One month has passed since the resumption of freight train service between North Korea and China. Immediately after resuming service in late September, North Korea imported mostly construction materials and medical supplies, but recently, foodstuffs have accounted for a greater portion of the imports.
According to a Daily NK source in China last Friday, freight trains have been departing every morning from the Chinese city of Dandong for the North Korean city of Sinuiju since Sept. 26.
From late September to early October, the freight cars have been mostly laden with aluminum window frames, tiles, living room lights and other construction supplies, but from mid-October, the trains are carrying a wider range of cargo.
Trains entering North Korea still carry construction or interior supplies such as aluminum window frames, wood for furniture and sawdust, as well as medical supplies like masks and antibiotics. However, since mid-October, foodstuffs have accounted for a far higher share of imports, so much so that over half of freight cars have been laden with various food items.
In fact, the items now accounting for a greater share of North Korean imports by freight trains from China include soybean paste, soy sauce, red pepper powder, sugar, seasonings, vinegar, garlic soybeans and other items. In particular, imports of foodstuffs needed to make kimchi have reportedly increased with the start of kimjang, or the kimchi-making season.
However, the freight trains have yet to begin carrying grains such as rice or wheat flour.
EXPECTATIONS RISE ABOUT EXPANSION OF TRADE
With foodstuffs accounting for a growing share of North Korea’s imports via China-North Korea freight trains, expectations are rising in China regarding the potential of expanding bilateral trade.
Most of all, Chinese traders who have dealt with North Korea are reportedly hoping that opportunities to take part in China-North Korea trade will open up as the freight train import list expands from construction supplies to consumer goods.
However, many traders in China believe that trade will now expand based on fulfilling orders by government agencies, rather than personal transactions between North Korean and Chinese traders, as was the case in the past.
Interestingly, freight trains are empty when they enter Dandong from Sinuiju, according to the source.
In the past, the trains have carried wigs, clothing and other manufactured wares to China, but North Korea has yet to launch exports of handicrafts by way of freight trains.
Meanwhile, trade between China and North Korea soared last month according to official numbers announced by China’s General Administration of Customs (China Customs).
China-North Korea trade for the month of September totaled nearly USD 142.7 million, according to numbers released by China Customs on Oct. 24, climbing for a third consecutive month. It was the second time since April it has climbed past USD 100 million this year.
However, China Customs did not record sales of coal, which account for a large share of North Korea’s exports to China.
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