Chinese-made portable cooling fans have become the must-have summer accessory for North Koreans.
“No matter the price, handheld cooling fans are among the hottest imports from China right now,” a source in North Pyongan province told Daily NK recently.
These aren’t your ordinary battery-powered fans. The latest models actually blow cold air, not just circulated room-temperature air. Since these advanced cooling devices started reaching North Korea, demand has exploded.
The Chinese-made handheld fans available in North Korea range from 20 to 150 Chinese yuan, depending on battery life, speed settings, and how cold the air gets.
“One model from China can cool air down to 16 degrees Celsius. With access to electricity, it runs for nearly eight hours on a full charge. Just one fan makes a huge difference in beating the heat. Anyone who can afford one is desperate to get their hands on it,” the source explained.
The cooling fans are so popular that shipments of dozens or even hundreds of units sell out immediately across the country.
Smuggling in small batches
These fans aren’t the main focus for North Korean traders, though. Rather than importing them in bulk, merchants hide small quantities inside shipments of other goods. This creates a supply shortage that can’t keep up with demand.
“A recent shipment of around 300 of the latest models sold out completely. We’d love to bring in larger quantities, but there’s too much bureaucratic hassle. The best we can do is slip a few into our regular shipments,” said one person in the trading business.
China restricts exports of many items, and North Korea requires separate trading permits for additional products like these new cooling fans. For traders, it makes more financial sense to smuggle small numbers rather than deal with the paperwork.
“We’re making some extra money by bringing in modest amounts along with our authorized goods—just enough to stay under the radar,” the trader explained.
North Koreans have discovered one major drawback to their prized cooling fans: they break down frequently.
“Most come with a one-year warranty covering free repairs, returns, and replacements. But people are frustrated to learn the warranty only works in China, not North Korea,” the source said.
