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.
|
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