{"id":62598,"date":"2025-03-05T18:34:30","date_gmt":"2025-03-05T09:34:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/?p=62598"},"modified":"2026-04-06T14:11:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T05:11:43","slug":"grain-prices-surge-north-korea-enters-annual-spring-food-shortage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/grain-prices-surge-north-korea-enters-annual-spring-food-shortage\/","title":{"rendered":"Grain prices surge as N. Korea enters annual spring food shortage"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"font-claude-message relative leading-[1.65rem] [&amp;&gt;div&gt;div&gt;:is(p,ul,ol)]:pr-4 md:[&amp;&gt;div&gt;div&gt;:is(p,ul,ol)]:pr-8 [&amp;_pre&gt;div]:bg-bg-300 [&amp;_.ignore-pre-bg&gt;div]:bg-transparent\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; border-image: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: hsl(var(--accent-secondary-100)\/1); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; outline-color: hsl(var(--accent-main-100)); scrollbar-color: hsl(var(--border-300)\/.8) transparent; position: relative; line-height: 1.65rem; font-family: var(--font-claude-message); border: 0px solid hsl(var(--border-100));\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"grid-cols-1 grid gap-2.5 [&amp;_&gt;_*]:min-w-0\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; border-image: initial; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: hsl(var(--accent-secondary-100)\/1); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; outline-color: hsl(var(--accent-main-100)); scrollbar-color: hsl(var(--border-300)\/.8) transparent; display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(1, minmax(0px, 1fr)); gap: 0.625rem; border: 0px solid hsl(var(--border-100));\">\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">Grain prices across North Korean markets have begun climbing since mid-February, reversing the downward trend observed since December. With the arrival of the annual spring food shortage period, prices may continue their upward trajectory.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">According to Daily NK&#8217;s regular market price monitoring, rice was trading at 8,300 North Korean won per kilogram in Pyongyang markets on Feb. 16, marking a 3.8% increase from the 8,000 won recorded in the previous survey on Feb. 2.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">Similar rice price increases were observed throughout the country. In Sinuiju (North Pyongan province), rice sold for 8,360 won per kilogram, while in Hyesan (Ryanggang province), prices reached 8,500 won \u2013 representing increases of 3.2% and 2.4% respectively from two weeks earlier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">Corn prices, the staple grain for North Korea&#8217;s lower-income population, have followed the same pattern. In Pyongyang, corn traded at 3,120 won per kilogram on Feb. 16, a 4% jump from the 3,000 won recorded on Feb. 2.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">Hyesan reported the highest corn prices nationwide, with one kilogram selling for 3,400 won \u2013 a 4.6% increase from the previous survey.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">Two key factors appear to be driving these cereal price increases. First, North Korea is entering what&#8217;s locally known as the &#8220;barley hump&#8221; \u2013 the annual spring period when fall harvest reserves typically run low. Second, food demand surged around Feb. 16, the birthday of former leader Kim Jong Il.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">Kim Jong Il&#8217;s birthday ranks among North Korea&#8217;s most important holidays. Every year, demand for rice and corn spikes as families prepare traditional rice cakes and festive meals for their day off.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">However, market grain prices could potentially drop if North Korea increases food imports and distributes them through state-run stores.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">Meanwhile, the same market survey revealed declining exchange rates between the North Korean won and foreign currencies. In Pyongyang on Feb. 16, the won-to-dollar exchange rate stood at 20,070 won \u2013 4.4% lower than in the previous survey.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">Similar decreases in the dollar&#8217;s value were recorded elsewhere. In Sinuiju, one dollar traded for 20,100 won, down 4.5% from two weeks earlier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">The won-to-yuan exchange rate showed regional variations. The Chinese currency weakened against the won in Sinuiju and Hyesan, while slightly strengthening in Pyongyang.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">In Sinuiju, the yuan traded at 2,360 won on Feb. 16, a 4% decrease from Feb. 2. In Pyongyang, however, the rate stood at 2,320 won \u2013 a modest 0.8% increase from the previous survey, bucking the overall downward trend in the yuan&#8217;s value.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">After last year&#8217;s dramatic surge in dollar and yuan exchange rates, this year&#8217;s decline suggests imported goods are becoming more affordable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\">This is further supported by price reductions for gasoline (2%), diesel (1%), and cooking oil (3%) across North Korean markets as of Feb. 16 compared to two weeks earlier.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/20250220-6\/\">Read in Korean<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grain prices across North Korean markets have begun climbing since mid-February, reversing the downward trend observed since December. With the arrival of the annual spring food shortage period, prices may continue their upward trajectory. According to Daily NK&#8217;s regular market price monitoring, rice was trading at 8,300 North Korean won per kilogram in Pyongyang markets [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":128,"featured_media":40626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wikipediapreview_detectlinks":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,645],"tags":[100,123,271,695,696,714,738,930,1939],"class_list":["post-62598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","category-economy","tag-markets","tag-farming","tag-ryanggang-province","tag-sinuiju","tag-north-pyongan-province","tag-economy","tag-hyesan","tag-foreign-currency","tag-state-run-stores"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Grain prices surge as N. 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