Russian trade with North Korea in 2018
February 10, 2019
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 2018: exports, imports, products, dynamics.
Russia’s Trade with North Korea
In 2018, Russia’s trade with North Korea was $34,065,644, down 56.26% ($43,811,480) from 2017.
Russia’s exports to North Korea in 2018 were $32,082,582, down 56.77% ($42,127,706) from 2017.
Russia’s imports from North Korea in 2018 were $1,983,062, down 45.92% ($1,683,774) from 2017.
Russia’s trade surplus with North Korea in 2018 was $30,099,520, a 57.33% decrease ($40,443,932) over 2017.
North Korea was Russia’s 144th largest trading partner in 2018 (down from 119th in 2017), accounting for 0.0050% of Russia’s total trade (down from 0.0133% in 2017).
North Korea was Russia’s 131st largest export market in 2018 (down from 103rd in 2017), accounting for 0.0071% of Russia’s total exports (down from 0.0208% in 2017).
North Korea was Russia’s 141st largest supplier in 2018 (down from 132nd in 2017), accounting for 0.0008% of Russia’s total imports (down from 0.0016% in 2017).
Russia’s Exports to North Korea
The major share of Russian exports to North Korea in 2018 (and in 2017) was accounted for the following product types:
- Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 67.99% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (83.39% in 2017);
- Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 24.90% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (11.81% in 2017);
- Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 5.15% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (1.17% in 2017);
- Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 1.20% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (1.80% in 2017);
- Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 0.60% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (1.39% in 2017).
The largest gains in Russia’s exports to North Korea in 2018 over 2017 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 $1,209,244;
- Pharmaceutical products (HS code 30) - an increase of $801,207;
- Cereals (HS code 10) - an increase of $758,892;
- Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder (HS code 12) - an increase of $195,348;
- Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - an increase of $96,975.
The largest declines in Russia’s exports to North Korea in 2018 over 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 $40,027,030;
- Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (HS code 03) - a decrease of $2,433,309;
- Iron and steel (HS code 72) - a decrease of $920,385;
- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - a decrease of $442,236;
- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - a decrease of $324,536;
- Miscellaneous edible preparations (HS code 21) - a decrease of $259,165;
- Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal (HS code 44) - a decrease of $200,896;
- 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 $183,906.
| HS code |
Name of product group | Value of exports in 2018, US dollars ($) |
Percent share in total export | Value of exports in 2017, US dollars ($) |
Percent change in 2018 over 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | Meat and edible meat offal | 70 | 0.00 | 0 | ∞ |
| 03 | Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates | 0 | 0.00 | 2,433,309 | -100.00 |
| 04 | Dairy produce; birds eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included | 9,972 | 0.03 | 22,817 | -56.30 |
| 09 | Coffee, tea, maté and spices | 4 | 0.00 | 1,336 | -99.70 |
| 10 | Cereals | 1,117,161 | 3.48 | 358,269 | 211.82 |
| 11 | Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten | 2,366,889 | 7.38 | 2,338,435 | 1.22 |
| 12 | Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder | 205,848 | 0.64 | 10,500 | 1,860.46 |
| 15 | Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes | 4,179,809 | 13.03 | 2,970,565 | 40.71 |
| 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 | 57,988 | 0.18 | 126,898 | -54.30 |
| 18 | Cocoa and cocoa preparations | 0 | 0.00 | 45,598 | -100.00 |
| 19 | Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares | 0 | 0.00 | 25,553 | -100.00 |
| 20 | Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants | 0 | 0.00 | 7,769 | -100.00 |
| 21 | Miscellaneous edible preparations | 49,891 | 0.16 | 309,056 | -83.86 |
| 22 | Beverages, spirits and vinegar | 261 | 0.00 | 65,168 | -99.60 |
| 24 | Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes | 131 | 0.00 | 0 | ∞ |
| 25 | Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement | 195,914 | 0.61 | 242,412 | -19.18 |
| 27 | Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes | 21,617,049 | 67.38 | 61,644,079 | -64.93 |
