Trade lane

What North Korea buys from China.

North Korea imported USD 1.5bn of manufactured and processed goods from China in 2024, up 110 per cent on 2022. That is 100 per cent of everything North Korea imported in these lines, and China is its largest source. Below: the 50 largest lines, the fastest growing, where China dominates, and where another country ships the same line for less a tonne.

Trade year 2024, compared with 2022. Unit values are customs values per tonne, declared at the border, not product prices.

USD 1.5bnfrom China in 2024 (USD 726m in 2022)
100 per centof North Korea's imports in these lines, USD 1.5bn from every source
264product lines worth USD 1m or more on this lane
#1China's rank among North Korea's sources
The top 50

The largest lines on the lane, by 2024 value.

Each line shows what North Korea paid China for it at the border, China's share of everything North Korea imported in that line, how it changed since 2022, and the customs unit value per tonne where the weight is recorded. Together they are 54 per cent of the lane.

  1. 1

    Human hair, dressed, thinned, bleached or otherwise worked: wool or other animal hair or other textile materials, prepared for use in making wigs or the likeHS 670300

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 7m in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 169min 2024
  2. 2

    Floor, wall or ceiling coverings: of polymers of vinyl chloride, whether or not self-adhesive, in rolls or in the form of tilesHS 391810

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 98 per cent on 2022 (USD 21m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 42min 2024
  3. 3

    Fabrics, woven: containing less than 85% by weight of non-textured polyester filamentsHS 540769

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 90 per cent on 2022 (USD 18m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 34min 2024
  4. 4

    Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, dyedHS 540752

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 4m in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 30min 2024
  5. 5

    Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of synthetic fibres, dyedHS 600632

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 112 per cent on 2022 (USD 14m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 29min 2024
  6. 6

    Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on buses or lorriesHS 401120

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changedown 23 per cent on 2022 (USD 29m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 22min 2024
  7. 7

    Amino-acids, other than those containing more than one kind of oxygen function, and their esters: glutamic acid and its esters: salts thereofHS 292242

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 13 per cent on 2022 (USD 18m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 21min 2024
  8. 8

    Furniture: wooden, for bedroom useHS 940350

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 2m in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 21min 2024
  9. 9

    Carbonates: disodium carbonateHS 283620

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 49 per cent on 2022 (USD 12m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 18min 2024
  10. 10

    Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water absorption coefficient by weight not over 0.5%HS 690721

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 220 per cent on 2022 (USD 5m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 16min 2024
  11. 11

    Musical instruments: pianos, upright, including automatic pianosHS 920110

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 186k in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 16min 2024
  12. 12

    Sacks and bags: of a kind used for the packing of goods, of man-made textile materials, of polyethylene or polypropylene strip or the like, not flexible intermediate...HS 630533

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 48 per cent on 2022 (USD 11m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 16min 2024
  13. 13

    Plastics: other articles n.e.c. in chapter 39HS 392690

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 1m in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 16min 2024
  14. 14

    Clock or watch parts: other than springs (including hair-springs), dials, plates, and bridgesHS 911490

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changenew since 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 16min 2024
  15. 15

    Meat preparations: sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal, blood or insects, and food preparations based on these productsHS 160100

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changenew since 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 16min 2024
  16. 16

    Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crochetedHS 611030

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 486k in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 15min 2024
  17. 17

    Fibres: synthetic staple fibres, of polyesters, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinningHS 550320

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changedown 7 per cent on 2022 (USD 16m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 15min 2024
  18. 18

    Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water absorption coefficient by weight over 0.5% but not...HS 690722

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 2m in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 15min 2024
  19. 19

    Vinyl chloride polymers: monofilament, of which any cross-sectional dimension exceeds 1mm, rods, sticks and profile shapes, whether or not surface-worked but not...HS 391620

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 248 per cent on 2022 (USD 4m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 15min 2024
  20. 20

    Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterHS 170199

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changedown 50 per cent on 2022 (USD 28m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 14min 2024
  21. 21

    Plastics: plates, sheets, film, foil and strip (not self-adhesive), of polymers of ethylene, non-cellular and not reinforced, laminated, supported or similarly combined...HS 392010

