North Korea’s trade with China jumped in the first two months of the year, according to official data, driven by both strong imports and one of its best months for exports since 2018.

The DPRK recorded some $222.5 million in total trade with its main commercial partner in January and nearly $122 million in February, outstripping $190 million and $121 million in the same months in 2024, China’s General Administration of Customs reported on Tuesday.

Despite the on-year uptick, the figures marked a decline from over $250 million in December and nearly $221 million in November, reflecting a typical pattern