Mongolia's industrial output increases 17 pct in Q1 www.xinhuanet.com

 Mongolia's industrial output reached 7.9 trillion Mongolian tugriks (2.21 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of 2025, a 17 percent increase year-on-year, local media reported on Sunday, citing data from the National Statistics Office (NSO).
It was mainly attributed to a significant increase in the output of main mining and extractive products, the NSO said in a statement.
During the period, iron ore production increased by 27.2 percent, while the volume of coal production went up 11.8 percent against the corresponding period of 2024.
Currently, the mining sector remains one of the main pillars of the Mongolian economy, as the country is rich in natural resources such as gold, silver, copper and coal.
Mining commodities, such as coal, copper and unprocessed or semi-processed gold, constituted about 90 percent of Mongolia's total exports during this period, the data showed.

Why Mongolia Matters in Northeast Asia www.arctusanalytics.com

Northeast Asia is home to some of the world’s most powerful and influential nations, collectively making up about 20% of the world’s GDP. This region – consisting of China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Russia, and Mongolia – is marked by intricate geopolitical dynamics. Despite long-standing historical tensions and unresolved rivalries, countries in this region are becoming increasingly interdependent. Yet, at the same time, geopolitical friction and uncertainty continue to rise.
This growing competition among major powers isn’t limited to Northeast Asia, but is evident globally, marked by growing hostility, an escalating arms race and a more volatile security environment that’s shaking up both domestic and foreign policy across nations. To illustrate, the ongoing tariff wars and trade disputes are rattling economies, while rising unpredictability feeds protectionist chaos. In addition, conflicts like Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, are stalling the advancement of multilateralism and reinforcing the idea of “a G-Zero World” – a global leadership deficit, as highlighted in the Eurasia Group’s 2025 Top Risks Report.
Amidst this tension, Mongolia stands out with a unique position. It is the only country in the region that has no territorial disputes, no military alliances, and no major political conflicts with its neighbors. That gives Mongolia something rare in Northeast Asia: genuine neutrality.
This position hasn’t come by chance – it’s the result of decades of carefully crafted foreign policy, grounded in independence and a diplomatic balancing act. Mongolia’s relationships with China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, and the United States are built on mutual respect and long-term strategic thinking. Our nuclear-weapon-free status, officially recognized in 2012, is yet another example of this deliberate and thoughtful approach to global engagement.
Lately, there have been growing murmurs about Mongolia emerging as a possible ‘mediator’ in regional diplomacy. Some international policy circles have floated the idea of Mongolia hosting future high-level talks between the United States and North Korea – particularly in light of Donald Trump’s re-election. While such discussions are still speculative and have been on and off since 2018, the fact that the idea continues to resurface says a lot. It’s a sign that Mongolia is seen as a neutral and practical venue for delicate diplomatic conversations.
Whether or not such a summit ever occurs is beside the point. What matters is that Mongolia remains in the conversation as a place where meaningful diplomacy can happen.
This possibility builds on a long track record of Mongolia’s regional engagement. Since the 1980s, Mongolia has pushed for greater dialogue across Northeast Asia. In 2013, Mongolia launched the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security, which has since evolved into an annual gathering of policymakers, scholars, and experts from across the region. The most recent forum, held in 2024, brought together 230 delegates from more than 30 countries and international organizations. The Dialogue has become one of the few platforms in the region that promotes inclusive, depoliticized conversation and trust-building among participants.
Despite our modest economic and military size, Mongolia’s neutrality, consistent diplomacy and commitment to democratic values give this country soft power potential. We aren’t involved in the region’s power struggles – and that’s exactly what makes us capable. In a space increasingly dominated by distrust and hard power, Mongolia offers a safe, stable setting for dialogue. It can be a credible voice for de-escalation and a dependable partner for formal engagement.
If Mongolia is to deepen this role, it must continue to show it is fully committed. That means staying true to our multi-pillar foreign policy, strengthening our diplomatic institutions, and investing in platforms that support regional cooperation. It also means being mindful of how others perceive us. Building trust takes more than goodwill – it requires professionalism, dependability, and consistent, sustained effort in every area.
Mongolia doesn’t need to dominate the headlines to be relevant. It can play a meaningful role by offering what others can’t: A peaceful and neutral ground and a genuine willingness to convene, listen, and collaborate. In a region often defined by rivalry and mistrust, Mongolia’s unique position – such principled neutrality and dependable diplomacy – could prove more powerful than any show of force over time. Mongolia now has both the opportunity and the responsibility to step confidently into this role. And this, ultimately, is why Mongolia matters in Northeast Asia.
By Namuun Bayarsaikhan

Mongolia's combed cashmere exports decrease by 55 pct in Q1 www.xinhuanet.com

Mongolia has exported 72.3 tons of combed cashmere worth 8.5 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter of this year, official data released by the Mongolian Customs General Administration showed on Saturday.
The figure decreased by 55 percent compared with the same period of 2024, the data said.
Under the national campaign "White Gold," initiated by President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and implemented by the Mongolian government, a total of 198 billion tugriks (57.5 million U.S. dollars) are planned to be invested to increase the capacity of cashmere processing plants in the country.
As a result, by 2028, it is planned to increase the primary processing of cashmere in the domestic market to 100 percent, and the deep processing of cashmere to 40 percent.
According to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia, the country's cashmere export revenues are forecasted to reach approximately 700 million U.S. dollars.
Currently, there are about 50 enterprises operating in Mongolia with an installed capacity to process 119,000 tons of combed cashmere.

