N. Korea's trade down 73.4 pct in 2020: KOTRA
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's annual trade plunged a whopping 73.4 percent in 2020 from a year earlier, as the country shut down its border amid the COVID-19 pandemic, data showed Thursday.
The combined amount of North Korea's trade came to US$863 million in 2020, compared with US$3.24 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).
"The decrease came as both exports and imports lost ground after North Korea closed down its border amid COVID-19, coupled with the prolonged economic sanctions from the United Nations," the KOTRA said in a report.
Outbound shipments came to $89 million, plunging 68 percent from $278 million posted in 2019. Imports also slid 74 percent over the period to reach $774 million, leading to a trade deficit of $684 million.
The trade deficit, meanwhile, improved from the previous year as imports decreased at a faster pace.
North Korea's main export products included steel, mineral oil and watch products. Among major import goods were crude and tobacco products.
The combined amount of trade between North Korea and China came to $762 million, accounting for 88.2 percent of the North's annual trade.
Other major trade partners of North Korea included Russia, Vietnam, India and Nigeria.
KOTRA added Mozambique, Tanzania, Ghana and Thailand were newly listed in the top 10 trade partners of North Korea in 2020.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
'Queen of Tears' weaves rich tapestry of Korean contemporary art
-
Ateez member Yunho throws first pitch at MLB match between Dodgers, Mets
-
N. Korea says Kim guided simulated nuclear counterattack drills for 1st time
-
N. Korea calls envisioned U.S. aid to Ukraine 'hallucinogen'
-
N. Korea calls on party propaganda officials to work harder
-
'Queen of Tears' weaves rich tapestry of Korean contemporary art
-
Experts see possibility of N.K. conducting nuclear test before U.S. presidential vote
-
Details of meeting between Yoon, opposition leader undecided: presidential office
-
N. Korea says Kim guided simulated nuclear counterattack drills for 1st time
-
Looming weekly closure of major hospitals feared to worsen medical service crisis
-
S. Korea eliminated in Olympic football qualifiers as poor defense, undisciplined play prove costly
-
10-man S. Korea lose to Indonesia to miss out on Paris Olympic football qualification
-
(LEAD) 10-man S. Korea lose to Indonesia to miss out on Paris Olympic football qualification
-
Indonesia coach left with mixed feelings after eliminating native S. Korea in Olympic football qualifiers
-
(3rd LD) Hybe to file complaint against sublabel executives over internal conflict