North Korea ramped up imports of a key chemical used in agricultural fertilizers in May, while grain shipments from China also increased amid continuing reports of food shortages.

Official trade data from China’s General Administration of Customs shows that ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate, a main ingredient in fertilizer, was the DPRK’s largest import item at $12.5 million in May. The country finished rice planting ahead of the main growing season last month.

Rice imports from China also rose to 14,359 tons in May from 11,900 tons in April, though the total remained far below the 46,000 tons that