By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
- First-time trade: In 2025, Russia exported more than 110 tons of tobacco to North Korea.
- Broader ag push: Tobacco shipments were part of expanded Russian agricultural exports, which also included beer and rapeseed oil.
- Geopolitical signal: The move signals deepening economic ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Russia exported more than 110 metric tons of tobacco products to North Korea in 2025, valued at over $700,000, according to estimates from Agroexport, the Russian federal center for agricultural export development.
The shipments mark the first recorded deliveries of Russian tobacco products to North Korea, expanding bilateral trade ties that have deepened since 2023 amid shifting geopolitical alignments and Western sanctions on both countries.
Agroexport said the tobacco exports were part of broader growth in Russian agricultural shipments to North Korea in 2025, which also included products such as beer and rapeseed oil. The agency has previously stated that expanding access to Asian markets is a strategic priority for Russia’s agribusiness sector as it seeks to diversify export destinations.
While the volume—just over 110 tons—is modest compared with Russia’s total tobacco exports worldwide, the move is notable given North Korea’s highly restricted import environment and longstanding international sanctions.
Trade between Moscow and Pyongyang has also increased in other sectors, particularly in food and raw materials, following renewed diplomatic engagement between the two governments. However, available data on North Korea’s tobacco consumption and retail market structure remain limited due to the country’s opaque economic reporting.
Neither government disclosed details about the specific companies involved in the shipments.