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changedown 34 per cent on 2022 (USD 21m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 14min 2024
  22. 22

    Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or moreHS 390120

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 138 per cent on 2022 (USD 5m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 13min 2024
  23. 23

    Plastics: builders' ware, n.e.c. or included in heading no. 3925HS 392590

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 500k in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 12min 2024
  24. 24

    Plywood: with sheets of wood only: not bamboo: each ply 6mm or less, with at least one outer ply of alder, ash, beech, birch, cherry, chestnut, elm, eucalyptus...HS 441233

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 169 per cent on 2022 (USD 5m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 12min 2024
  25. 25

    Furniture: wooden, other than for office, kitchen or bedroom useHS 940360

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 1m in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 12min 2024
  26. 26

    Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6402, (other than just covering the ankle), with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plasticsHS 640299

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 565k in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 12min 2024
  27. 27

    Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of non-textured polyester filamentsHS 540761

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 2m in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 11min 2024
  28. 28

    Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail saleHS 300490

    Share of North Korea's imports97 per cent, 6 source countries
    Changedown 52 per cent on 2022 (USD 23m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 11min 2024
  29. 29

    Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6403, (not covering the ankle), outer soles of rubber, plastics or composition leather, uppers of leatherHS 640399

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 244 per cent on 2022 (USD 3m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 11min 2024
  30. 30

    Furniture: plasticHS 940370

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 162k in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 11min 2024
  31. 31

    Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of filaments of nylon or other polyamides, dyedHS 540742

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 272 per cent on 2022 (USD 3m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 10min 2024
  32. 32

    Hats and other headgear: knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed...HS 650500

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 2 source countries
    Changefrom USD 869k in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 10min 2024
  33. 33

    Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: diammonium hydrogenorthophosphate (diammonium phosphate)HS 310530

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 10k in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 10min 2024
  34. 34

    Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water absorption coefficient by weight over 10%HS 690723

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 350 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 9min 2024
  35. 35

    Fabrics: pile fabrics (excluding long pile and loop pile), of man-made fibres, knitted or crochetedHS 600192

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 154 per cent on 2022 (USD 4m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 9min 2024
  36. 36

    Medicaments: containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail saleHS 300420

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 30 per cent on 2022 (USD 7m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 9min 2024
  37. 37

    Textile fabrics: impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with polyurethaneHS 590320

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 439 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 9min 2024
  38. 38

    Luminaires and light fittings: chandeliers and electric ceiling or wall light fittings: (excluding those used for lighting public open spaces or thoroughfares), for use...HS 940511

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 197 per cent on 2022 (USD 3m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 8min 2024
  39. 39

    Hosiery and footwear: without applied soles, of cotton, knitted or crocheted (excluding graduated compression hosiery, panty hose, tights, full or knee-length hosiery...HS 611595

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 321 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 8min 2024
  40. 40

    Propylene, other olefin polymers: polypropylene in primary formsHS 390210

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 45 per cent on 2022 (USD 5m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 8min 2024
  41. 41

    Cosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for the care of the skin (excluding medicaments, including sunscreen or sun tan preparations)HS 330499

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 2 source countries
    Changeup 393 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 8min 2024
  42. 42

    Wallpaper and similar wall coverings: coated or covered on the face side, with a grained, embossed, coloured, design-printed or otherwise decorated layer of plasticsHS 481420

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 263 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 8min 2024
  43. 43

    Textile fabrics: impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with poly(vinyl chloride)HS 590310

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 1m in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 8min 2024
  44. 44

    Seats: with wooden frames, upholstered, (excluding medical, surgical, dental, veterinary or barber furniture)HS 940161

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 837k in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 7min 2024
  45. 45

    Plastics: of polymers of propylene, plates, sheets, film, foil and strip (not self-adhesive), non-cellular and not reinforced, laminated, supported or similarly...HS 392020

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 2 source countries
    Changedown 11 per cent on 2022 (USD 7m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 6min 2024
  46. 46

    Twine, cordage or rope: fishing nets, made up, of man made textile materialsHS 560811

