Market rice prices in North Korea have fallen slightly with the start of the fall harvest, but grain prices may not fall much further even after the harvest ends because of poor crop yields this year.<\/p>\n
According to Daily NK\u2019s regular survey of market prices in North Korea, the average price of a kilogram of rice in Pyongyang, Sinuiju and Hyesan was KPW 5,700 as of Oct. 3.<\/span><\/p>\n After spiking to over KPW 6,000 a kilogram in July and August, the price of rice has continued to fall since September.<\/span><\/p>\n The prices appear to be falling because substitute staples usually enter the market at the end of September, when farmers reap double cropped corn, wheat and barley.<\/span><\/p>\n The distribution of food by the authorities to the party, military and administrative agencies to mark Party Foundation Day on Oct. 10, and the subsequent appearance of some of that food on the market, also appears to have driven down prices.<\/span><\/p>\n However, among rice prices recorded in early October since the country closed its borders in January 2020, this year’s rice prices have been the highest.<\/p>\n The market prices of a kilogram of rice in North Korea in early October of 2020 was KPW 4,500 in Pyongyang, KPW 4,470 in Sinuiju and KPW 4,750 in Hyesan, the lowest they have been in the last three years. In early October of 2021, the prices climbed to KPW 5,000 and above, with a kilogram of rice costing KPW 5,000 in Pyongyang, KPW 5,000 in Sinuiju and KPW 5,500 in Hyesan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n