -100.00 |
| 82 | Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal | 0 | 0.00 | 54 | -100.00 |
| 83 | Miscellaneous articles of base metal | 0 | 0.00 | 2,091 | -100.00 |
| 84 | Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof | 0 | 0.00 | 240,723 | -100.00 |
| 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 | 0 | 0.00 | 71,680 | -100.00 |
| 87 | Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof | 0 | 0.00 | 171,633 | -100.00 |
| 90 | Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof | 10,158 | 0.22 | 2,417 | 320.27 |
| 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 | 11,217 | -100.00 |
| 96 | Miscellaneous manufactured articles | 0 | 0.00 | 38 | -100.00 |
Russia’s Imports from North Korea
The major share of Russian imports from North Korea in the 1st quarter of 2018 (and in the 1st quarter of 2017) was accounted for the following product types:
- Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 17.77% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (40.78% in the 1st quarter of 2017);
- Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 17.14% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (24.18% in the 1st quarter of 2017);
- Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 1.16% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (0.25% in the 1st quarter of 2017);
- Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 0.00% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (1.96% in the 1st quarter of 2017).
The largest gains in Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 1st quarter of 2018 over the 1st quarter of 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:
- Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles (HS code 92) - an increase of $244,384;
- Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - an increase of $94,798;
- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - an increase of $11,725;
- Iron and steel (HS code 72) - an increase of $3,618;
- Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - an increase of $3,178.
The largest declines in Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 1st quarter of 2018 over the 1st quarter of 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:
- Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - a decrease of $158,823;
- 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 $8,781;
- Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code 25) - a decrease of $8,265;
- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - a decrease of $4,682;
- Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes (HS code 35) - a decrease of $2,709;
- Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials (HS code 68) - a decrease of $2,473.
| HS code |
Name of product group | Value of imports in Q1 2018, US dollars ($) |
Percent share in total import | Value of imports in Q1 2017, US dollars ($) |
Percent change in Q1 2018 over Q1 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement | 0 | 0.00 | 8,265 | -100.00 |
| 33 | Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations | 108 | 0.02 | 529 | -79.58 |
| 35 | Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes | 2,100 | 0.36 | 4,809 | -56.33 |
| 38 | Miscellaneous chemical products | 0 | 0.00 | 158,823 | -100.00 |
| 39 | Plastics and articles thereof | 102,016 | 17.36 | 7,218 | 1,313.36 |
| 40 | Rubber and articles thereof | 181 | 0.03 | 193 | -6.22 |
| 42 | Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) | 235 | 0.04 | 0 | ∞ |
| 55 | Man-made staple fibers | 152 | 0.03 | 0 | ∞ |
| 60 | Knitted or crocheted fabrics | 0 | 0.00 | 1,613 | -100.00 |
| 61 | Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted | 0 | 0.00 | 30 | -100.00 |
| 63 | Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags | 15 | 0.00 | 568 | -97.36 |
| 64 | Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles | 0 | 0.00 | 1,207 | -100.00 |
| 68 | Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials | 0 | 0.00 | 2,473 | -100.00 |
| 69 | Ceramic products | 49 | 0.01 | 0 | ∞ |
| 72 | Iron and steel | 3,618 | 0.62 | 0 | ∞ |
| 73 | Articles of iron or steel | 3,178 | 0.54 | 0 | ∞ |
| 82 | Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal | 0 | 0.00 | 1,033 | -100.00 |
| 84 | Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof | 0 | 0.00 | 4,682 | -100.00 |
| 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 | 11,607 | 1.98 | 20,388 | -43.07 |
| 87 | Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof | 88,391 | 15.04 | 76,666 | 15.29 |
| 90 | Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof | 744 | 0.13 | 0 | ∞ |
| 92 | Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles | 375,176 | 63.84 | 130,792 | 186.85 |
| 95 | Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof | 94 | 0.02 | 1,477 | -93.64 |