Grain prices in North Korea continue to fall as the authorities have significantly expanded grain imports. Recently, corn prices have been falling more than rice prices given that imports of corn are on the rise.
According to Daily NK’s regular survey of market prices in North Korea, a kilogram of corn cost KPW 2,900 in Pyongyang as of Apr. 16.
This was 3.3% less than it cost early this month on Apr. 3. Corn prices in Pyongyang had remained above KWP 3,000 a kilogram since mid-February, but now they have fallen to the mid-KPW 2,000s.
Corn prices are falling in Sinuiju and Hyesan, too. In Sinuiju, corn cost KPW 2,810 a kilogram as of Apr. 16, less than it did in Pyongyang or Hyesan.
In Hyesan, corn still cost more than KPW 3,000 a kilogram, but the price still fell by a similar amount as other regions over the last two weeks.
The price of corn in Hyesan rose as high as KPW 3,600 a kilogram in late January. The current price is about 17% less than the yearly high.
RICE PRICES FALL SLIGHTLY
Meanwhile, rice prices have come down slightly compared to the start of the month, but not by much.
In Pyongyang’s markets, rice cost KPW 5,400 a kilogram as of Apr. 16, KPW 70 less than it did on Apr. 3, when it cost KPW 5,470 a kilogram.
In Sinuiju, where the price of rice fell the most over the last two weeks, rice cost KPW 5,700, a 2% drop.
With grain prices in North Korea falling since last month, the pronounced drop in corn prices relative to rice is the result of recent grain imports.
In March, Daily NK reported that North Korean authorities ordered its trade delegations in China and other personnel overseas to secure rice, corn, wheat and other grains for import into North Korea starting in February.
Based on that order, North Korean officials overseas have been going to Chinese trading companies and factories to demand “contributions” of goods or cash.
Recently, a reporting partner in China told Daily NK that “most North Korean trade delegations in China have received an order from the authorities to put nothing but rice on freight trains. Freight trains are more than 90% full of rice.”
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, the reporting partner said that the volume of rice going to North Korea from China had fallen a bit after the Day of the Sun holiday, when North Koreans celebrate the birthday of the nation’s late founder Kim Il Sung on Apr. 15.
RISE IN IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA, TOO
North Korea is also increasing imports of corn and wheat from Russia.
A reporting partner in North Korea recently told Daily NK that the authorities have recently been importing large amounts of corn and whole wheat from Russia by ship or train.
The corn imported from Russia was sold at state-run grain shops, though some of it is circulating in markets, too.
“Imports of corn and whole wheat will likely continue until June, when the wheat harvest begins in earnest,” the reporting partner said.
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
Daily NK works with a network of reporting partners who live inside North Korea and China. Their identities remain anonymous due to security concerns. More information about Daily NK’s reporting partner network and information gathering activities can be found on our FAQ page here.
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