Officially named the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea, North Korea is strategically located on the north part of the Korean Peninsula near leading trading partners including China to its west and Japan to the east.

Based on latest available statistics, North Korea exported US$150.8 million worth of products around the globe in 2021.

That dollar amount reflects a -92.7% decline from $2.1 billion in 2017.

Year over year, the overall value of North Korea’s exported products fell by -19.5% compared to $187.5 million during 2020.

North Korea’s Top Trading Partners

Below is a list of North Korea’s top 15 trading partners that imported the most North Korean shipments by dollar value during 2021. Also shown is each import country’s percentage share of total exports from North Korea.

1. China: US$57.9 million (38.4% of total North Korean exports)
2. Poland: $10.2 million (6.8%)
3. Tanzania: $8.8 million (5.8%)
4. Senegal: $7.5 million (5%)
5. Luxembourg: $7 million (4.6%)
6. Nigeria: $6.36 million (4.2%)
7. India: $6.31 million (4.2%)
8. Zambia: $6.26 million (4.2%)
9. Suriname: $5.7 million (3.8%)
10. Togo: $5.4 million (3.6%)
11. Netherlands: $3.5 million (2.3%)
12. Spain: $2.2 million (1.4%)
13. Lebanon: $2.1 million (1.4%)
14. Samoa: $1.72 million (1.1%)
15. Ethiopia: $1.69 million (1.1%)

 
During 2021, 87.8% of North Korean shipments were delivered to the above top trading partners.

The fastest-growing importers purchasing goods from North Korea from 2020 to 2021 were: Lebanon (up 1,203%), Senegal (up 995.6%), Zambiia (up 668.5%), Netherlands (up 522.2%), Spain (up 464.1%), and India (up 227.7%).

The four decliners in terms of buying exports from North Korea were Ethiopia (down -53.6%), Poland (down -51.3%), Suriname (down -34.8%), and Nigeria (down -3.8%).

See also North Korea’s Top 10 Exports, South Korea’s Top Trading Partners and Capital Facts for Pyongyang, North Korea

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, Field Listing: Imports, The World Factbook. Accessed on September 20, 2022

Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis. Accessed on September 20, 2022