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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $2BRnk 110 / 208
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $160MProcessed Hair
2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $292MRnk 1 / 82
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $167MFake Hair
2023
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.16Rnk 21 / 132
2023
Flag  
GDP$17.8TCURRENT US$
Rnk 2 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH85.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 22 / 195
2023
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GDP PC $12,614CURRENT US$
Rnk 80 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH79.7%CURRENT US$
Rnk 17 / 195

About

China-North Korea Trade: In 2023, China exported $2B to North Korea. The main products that China exported to North Korea were Processed Hair ($160M), Soybean Oil ($90M), and Mixed Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers ($80.7M). Over the past 5 years the exports of China to North Korea have decreased at an annualized rate of 2.01%, from $2.22B in 2018 to $2B in 2023.

In 2023, China did not export any services to North Korea.

North Korea-China Trade: In 2023, North Korea exported $292M to China. The main products that North Korea exported to China were Fake Hair ($167M), Ferroalloys ($32.1M), and Tungsten Ore ($25.9M). Over the past 5 years the exports of North Korea to China have increased at an annualized rate of 8.45%,  from $195M in 2018 to $292M in 2023.

In 2023, North Korea did not export any services to China.

Comparison In 2023,  China ranked 21 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.16),  and 1 in total exports ($3.42T). That same year, North Korea ranked 172 in total exports ($397M), and does not have data regarding Economic Complexity Index.

Latest Trends

December, 2024

About

Overview In December 2024, China exported $213M and imported $37.9M from North Korea, resulting in a positive trade balance of $175M. Between December 2023 and December 2024 the exports of China have decreased by $-19.3M (-8.31%) from $232M to $213M, while imports increased by $12.5M (49.4%) from $25.4M to $37.9M.

Trade In December 2024, the top exports of China to North Korea were Processed Hair ($25.5M), Mixed Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers ($9.67M), Raw Sugar ($9.09M), Soybean Oil ($5.05M), and Packaged Medicaments ($4.93M). In December 2024 the top imports of China from North Korea were Fake Hair ($23.2M), Electricity ($2.26M), Tungsten Ore ($2.09M), Ferroalloys ($1.75M), and Watch Movements ($1.55M).

Origins In December 2024 the exports of China were mainly from Liaoning Province ($87.6M), Guangdong Province ($55.3M), Jilin Province ($24M), Shandong Province ($18.6M), and Jiangsu Province ($9.22M), while imports destinations were mainly Jilin Province ($15.3M), Liaoning Province ($14.6M), Shandong Province ($5.75M), Guangdong Province ($1.28M), and Hunan Province ($650k).

Growth In December 2024, the decrease in China's year-by-year exports to North Korea was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Other knitted or crocheted fabrics. ($-8.77M or -83.2%), Synthetic Filament Yarn Woven Fabric ($-5.77M or -57.9%), and Oxygen Amino Compounds ($-5.44M or -92.6%). In December 2024, the increase in China's year-by-year imports  from North Korea was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Fake Hair ($18.4M or 382%), Electricity ($641k or 39.6%), and Molybdenum Ore ($248k or 46.1%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (December 2023 - December 2024)$-19.3M(-8.31%)
IMPORT GROWTH (December 2023 - December 2024)$12.5M(49.4%)
MAIN EXPORTER (December 2024)Liaoning Province$87.6M

This section shows exports and imports data at subnational level for China. Click any date in the line plot, any subnational region in the geomap or any product to explore the exports or imports behavior of China over time.

To check North Korea and China trade dynamics, check the bilateral page.

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, China exported $2B to North Korea. The main products exported from China to North Korea were Processed Hair ($160M), Soybean Oil ($90M), and Mixed Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers ($80.7M). During the last 5 years the exports of China to North Korea have decreased at an annualized rate of 2.01%, from $2.22B in 2018 to $2B in 2023.

In 2018, North Korea exported $292M to China. The main products exported from North Korea to China were Fake Hair ($167M), Ferroalloys ($32.1M), and Tungsten Ore ($25.9M). During the last 5 years the exports of North Korea to China have increased at an annualized rate of 8.45%, from $195M in 2023 to $292M in 2018.

Exports from China (Flag) to North Korea (Flag) (2023)

Exports from North Korea (Flag) to China (Flag) (2023)

Market Competitiveness

Color
China
Top DestinationUnited States$436B
North Korea
Top DestinationChina$292M

This map shows whether countries import more from China or North Korea. Each country is colored based on the difference in imports they receive from China and North Korea or the difference in the growth in imports.

In 2023, countries that imported more from China than North Korea included United States ($436B), Hong Kong ($259B), and Japan ($169B).

In 2023, no countries were registered that imported more from North Korea than from China.

Difference in imports from North Korea (Flag) and China (Flag) (2023)

Comparative Advantage China - North Korea

Flow
Scale

This chart compares trade between China and North Korea by product, considering products traded by both, China and North Korea.

During 2023, China had a large net trade with North Korea in the exports of Textiles ($371M), Chemical Products ($279M), and Plastics and Rubbers ($274M).

During 2018, North Korea had a large net trade with China in the exports of Footwear and Headwear ($167M), Mineral Products ($55.4M), and Metals ($34M).

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

This visualization shows the product space at the HS4 level with the flags of China and North Korea. This means that a dot/product with the flag of China indicates it has a comparative advantage over North Korea. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of North Korea indicates it has a comparative advantage over China.

Product Space of China (Flag) and North Korea (Flag) (2023)

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