Export sinks 71% amid lockdown
Mongolia’s export reached 81.6 million USD from November 23 to 29, showing a decline of 202.5 million USD or 71.3 percent compared to the previous week, reported the General Customs Authority on Wednesday...
Mongolia’s export reached 81.6 million USD from November 23 to 29, showing a decline of 202.5 million USD or 71.3 percent compared to the previous week, reported the General Customs Authority on Wednesday.
Between January 1 and November 29, total exports amounted to 5.4 billion USD, down by 1.3 billion USD (19.8 percent) year-on-year. Compared to the same period of last year, coal export surged by 86,900 tons (99.1 percent) to 297,900 tons, while exports of iron ore and copper concentrate both decreased by 86,900 tons (44.5 percent) and by 400 tons (1.9 percent) respectively. As of November 29, Mongolia has exported 108,200 tons of iron ore and 22,800 tons of copper concentrate, according to the authority.
From November 23 to 29, import fell by 4.72 percent at 86.8 million USD. Compared to the same period of the previous year, imports of food products, automobiles and machines, and minerals products dropped by 23.4 percent, 7.1 percent and 29.1 percent respectively. Imports of other goods rose by 3.3 percent. Import of food products amounted to 2.4 million USD, vehicles and machinery to 1.8 million USD, mineral imports to 9.2 million USD, and other goods to 0.8 million USD.
The authority underlined that the number of imported cars dropped by 800 or 90 percent and the number of imported trucks by 88 or 40.4 percent this year. Compared to the same period of last year, diesel import rose by over 5,850 tons (26.3 percent), but petrol import declined by nearly 1,100 tons (6 percent).
FEWER VEHICLES PASS THROUGH BORDER UNDER LOCKDOWN
The General Customs Authority reported declines in the number of vehicles crossing the border over to China and Russia after Mongolia imposed strict lockdown due to COVID-19 concerns.
Last week, 1,635 vehicles passed through the Gashuunsukhait border crossing (down 54.6 percent), 1,416 vehicles through Shiveekhuren (down 48.4 percent), 49 vehicles through Zamiin-Uud (down 69 percent), and 16 vehicles through Khangi (down 8 percent).
Last week, 17 trucks carrying copper concentrate passed through to China, while only 20 vehicles carrying iron ore crossed the border.
After Mongolia recorded its first domestic transmission, China has been demanding Mongolian truck drivers to be tested for COVID-19 at border crossings, slowing down Mongolia’s coal exports. With thousands of coal truck drivers stuck at the border, the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry has ordered mining companies and relevant organizations to provide rapid testing for mining employees and create “green zones” at main mining export border checkpoints, Gashuunsukhait and Shiveekhuren.