North Korea is China’s biggest foreign wine market for fourth year in a row



Analysis North Korea is China’s biggest foreign wine market for fourth year in a row DPRK sources wine through bulk imports at low cost, which likely makes its way to domestic bottlers and distributors Veronica Hou August 14, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON A waitress serves wine in North Korea \| Image: NK Pro North Korea was the largest market overseas for Chinese wine by volume in the first half of 2026, ranking second only to the territory of Hong Kong for the fourth year in a row, according to NK Pro analysis. Monthly data published by China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) shows North Korea imported 442,311 liters (nearly 15 million fluid ounces) — the equivalent of almost 590,000 standard wine bottles — between January and June. The amount was more than the next three countries — Singapore, South Korea and Japan — combined, and represented a 23.79% increase relative to the same period last year Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01How North Korea turned its tech talent into a global money-making machine 02Why a spate of public disputes is déjà vu for the US-ROK alliance 03No summit, new bridge: What to make of Kim Jong Un’s unusual visit to Dandong 04How South Koreans weigh the costs of unification with North Korea 05All the missiles and weapons at North Korea’s new ‘defense revolution’ museum 06Why the inter-Korean border remains unmarked, despite military risks 07How the DMZ blasts unfolded, from mine laying to North Korean denials 08North Korean TV airs outdated map laying claim to South Korean border islands

Analysis

North Korea is China’s biggest foreign wine market for fourth year in a row

DPRK sources wine through bulk imports at low cost, which likely makes its way to domestic bottlers and distributors

Veronica Hou August 14, 2026

North Korea is China’s biggest foreign wine market for fourth year in a row

A waitress serves wine in North Korea | Image: NK Pro

North Korea was the largest market overseas for Chinese wine by volume in the first half of 2026, ranking second only to the territory of Hong Kong for the fourth year in a row, according to NK Pro analysis.

Monthly data published by China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) shows North Korea imported 442,311 liters (nearly 15 million fluid ounces) — the equivalent of almost 590,000 standard wine bottles — between January and June.

The amount was more than the next three countries — Singapore, South Korea and Japan — combined, and represented a 23.79% increase relative to the same period last year

01How North Korea turned its tech talent into a global money-making machine
02Why a spate of public disputes is déjà vu for the US-ROK alliance
03No summit, new bridge: What to make of Kim Jong Un’s unusual visit to Dandong
04How South Koreans weigh the costs of unification with North Korea
05All the missiles and weapons at North Korea’s new ‘defense revolution’ museum
06Why the inter-Korean border remains unmarked, despite military risks
07How the DMZ blasts unfolded, from mine laying to North Korean denials
08North Korean TV airs outdated map laying claim to South Korean border islands

North Korea is China’s biggest foreign wine market for fourth year in a row

LATEST ANALYSIS

Similar Articles

About the Author

Veronica Hou