Countries
North Korea: trade by HS code
- US$396.4mExports 2024
- US$1.8bnImports 2024
- 948HS6 · Exports
In 2024, exports from North Korea came to US$396.4m and imports to US$1.8bn.
Its main exports were wigs and hairpieces of human hair (6704.20), tungsten ores and concentrates (2611.00) and electricity (2716.00).
Its largest customer was China and its largest supplier China.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported goods worth £35.8k from North Korea, above all immunological products, dosed or retail and polymer or rubber-based adhesives, and exported £0 to it.
North Korea has no preferential arrangement with the UK: its goods pay the standard third-country rates.
North Korea and the UK
What the UK imports from North Korea
Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · HMRC
North Korea and the EU
What the EU imports from North Korea
- 3301.29Other essential oils (non-citrus)
- 3907.29Other polyethers, primary
- 7204.21Stainless steel scrap
- 2924.19Other acyclic amides
- 8708.50Drive axles and non-driving axles
- 3926.90Other plastic articles
- 4202.29Handbags, whether or not with shoulder strap, including: other
- 3215.19Other printing inks
- 9018.90Other medical and surgical instruments
- 9503.00Toys, dolls, scale models and puzzles
Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · Eurostat Comext
Top exports
- 6704.20Wigs and hairpieces of human hair
- 2611.00Tungsten ores and concentrates
- 2716.00Electricity
- 7202.21Ferro-silicon (over 55% Si)
- 9108.11With mechanical display only or with a device to which a mechanical display can be incorporated
- 2613.90Molybdenum ores (not roasted)
- 6704.19Of synthetic textile materials: other
- 2849.20Carbides, whether or not chemically defined: of silicon
- 5002.00Raw silk (not thrown)
- 2008.19Other prepared nuts and seeds
- 3824.99Other chemical products and preparations
- 2837.11Sodium cyanide
- 5003.00Silk waste (including cocoons unsuitable for reeling, yarn waste and garnetted stock)
- 8473.30Computer parts and accessories
- 8703.23Petrol cars, 1500-3000 cc
- 9505.90Other festive and party articles
- 6406.10Shoe uppers and parts
- 9023.00Demonstration instruments and models
- 8543.70Other electrical machines and apparatus
- 3004.90Other medicines, dosed or for retail sale
Top imports
- 6703.00Human hair, dressed, thinned, bleached or otherwise worked; wool or other animal hair or other textile materials, prepared for use in making wigs or the like
- 1507.90Refined soybean oil
- 3918.10PVC floor coverings
- 5407.69Other polyester filament woven fabric
- 5407.52Dyed polyester filament woven fabric
- 6006.32Dyed synthetic knitted fabrics
- 4011.20New bus and truck tyres
- 2922.42Glutamic acid and salts (MSG)
- 9403.50Wooden bedroom furniture
- 0805.21Mandarins and tangerines
- 2836.20Sodium carbonate (soda ash)
- 2713.20Petroleum bitumen
- 6907.21Porcelain tiles (absorption up to 0.5%)
- 9201.10Pianos, including automatic pianos: upright pianos
- 6305.33Woven PP/PE strip sacks
- 3926.90Other plastic articles
- 9114.90Other watch and clock parts
- 0303.67Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma)
- 1601.00Sausages and similar products
- 6110.30Synthetic sweaters and cardigans, knitted
Main buyers from North Korea
Main suppliers of North Korea
Questions and answers
What does North Korea export most?
In 2024, its largest export at the six-digit level was wigs and hairpieces of human hair (HS 6704.20), worth US$180.2m.
Does the UK have a trade agreement with North Korea?
No preferential rates are recorded for North Korea in the UK tariff, so the standard third-country duty applies, plus any anti-dumping or other measures that cover its goods.