Russia expands range of agricultural exports to North Korea in 2024 - Agroexport

MOSCOW. April 7 (Interfax) - Russia expanded its assortment of agricultural exports to North Korea in 2024.

Russia resumed exporting sunflower oil, pork, frozen fish and soybeans to North Korea last year after a lengthy pause, and sunflower oil immediately became one of the top three agricultural exports to the country, the Agroexport Center reported.

Russia exported a total of about 22,000 tonnes of agricultural products to North Korea in 2024, the center said, citing experts. Wheat flour accounted for 69% of exports, sugar was second with 10% and sunflower oil was third with 6%.

A Russian government order was signed in March of this year to hold negotiations with the aim of signing an agreement between Russia's Agriculture Ministry and North Korea's Agriculture Commission on cooperation in the agribusiness sector.

Contacts between the two countries on most areas of agriculture have intensified recently. The chairman of North Korea's agriculture commission, Ri Chol Man and the deputy chairman of the country's import-export quality control and quarantine commission, Kim Su Chor visited Russia in 2024.

Agroexport said the signing of the agreement will enable Russia to expand exports of fertilizer, seeds and machinery, as well as offer comprehensive solutions, from greenhouse systems to processing equipment.

"[North Korea] needs basic agricultural resources, which means Russian companies can occupy a stable niche on a market with minimal competition. An additional effect will be the development of logistics routes through the Far East," the center said.