Chinese oil exports to North Korea rose to yearly highs in July, Beijing’s customs figures show, though gasoline and diesel remained absent from reported exports.

Beijing’s shipments of refined petroleum products to the DPRK increased to $3.5 million in value in July, from around $3 million the previous month.

The July figures mark a continued upward trend, with shipments gradually increasing month-over-month since January lows when total inflows by value were just $993 thousand.

But although last year’s refined oil exports appeared more volatile they also followed a similar pattern, moving in an