North Korea’s trade with China hit a new high for the year in October on the back of growing imports, although declining exports kept the total volume from outpacing last year’s highs.

Bilateral exchange reached $218.8 million in trade last month, up from $202 million recorded in September, to extend a growth streak to three months, according to China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC).

This figure marked an on-year jump, when total bilateral trade only reached $192 million. But it fell short of the multiyear highs of $257 million and $224 million recorded last December and November, respectively.

Last month’s