North Korea’s exports of coal to China hit a record high last month despite intensified efforts at the global level to sanction the North for proceeding with its nuclear program.

According to the Beijing office of the Korea International Trade Association(KITA), the North’s coal exports to China in August stood at two-point-46 million tons, up 35 percent from the same month last year.

It marks the largest monthly sale of coal by North Korea to China since the Seoul-based agency began compiling related records.

KITA attributed the increase to the North’s dumping scheme in an increasing effort to secure cash amid the strengthened international sanctions on the regime.

Coal is on a list of banned North Korean items that China included in its own sanction measure against the North announced early this year, but Beijing said it would continue to allow the import of coal for civilian use.

The North’s exports of steel amounted to one-point-nine million dollars last month, also up 61-point-eight percent from a year earlier. The North’s exports of iron ore also jumped 14-point-three percent on-year to six-point-six million dollars last month.