Middle East’s meat shortage leads to increase in Mongolian exports

Oyundelger 2018-08-31 07:08

Economy

Mainly due to this type of demand, Mongolian exports on sheep and goat have reached over 2,600 tons.

According to the Asia and Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics, Mongolia’s livestock count reached 56 million in 2015. This number was estimated to have increased to about 66 million in 2017. And while Mongolian exports have been generally increasing this seems to be especially true in regards to Mongolian exports to the Middle East. Middle Eastern countries, such as Iran, have been facing a shortage in the local supply of meat and have an increased demand for imported meat that is in accordance to the laws of Islam. Mainly due to this type of demand, Mongolian exports on sheep and goat have reached over 2,600 tons. This is 11 times more than the previous year. The government has been making efforts to diversify the Mongolian economy in order to reduce reliance on the mining sector. However, livestock output in Mongolia is volatile by nature, Ochirbat.B of the Mongolian Meat Association says, “Countries demand regular suppliers, which is impossible to meet with pasture, so export-oriented farms need to be developed”.