China Gasoline Exports to N. Korea Dwindle

China's gasoline exports to North Korea reduced to a dribble in July, according to customs data, the strongest sign yet that the suspension of sales of the fuel by state oil major CNPC has cut critical supplies to its isolated neighbor. Beijing's General Administration of Customs said on Wednesday Chinese shipments of gasoline dropped 97% from a year ago to just 120 tons of the fuel—worth little more than $100,000, Reuters reported. The number was down from 8,262 tons in June. Monthly fluctuations in the data are not unusual, but this was the fourth-lowest volume on Reuters' records of customs data going back to January 2010. Customs data also showed China's trade with North Korea fell last month, as a ban on coal purchases from its isolated neighbor slowed imports amid growing pressure from the United States to rein in Pyongyang's missile program.