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 564k in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 6min 2024
  47. 47

    Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of cotton, dyedHS 600622

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changedown 59 per cent on 2022 (USD 15m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 6min 2024
  48. 48

    Slide fasteners: other than those fitted with chain scoops of base metalHS 960719

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changefrom USD 364k in 2022
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 6min 2024
  49. 49

    Medium density fibreboard (MDF), of a thickness exceeding 9 mmHS 441114

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 1 source country
    Changeup 280 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 6min 2024
  50. 50

    Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars)HS 401110

    Share of North Korea's imports100 per cent, 2 source countries
    Changeup 4 per cent on 2022 (USD 6m in 2022)
    Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of range
    USD 6min 2024
Fastest growing

The lines that grew most since 2022.

Lines worth at least USD 5m in 2022, ranked by growth to 2024 in current dollars. A fast rise can be a new product, a shift away from another source, or a price change; the record does not say which.

  1. Human hair, dressed, thinned, bleached or otherwise worked: wool or other animal hair or other textile materials, prepared for use in making wigs or the likeHS 670300USD 169m in 2024, from USD 7m in 2022. China supplies 100 per cent of the line.
  2. Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water absorption coefficient by weight not over 0.5%HS 690721USD 16m in 2024, up 220 per cent on 2022 (USD 5m in 2022). China supplies 100 per cent of the line.
  3. Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or moreHS 390120USD 13m in 2024, up 138 per cent on 2022 (USD 5m in 2022). China supplies 100 per cent of the line.
  4. Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of synthetic fibres, dyedHS 600632USD 29m in 2024, up 112 per cent on 2022 (USD 14m in 2022). China supplies 100 per cent of the line.
  5. Floor, wall or ceiling coverings: of polymers of vinyl chloride, whether or not self-adhesive, in rolls or in the form of tilesHS 391810USD 42m in 2024, up 98 per cent on 2022 (USD 21m in 2022). China supplies 100 per cent of the line.
  6. Fabrics, woven: containing less than 85% by weight of non-textured polyester filamentsHS 540769USD 34m in 2024, up 90 per cent on 2022 (USD 18m in 2022). China supplies 100 per cent of the line.
  7. Carbonates: disodium carbonateHS 283620USD 18m in 2024, up 49 per cent on 2022 (USD 12m in 2022). China supplies 100 per cent of the line.
  8. Sacks and bags: of a kind used for the packing of goods, of man-made textile materials, of polyethylene or polypropylene strip or the like, not flexible intermediate...HS 630533USD 16m in 2024, up 48 per cent on 2022 (USD 11m in 2022). China supplies 100 per cent of the line.
  9. Propylene, other olefin polymers: polypropylene in primary formsHS 390210USD 8m in 2024, up 45 per cent on 2022 (USD 5m in 2022). China supplies 100 per cent of the line.
  10. Medicaments: containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail saleHS 300420USD 9m in 2024, up 30 per cent on 2022 (USD 7m in 2022). China supplies 100 per cent of the line.
  11. Amino-acids, other than those containing more than one kind of oxygen function, and their esters: glutamic acid and its esters: salts thereofHS 292242USD 21m in 2024, up 13 per cent on 2022 (USD 18m in 2022). China supplies 100 per cent of the line.
  12. Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars)HS 401110USD 6m in 2024, up 4 per cent on 2022 (USD 6m in 2022). China supplies 100 per cent of the line.
Where China dominates

Lines where China supplies 60 per cent or more.

The largest lines worth USD 1m or more where China ships at least 60 per cent of what North Korea imports. This is supply concentration: how much of the line depends on one source country.

