Food Prices Still Unstable in NK

January Market Prices in DPRK

Prices shown in this chart were gathered in our own privately conducted survey in Chongjin City, Onsong , Hamgyon Prov. and Hyesan Ryanggang Prov.

Unit: NKW

Item
Chongjin
Haysan
Onsong 
Domestic  Rice – 1Kg
3,300
3,400
3,000
Imported  Rice (from China) – 1Kg
3,000
2,900
3,000
Glutinous  Rice – 1Kg
4,000
3,800
3,600
Corn – 1Kg
1,800
1,700
1,800
Wheat Flour – 1Kg
2,000
—–
2,000
Chicken Egg – 1
600
650
600
Potatoes – 1Kg
700
—–
—–
Soybeans – 1Kg
2,000
2,000
1,900
Soybean Oil – 1liter
8,000
8,000
7,000
Pork – 1Kg
7,500
8,000
Onions – 1Kg
—–
—–
—–
Chinese Lettuce – 1Kg
—–
—–
—–
Red pepper – 1Kg
14,000 (powder)
15,000
—–
US $100
400,000
400,000
390,000
100 RMB / 100 Chinese Yuan
65,000
65,000
63,000

NOTE: Prices are generally determined by supply and demand.  In North Korea, however, major suppliers (most of whom are wealthy merchants and relatives of top army officers and Party members), are engaging in speculation, repeatedly holding and releasing goods in expectation of political changes and other shifting conditions. This is one of the reasons for the recent dramatic price fluctuations.

Our sources report that normally stable food commodities have been showing large price changes from morning to afternoon, or from one day to the next.

Research Conducted by LFNKR
Date of Research: Jan. 8, 2012