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Russian trade in goods with North Korea in Q3 2020

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 third quarter of 2020: exports, imports, products, dynamics.

Russia’s Trade with North Korea

In the 3rd quarter of 2020, Russia’s trade with North Korea totaled $13,787,440, up 34.51% ($3,537,387) from the 3rd quarter of 2019.

Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 3rd quarter of 2020 totaled $13,329,545, up 43.08% ($4,013,486) from the 3rd quarter of 2019.

Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 3rd quarter of 2020 were $457,895, down 50.97% ($476,099) from the 3rd quarter of 2019.

Russia’s trade surplus with North Korea in the 3rd quarter of 2020 was $12,871,650, a 53.56% increase ($4,489,585) over the 3rd quarter of 2019.

North Korea was Russia’s 129th largest trading partner in the 3rd quarter of 2020 (up from 140th in the 3rd quarter of 2019), accounting for 0.0101% of Russia’s total trade (up from 0.0062% in the 3rd quarter of 2019).

North Korea was Russia’s 113th largest export market in the 3rd quarter of 2020 (up from 127th in the 3rd quarter of 2019), accounting for 0.0169% of Russia’s total exports (up from 0.0090% in the 3rd quarter of 2019).

North Korea was Russia’s 134th largest supplier in the 3rd quarter of 2020 (down from 133rd in the 3rd quarter of 2019), accounting for 0.0008% of Russia’s total imports (down from 0.0015% in the 3rd quarter of 2019).

Russia’s Exports to North Korea

The major share of Russian exports to North Korea in the 3rd quarter of 2020 (and in the 3rd quarter of 2019) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 65.13% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (14.45% in the 3rd quarter of 2019);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 15.23% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (8.67% in the 3rd quarter of 2019);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 6.45% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (12.19% in the 3rd quarter of 2019);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 5.50% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (62.45% in the 3rd quarter of 2019);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 0.40% of Russia’s total exports to North Korea (2.03% in the 3rd quarter of 2019).

The largest gains in Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 3rd quarter of 2020 over the 3rd quarter of 2019 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Cereals (HS code 10) - an increase of $7,926,921;
  • Pharmaceutical products (HS code 30) - an increase of $1,197,870;
  • Miscellaneous edible preparations (HS code 21) - an increase of $93,318;
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - an increase of $40,877.

The largest declines in Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 3rd quarter of 2020 over the 3rd quarter of 2019 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 $5,058,465;
  • Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten (HS code 11) - a decrease of $510,257;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - a decrease of $253,827;
  • Aluminum and articles thereof (HS code 76) - a decrease of $132,698;
  • Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes (HS code 15) - a decrease of $131,554;
  • 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 $83,844.
Russia’s exports to North Korea in the 3rd quarter of 2020 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of exports
in Q3 2020,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total export Value of exports
in Q3 2019,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in Q3 2020
over Q3 2019
10 Cereals 7,970,521 59.80 43,60018,181.01
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 0 0.00 510,257-100.00
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 0 0.00 7,038-100.00
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 601,717 4.51 733,271-17.94
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 0 0.00 35,100-100.00
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 109,772 0.82 16,454567.14
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 52,441 0.39 78,305-33.03
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 680,880 5.11 5,739,345-88.14
30 Pharmaceutical products 1,968,428 14.77 770,558155.45
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 8,050 0.06 1,584408.21
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 6,055 0.05 0
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 0 0.00 4,597-100.00
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 37,859 0.28 7255,121.93
39 Plastics and articles thereof 2,667 0.02 27,139-90.17
40 Rubber and articles thereof 6,782 0.05 3,093119.27
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 0 0.00 9,935-100.00
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 0 0.00 124-100.00
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 0 0.00 408-100.00
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 0 0.00 2,790-100.00
72 Iron and steel 0 0.00 680-100.00
73 Articles of iron or steel 42,522 0.32 49,731-14.50
74 Copper and articles thereof 0 0.00 654-100.00
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 0 0.00 132,698-100.00
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 10,255 0.08 3293,017.02
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 0 0.00 4,632-100.00
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 776,084 5.82 1,029,911-24.65
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 83,844-100.00
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 12,687-100.00
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 34,138 0.26 0
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 50,006 0.38 9,129447.77
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 5,640 0.04 7,302-22.76
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 0 0.00 139-100.00
SS Classified 965,728 7.25 0

Russia’s Imports from North Korea

The major share of Russian imports from North Korea in the 3rd quarter of 2020 (and in the 3rd quarter of 2019) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 41.45% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (45.57% in the 3rd quarter of 2019);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 2.10% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (3.02% in the 3rd quarter of 2019);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 0.57% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (5.99% in the 3rd quarter of 2019);
  • Textiles, textile products and footwear (HS codes 50-67) - 0.00% of Russia’s total imports from North Korea (1.41% in the 3rd quarter of 2019).

The largest gains in Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 3rd quarter of 2020 over the 3rd quarter of 2019 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - an increase of $188,298;
  • 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 $63,668;
  • Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials (HS code 68) - an increase of $37,359.

The largest declines in Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 3rd quarter of 2020 over the 3rd quarter of 2019 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Pharmaceutical products (HS code 30) - a decrease of $422,019;
  • Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles (HS code 92) - a decrease of $257,483;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - a decrease of $22,948;
  • 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 $17,006;
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - a decrease of $13,116;
  • Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal (HS code 82) - a decrease of $9,850;
  • Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - a decrease of $8,176;
  • Cotton (HS code 52) - a decrease of $7,779;
  • Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted (HS code 62) - a decrease of $4,596;
  • Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - a decrease of $2,152.
Russia’s imports from North Korea in the 3rd quarter of 2020 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of imports in Q3 2020,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total import Value of imports in Q3 2019,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in Q3 2020
over Q3 2019
29 Organic chemicals 0 0.00 477-100.00
30 Pharmaceutical products 0 0.00 422,019-100.00
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 0 0.00 88-100.00
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 602 0.13 0
39 Plastics and articles thereof 188,666 41.20 36851,167.93
40 Rubber and articles thereof 514 0.11 2,666-80.72
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 491 0.11 121305.79
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 0 0.00 1,005-100.00
52 Cotton 0 0.00 7,779-100.00
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 0 0.00 313-100.00
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 0 0.00 4,596-100.00
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 0 0.00 4-100.00
67 Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers; articles of human hair 0 0.00 487-100.00
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 37,359 8.16 0
69 Ceramic products 956 0.21 0
73 Articles of iron or steel 3 0.00 8,179-99.96
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 0 0.00 59-100.00
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 9,623 2.10 19,473-50.58
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 0 0.00 512-100.00
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 1,782 0.39 24,730-92.79
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 17,006-100.00
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 551 0.12 814-32.31
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 288 0.06 13,404-97.85
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 151,042 32.99 408,525-63.03
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 63,668 13.90 0
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 2,350 0.51 1,36971.66
Russian foreign trade statistics
Source: Federal Customs Service of Russia