| 28 | Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes | 1,002 | 0.00 | 3,407 | -70.59 |
| 29 | Organic chemicals | 0 | 0.00 | 14,318 | -100.00 |
| 30 | Pharmaceutical products | 1,390,611 | 4.33 | 589,404 | 135.94 |
| 31 | Fertilizers | 0 | 0.00 | 94,050 | -100.00 |
| 32 | Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics | 25,207 | 0.08 | 2,562 | 883.88 |
| 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 | 161,705 | 0.50 | 72,029 | 124.50 |
| 35 | Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes | 301 | 0.00 | 121 | 148.76 |
| 37 | Photographic or cinematographic goods | 268 | 0.00 | 0 | ∞ |
| 38 | Miscellaneous chemical products | 2,513 | 0.01 | 16,670 | -84.93 |
| 39 | Plastics and articles thereof | 37,385 | 0.12 | 16,022 | 133.34 |
| 40 | Rubber and articles thereof | 31,842 | 0.10 | 60,389 | -47.27 |
| 42 | Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) | 7,577 | 0.02 | 493 | 1,436.92 |
| 44 | Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal | 6 | 0.00 | 200,902 | -100.00 |
| 48 | Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard | 1,519 | 0.00 | 21,085 | -92.80 |
| 49 | Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans | 0 | 0.00 | 19 | -100.00 |
| 52 | Cotton | 0 | 0.00 | 540 | -100.00 |
| 54 | Man-made filaments | 0 | 0.00 | 3,174 | -100.00 |
| 56 | Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof | 435 | 0.00 | 7,159 | -93.92 |
| 57 | Carpets and other textile floor coverings | 0 | 0.00 | 152 | -100.00 |
| 59 | Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use | 0 | 0.00 | 5,728 | -100.00 |
| 61 | Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted | 541 | 0.00 | 31 | 1,645.16 |
| 62 | Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted | 3,028 | 0.01 | 9,129 | -66.83 |
| 63 | Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags | 707 | 0.00 | 15,130 | -95.33 |
| 64 | Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles | 186 | 0.00 | 6,400 | -97.09 |
| 65 | Headgear and parts thereof | 825 | 0.00 | 373 | 121.18 |
| 68 | Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials | 18,831 | 0.06 | 3,099 | 507.65 |
| 69 | Ceramic products | 0 | 0.00 | 5,943 | -100.00 |
| 70 | Glass and glassware | 43 | 0.00 | 3,402 | -98.74 |
| 72 | Iron and steel | 10,374 | 0.03 | 930,759 | -98.89 |
| 73 | Articles of iron or steel | 169,603 | 0.53 | 72,628 | 133.52 |
| 74 | Copper and articles thereof | 310 | 0.00 | 13,542 | -97.71 |
| 76 | Aluminum and articles thereof | 949 | 0.00 | 5,799 | -83.64 |
| 82 | Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal | 1,908 | 0.01 | 6,900 | -72.35 |
| 83 | Miscellaneous articles of base metal | 8,628 | 0.03 | 3,209 | 168.87 |
| 84 | Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof | 324,141 | 1.01 | 766,377 | -57.70 |
| 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 | 23,717 | 0.07 | 207,623 | -88.58 |
| 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 | 19,351 | 0.06 | 8,874 | 118.06 |
| 87 | Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof | 3,359 | 0.01 | 327,895 | -98.98 |
| 90 | Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof | 15,273 | 0.05 | 22,531 | -32.21 |
| 91 | Clocks and watches and parts thereof | 0 | 0.00 | 339 | -100.00 |
| 92 | Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles | 300 | 0.00 | 100 | 200.00 |
| 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 | 17,372 | 0.05 | 18,683 | -7.02 |
| 95 | Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof | 0 | 0.00 | 6 | -100.00 |
| 96 | Miscellaneous manufactured articles | 1,778 | 0.01 | 2,143 | -17.03 |
| SS | Classified | 0 | 0.00 | 21 877 | -100.00 |
Russia’s Imports from North Korea
The major share of Russian imports from North Korea in 2018 (and in 2017) was accounted for the following product types:
- Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 14.54% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (11.04% in 2017);
- Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 11.25% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (16.13% in 2017);
- Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 1.09% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (6.22% in 2017);
- Textiles, textile products and footwear (HS codes 50-67) - 0.45% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (37.43% in 2017);
- Wood and wood products (HS codes 44-49) - 0.00% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (1.21% in 2017).
The largest gains in Russia’s imports from North Korea in 2018 over 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:
- Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles (HS code 92) - an increase of $452,488;
- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - an increase of $67,888;
- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - an increase of $17,448.