  1. Human hair, dressed, thinned, bleached or otherwise worked: wool or other animal hair or other textile materials, prepared for use in making wigs or the likeHS 670300100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 169m; 1 source country in all.
  2. Floor, wall or ceiling coverings: of polymers of vinyl chloride, whether or not self-adhesive, in rolls or in the form of tilesHS 391810100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 42m; 1 source country in all.
  3. Fabrics, woven: containing less than 85% by weight of non-textured polyester filamentsHS 540769100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 34m; 1 source country in all.
  4. Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, dyedHS 540752100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 30m; 1 source country in all.
  5. Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of synthetic fibres, dyedHS 600632100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 29m; 1 source country in all.
  6. Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on buses or lorriesHS 401120100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 22m; 1 source country in all.
  7. Amino-acids, other than those containing more than one kind of oxygen function, and their esters: glutamic acid and its esters: salts thereofHS 292242100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 21m; 1 source country in all.
  8. Furniture: wooden, for bedroom useHS 940350100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 21m; 1 source country in all.
  9. Carbonates: disodium carbonateHS 283620100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 18m; 1 source country in all.
  10. Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water absorption coefficient by weight not over 0.5%HS 690721100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 16m; 1 source country in all.
  11. Musical instruments: pianos, upright, including automatic pianosHS 920110100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 16m; 1 source country in all.
  12. Sacks and bags: of a kind used for the packing of goods, of man-made textile materials, of polyethylene or polypropylene strip or the like, not flexible intermediate...HS 630533100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 16m; 1 source country in all.
  13. Plastics: other articles n.e.c. in chapter 39HS 392690100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 16m; 1 source country in all.
  14. Clock or watch parts: other than springs (including hair-springs), dials, plates, and bridgesHS 911490100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 16m; 1 source country in all.
  15. Meat preparations: sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal, blood or insects, and food preparations based on these productsHS 160100100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 16m; 1 source country in all.
  16. Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crochetedHS 611030100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 15m; 1 source country in all.
  17. Fibres: synthetic staple fibres, of polyesters, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinningHS 550320100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 15m; 1 source country in all.
  18. Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water absorption coefficient by weight over 0.5% but not...HS 690722100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 15m; 1 source country in all.
  19. Vinyl chloride polymers: monofilament, of which any cross-sectional dimension exceeds 1mm, rods, sticks and profile shapes, whether or not surface-worked but not...HS 391620100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 15m; 1 source country in all.
  20. Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterHS 170199100 per cent of North Korea's imports of the line, USD 14m; 1 source country in all.
Another source, lower unit value

Where another country ships the same line for at least 20 per cent less a tonne.

Lines worth USD 5m or more where China's unit value is recorded and another country also ships at least USD 5m of the same line to North Korea at a unit value at least 20 per cent lower. The largest such source is named. The same heading can hold different grades, so a lower figure is a question to ask, not a like-for-like price.

No line on this lane where another source ships USD 5m or more at a unit value 20 per cent lower.

The other side of the lane

What North Korea buys from everyone, and what it is placed to make.

What this record says

What crossed the border, what it was worth, and what it weighed.

Every figure on this page is from CEPII's BACI file, which reconciles what each pair of countries reports to the UN about the same shipment. Trade year 2024, compared with 2022. A line is one six-digit customs heading (HS 2022). Values are in US dollars at the border; growth is in current dollars, so part of any change is price, not volume.

Unit value. Unit values are customs values per tonne, declared at the border, not product prices. It is the value of a line divided by its declared weight, so it mixes grades, models and qualities under one heading. It is shown only where the weight is recorded, at least three source countries of USD 100k or more ship the line to North Korea with a weight, and the figure sits within a factor of five of the middle of those sources. Outside that band it is treated as a recording problem and left out.

Share is China's part of everything North Korea imported in that line, from every source. Sources counts the countries that shipped any of it.

Scope. Manufactured and processed goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, without ores, fuels, precious metals, scrap, raw farm output and one-off capital and defence purchases: the same rule as the Made here pages.

What it does not say

A record of trade, not a shopping list.

What this record does not say: what sells at retail, what margin a trade leaves, how crowded the marketplaces are, or how much of a flow is re-exported through entrepots such as Hong Kong and Singapore.

A large line is not proof of an opening, and a lower unit value from another country is not proof the goods are the same. Tariffs, standards, freight, payment terms, lead times and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. Nothing on this page is a forecast, a recommendation or a promise. No supplier company is named, because the record holds none.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601. Edition of 2026-11-03.

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