China’s trade with North Korea rebounds to 9-year high as Xi vows deeper ties
On his state visit to Pyongyang, President Xi eyes infrastructure, agriculture and tech gains as cross-border rail restarts, while high volumes of hair and tungsten fuel China’s imports
President Xi Jinping’s first official trip to Pyongyang in seven years coincides with a surge in bilateral trade, which has climbed to its highest level since the United Nations imposed sweeping sanctions nearly a decade ago.
According to Chinese customs figures, total commerce between the two nations reached US$325.8 million in April. The figure marks the highest level since December 2017, when sweeping trade bans were unleashed on many of North Korea’s export pillars.
The value of Chinese shipments to its neighbour reached US$252.3 million in April, the second-highest monthly level since 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent border closures froze bilateral trade. Meanwhile, Chinese imports from North Korea hit US$73.5 million, also the biggest intake since late 2017, according to the data.
Tungsten ores and concentrates, as well as wigs and other hair accessories such as fake beards, eyebrows and eyelashes, dominated the flow from North Korea, accounting for around 60 per cent of China’s imports.
The uptick in bilateral trade follows the recent restoration of transport links that were suspended during the pandemic, easing the movement of personnel and light freight.
In March, the first passenger trains crossed the border since North Korea sealed its frontiers in early 2020, with four trains from Beijing to Pyongyang running each week and a daily service from Dandong, Liaoning province.
Following the rail resumption, Air China briefly restored direct flights to Pyongyang, but the route was suspended again in April, with no official reason given.