The document analyzes energy and fuel trade between North Korea and China from 1995 to 2005. Some key findings are: 1) In 2005, energy and fuels accounted for 26% of North Korea's imports from China and 23% of exports by value, with North Korea being a net importer of Chinese crude oil and oil products but a net exporter of electricity and coal to China. 2) North Korean coal and electricity were sold to China at prices 55% and 52% lower than average import prices, while Chinese coal and oil products were sold to North Korea at prices 22% and 17% higher than average export prices. 3) North Korea has increasingly become a net importer of energy and energy-intensive

1. DPRK Energy and Energy-Related Trade with China Recent Trends and Implications June 26-27, 2006 DPRK Energy Experts Study Group Meeting Nathaniel Aden

5. Direct DPRK data are elusive North Korean trade data are covered in the UN International Commodity Trade Database and on a fairly detailed level in Chinese Customs Statistics Yearbooks. In order to examine the relationship between the DPRK and the PRC, this presentation reviews data compiled by the China Customs Bureau. Trade value data are in current dollars according to current official exchange rates.

6. Energy and fuels has been a consistent portion of DPRK-PRC trade

7. In 2005, energy and fuels was the single largest official DPRK-PRC trade category $ 5 Edible Fruit and Nuts $ 25 Iron/Steel Products 10 $ 5 Knit Apparel $ 28 Vehicles, Not Railway 9 $ 7 Misc. Grain, Seed, Fruit $ 29 Manmade Filament, Fabric 8 $ 11 Zinc & Articles Thereof $ 35 Iron and Steel 7 $ 15 Wood $ 50 Cereals 6 $ 58 Woven Apparel $ 52 Plastic 5 $ 72 Iron and Steel $ 57 Electrical Machinery 4 $ 92 Ores, Slag, Ash $ 77 Machinery 3 $ 92 Fish and Seafood $ 104 Meat 2 $ 112 Energy & Fuels $ 286 Energy and Fuels 1 Value (million $) Commodity Value (million $) Commodity DPRK Exports DPRK Imports

8. Crude imports were overshadowed by more than 2.8 million tons of coal exports

9. But crude oil is more valuable… (imports) (exports)

10. … and North Korea’s sporadic oil imports have continued unabated

11. On the other hand, coal exports surged with prices, while imports have diminished

12. Sporadic exports of DPRK electricity have grown more sustained.

13. North Korean exports of electricity and coal have grown at “friendship prices”

14. But Chinese coal and oil product have been sold at top dollar

15. … and the DPRK lost its controlled price of $127/ton PRC crude oil in February 1998

16. Transportation equipment moves on a one-way street between the PRC and the DPRK

17. In trade with the PRC, DPRK exports became more labor-intensive and imports more energy-intensive