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Pakistan's Donkey Exports Boom: China's Demand for Hides Fuels Bankrupt Nation's Economy
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News18•27-09-2026, 16:40
Pakistan's Donkey Exports Boom: China's Demand for Hides Fuels Bankrupt Nation's Economy
- •Pakistan, facing severe economic crisis, is exporting large quantities of donkeys to China.
- •Hundreds of donkeys are slaughtered daily near Gwadar, Balochistan, with meat, bones, and skin exported to China.
- •Chinese company Hangeng Group operates a slaughterhouse in Gwadar, aiming to process 800 donkeys daily.
- •Donkey hides are crucial for 'Ejiao,' a traditional Chinese medicine used for blood tonic, immunity, sleep, and anti-aging cosmetics.
- •Following the African Union's ban on donkey slaughter and export, Chinese buyers are turning to Pakistan, Brazil, and Australia.
Key Questions Answered
China imports donkey meat, bones, and hides from Pakistan primarily to extract collagen from the skin by boiling it. This collagen is used to produce Ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine and gelatin valued as a blood tonic, sleep aid, and anti-aging cosmetic ingredient.
According to the 2025-26 economic survey, Pakistan has over 6.2 million donkeys, making it the country with the third-largest donkey population after China.
The Hangeng Group operates a slaughterhouse and processing facility in the Gwadar North Free Zone, with plans to scale its daily processing capacity up to 800 donkeys.
