Rice far outstripped all other North Korean imports from China in March, customs data shows, marking the largest monthly total for grain imports since the COVID-19 pandemic began over three years ago.

Beijing’s General Administration of Customs reported that the DPRK received more than 46,000 metric tons (46.76 million kilograms) of long-grain, whole or semi-milled rice worth China last month, worth $21.8 million in total.

The figure is far higher than in recent months, when the total value fluctuated from $5-17 million, and translates to roughly a quarter of North Korea’s average monthly rice production, according