Imported vinyl flooring sheets are flowing into North Korea through border customs posts in 2026. A source in Ryanggang province told reporters on Wednesday that various kinds of flooring have been coming in steadily. The selection is more varied than before, but actual vinyl flooring demand remains low.
Spring and autumn are traditionally home repair seasons in North Korea. April has typically seen a noticeable uptick in flooring purchases. Wealthier households have moved on from vinyl flooring to higher end tiles. Lower income households have seen their finances deteriorate further.
Vinyl flooring currently trades at around 50 Chinese yuan per square meter. That amounts to approximately 6.90 dollars per square meter. This price represents a more than 60 percent increase from one year ago. The flooring cost roughly 30 yuan per square meter back then. Traders continue importing the flooring at a steady pace.
The source explained that well off households have tile floors throughout their homes. Households that barely scrape by still live on vinyl flooring. Many families have no means to replace it when it wears out. Rice that used to cost 4,000 won per kilogram has risen to around 30,000 won. Markets have more variety than before, but goods are piling up.
The resumption of North Korea China trade has increased imported goods supply. Purchasing power has not kept pace with this growing availability. Living standards have fallen to the point where many households now eat corn instead of rice. Replacing worn flooring is simply out of reach for most families.
Prices are rising by the day across all sectors of the economy. People’s earnings are not recovering at the same speed. The source added that many families cannot even solve their food problems. Broader home repairs are completely out of reach for lower income households. The vinyl flooring demand collapse signals worsening economic conditions ahead.
