North Korea has lost nearly fifty percent of seaborne coal carrying capacity over the last year, though the decrease does not appear to have affected trade, comparisons of Marine Traffic data and trade figures show.

Via a combination of sanctions, seizures by foreign courts and sinking ships, the DPRK lost eight members of its fleet capable of carrying coal.

Many of the lost ships were relatively large compared to the majority of the North’s merchant fleet, meaning the DPRK can now ship 200,000 fewer tonnes of coal now than it could at the start of