China’s exports to North Korea saw a sharp rebound in September, surging 30.75% year-on-year to reach $228.1 million, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China. The strong recovery follows August’s first decline of 2025, marking a clear sign of renewed economic momentum between the two neighboring countries. On a month-to-month basis, Chinese shipments to North Korea jumped 54.53%, underscoring the rapid pace of trade recovery.
The top exports driving this surge included soybean oil, processed hair and wool for wig-making, petroleum bitumen, and granulated sugar, highlighting North Korea’s continued reliance on essential goods and manufacturing materials from China. As North Korea’s largest trading partner, China remains a crucial economic lifeline for the isolated nation, which continues to face strict international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program.
The spike in trade comes amid a series of high-level diplomatic exchanges between Beijing and Pyongyang. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Beijing in September for a military parade, marking his first formal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years. Accompanied by Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, Kim’s visit was followed by Choe’s separate diplomatic trip later that month, during which she met China’s top diplomat Wang Yi to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Days after these meetings, Chinese Premier Li Qiang traveled to Pyongyang to attend events celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party. In a congratulatory message to Kim, Xi pledged to enhance strategic communication and deepen practical cooperation between the two nations, according to Xinhua News Agency.
The growing economic and diplomatic engagements signal an era of renewed China–North Korea relations, reinforcing Beijing’s pivotal role in Pyongyang’s fragile yet recovering economy.