The largest declines in Russia’s imports from North Korea in 2018 over 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:
- Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted (HS code 62) - a decrease of $1,174,496;
- Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - a decrease of $358,060;
- Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted (HS code 61) - a decrease of $189,259;
- Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - a decrease of $166,158;
- 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 $138,927;
- Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - a decrease of $62,731;
- Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard (HS code 48) - a decrease of $44,465;
- Iron and steel (HS code 72) - a decrease of $39,344;
- Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code 25) - a decrease of $36,522;
- Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - a decrease of $8,614.
| HS code |
Name of product group | Value of imports in 2018, US dollars ($) |
Percent share in total import | Value of imports in 2017, US dollars ($) |
Percent change in 2018 over 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09 | Coffee, tea, maté and spices | 0 | 0.00 | 64 | -100.00 |
| 17 | Sugars and sugar confectionery | 77 | 0.00 | 0 | ∞ |
| 18 | Cocoa and cocoa preparations | 108 | 0.01 | 0 | ∞ |
| 19 | Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares | 515 | 0.03 | 0 | ∞ |
| 21 | Miscellaneous edible preparations | 559 | 0.03 | 0 | ∞ |
| 22 | Beverages, spirits and vinegar | 175 | 0.01 | 0 | ∞ |
| 25 | Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement | 0 | 0.00 | 36,522 | -100.00 |
| 29 | Organic chemicals | 1,148 | 0.06 | 0 | ∞ |
| 32 | Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics | 2,850 | 0.14 | 0 | ∞ |
| 33 | Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations | 3,474 | 0.18 | 8,066 | -56.93 |
| 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 |
| 35 | Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes | 4,200 | 0.21 | 4,809 | -12.66 |
| 37 | Photographic or cinematographic goods | 0 | 0.00 | 62 | -100.00 |
| 38 | Miscellaneous chemical products | 0 | 0.00 | 358,060 | -100.00 |
| 39 | Plastics and articles thereof | 210,436 | 10.61 | 209,822 | 0.29 |
| 40 | Rubber and articles thereof | 926 | 0.05 | 9,540 | -90.29 |
| 42 | Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) | 748 | 0.04 | 1,205 | -37.93 |
| 48 | Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard | 0 | 0.00 | 44,465 | -100.00 |
| 52 | Cotton | 2,547 | 0.13 | 0 | ∞ |
| 54 | Man-made filaments | 0 | 0.00 | 168 | -100.00 |
| 55 | Man-made staple fibers | 1,527 | 0.08 | 387 | 294.57 |
| 56 | Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof | 0 | 0.00 | 237 | -100.00 |
| 59 | Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use | 0 | 0.00 | 7 | -100.00 |
| 60 | Knitted or crocheted fabrics | 0 | 0.00 | 1,613 | -100.00 |
| 61 | Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted | 4,549 | 0.23 | 193,808 | -97.65 |
| 62 | Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted | 0 | 0.00 | 1,174,496 | -100.00 |
| 63 | Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags | 244 | 0.01 | 614 | -60.26 |
| 64 | Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles | 0 | 0.00 | 1,207 | -100.00 |
| 65 | Headgear and parts thereof | 0 | 0.00 | 6 | -100.00 |
| 68 | Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials | 0 | 0.00 | 3,097 | -100.00 |
| 69 | Ceramic products | 0 | 0.00 | 420 | -100.00 |
| 70 | Glass and glassware | 427 | 0.02 | 0 | ∞ |
| 71 | Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin | 28 | 0.00 | 0 | ∞ |
| 72 | Iron and steel | 3,618 | 0.18 | 42,962 | -91.58 |
| 73 | Articles of iron or steel | 17,959 | 0.91 | 184,117 | -90.25 |
| 74 | Copper and articles thereof | 0 | 0.00 | 754 | -100.00 |
| 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 | 70 | -92.86 |
| 84 | Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof | 108,410 | 5.47 | 40,522 | 167.53 |
| 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 | 40,274 | 2.03 | 179,201 | -77.53 |
| 87 | Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof | 109,203 | 5.51 | 171,934 | -36.49 |
| 90 | Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof | 30,509 | 1.54 | 13,061 | 133.59 |
| 92 | Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles | 1,433,803 | 72.30 | 981,315 | 46.11 |
| 95 | Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof | 4,277 | 0.22 | 2,210 | 93.53 |
| 96 | Miscellaneous manufactured articles | 466 | 0.02 | 830 | -43.86 |