China Tripled Trade Business With North Korea in 2022

China's total exports to North Korea more than tripled in 2022 compared to the previous year, as freight train operations between the two countries resumed after being halted to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Chinese outbound shipments to North Korea increased 247.5 percent year on year to $894 million, according to trade data released on Friday by China's General Administration of Customs.

In terms of value, the top export items were soybean oil, rubber tyres, granulated sugar, tobacco, and unnamed medicines.

In early 2022, Pyongyang had a large stockpile of Chinese medical supplies, including masks and ventilators.

North Korea declared victory over COVID-19 in August, but it still purchased 2.27 million masks, 12,000 thermometers, and 40,000 pairs of medical rubber gloves from China in December, according to trade data released by Beijing.

North Korea's parliament outlined plans to normalise industrial production and meet economic targets this year, according to state media.

Kim Tok Hun, premier of North Korean cabinet, lauded the country for "successfully tackling the worst-ever upheaval since the founding of the country" amid the COVID-19 outbreak, adding the cabinet aims to make 2023 "a year of great turn and change in the course of development" marking the 75th anniversary of the country's foundation.

For the majority of the pandemic, the reclusive country closed its borders to nearly all trade, only resuming supplies and products from China in 2022. This increased bilateral trade to $1.03 billion in 2022, a 226 percent increase from the previous year.