Lead ores overtook iron as the DPRK’s most valuable mineral export in July, figures from the Chinese customs show, two months before UN resolutions are set to prohibit member states from importing both commodities.

North Korea shipped unprocessed lead worth over $10 million to neighboring China last month, the figures compiled by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) show, while iron exports fell to $9 million from $11 million in June.

The DPRK began scaling up its lead exports in March this year, on average doubling its monthly shipments when compared to 2016.

North Korea has