Mass Food Poisoning Incident Affects Miners www.foodpoisoningnews.com

Nearly 200 people have been hospitalized in Mongolia’s southern Umnugovi province following a suspected food poisoning outbreak, according to last Friday’s announcement from the country’s National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD).
Those affected, all miners between 20 and 48 years of age, developed symptoms including fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea after eating at a mine cafeteria on Wednesday. Nyam Suvdmaa, who heads the Early Warning and Response Unit at the NCCD, provided these details during a daily press briefing.
Of the 197 people affected, 105 are currently receiving treatment at the National Center for Communicable Diseases facility. The remaining individuals have been provided medication for at-home recovery, according to Suvdmaa.

Plot thickens as Xanadu axes Mongolian copper-gold sell down vote www.thewest.com.au

When veteran geologist Colin Moorhead took up the invitation to chair Xanadu Mines in late 2019, the veteran geologist was under no illusions.
The company, which owns a controlling interest in the massive Kharmagtai project in Mongolia - hosting 4.7 million tonnes of copper and 11 million ounces of gold - needed a major reset if it was ever going to generate a solid return for shareholders.
After Xanadu acquired 76.5 per cent of Kharmagtai in 2014, the market was buzzing at the prospect of a minnow getting its hands on a discovery credited to Canadian-listed Ivanhoe Mines, led by legendary mining entrepreneur Robert Friedland.
For a few years Xanadu was flying high. The share price jumped 10-fold to 30 cents by 2018 before the sheer size of funding required to develop the project on the back of the junior mining company’s modest bank balance eventually proved too much.
The message was crystal clear. Shareholders were demanding a fresh set of eyes, pushing the seasoned rock kicker to change the narrative.
Rather than developing up a small oxide deposit to start with – a strategy flawed by low grades, poor recoveries and high strip ratios – Xanadu would need to focus its attention instead on growing the resource through systematic drilling programs.
Within six months, the company’s senior ranks were bolstered with the addition of Spencer Cole – another ex-Newcrest executive – as chief financial officer.
By the end of 2020, a new plan had been hatched.
If Xanadu could unlock enough value in Kharmagtai’s copper potential to draw the interest of some major mining houses, there was an even money chance management could trigger a liquidity event.
Backed to the tune of $12 million in fresh capital from new institutions and cornerstone investors, Xanadu immediately set about peppering the deposit with 20 kilometres of drill testing.
The deposit steadily grew and on the back of a positive scoping study in early 2022, Xanadu convinced the $100 billion Chinese mining giant, Zijin Mining Group, to step up to the plate and back the project with a funding deal.
The two-pronged agreement involved Zijin sinking $12.8M into Xanadu in exchange for 19.99 per cent of the company. But the real muscle came in the form of a US$35M (A$55M) cash injection into a newly minted joint venture (JV).
The JV structure elevated Zijin’s funding of Kharmagtai to project level, allowing it to complete a pivotal prefeasibility study.
Xanadu and Zijin own an even split in the JV through Khuiten Metals, which controls 76.5 per cent of the project, effectively providing Xanadu with a 38.25 per cent interest in the mammoth copper-gold project.
After sealing the landmark deal, the joint venture revealed Kharmagtai’s jaw-dropping global resource.
A whopping 730Mt of that bounty now sits in the reserve category, packing in 1.6Mt of copper and 4M ounces of gold at grades of 0.21 per cent and 0.17 grams per tonne (g/t), respectively.
But the serious sizzle lies in high-grade core – punching well above its weight with 100Mt at a copper equivalent grade of 0.8 per cent. This rich centrepiece could drive early returns and fast-track Kharmagtai’s transformation into a globally significant producer.
Late last year the long-awaited feasibility study was also handed down on Kharmagtai revealing a net present value of US$930M (A$1.45B) using an 8 per cent discount rate against a capital cost of US$890M (A$1.4B) to produce an annual EBITDA of US$293M (A$458M).
With a forecast production of up to 80,000t per annum of copper and 170,000 ounces of gold at a cost of 70c per pound copper, the project is forecast to wash its face within four years. It has a staggering 29-year mine life.
The release of the prefeasibility study did more than just outline the economics - it also opened a pathway for the final stage of the original funding agreement with Zijin.
Xanadu finds itself sitting in the box seat, armed with not one, but three strategic levers that could unlock serious value for shareholders.
The company’s first option is to simply roll up the sleeves and co-fund its 50 per cent share of project construction alongside Zijin, which would involve sourcing north of A$700M in fresh funding.
Option two gives Xanadu the right - but not the obligation - to cash in half of its remaining stake in the JV for a cool US$25M. Zijin would also foot all of Xanadu’s construction bill via an interest-bearing loan to be repaid out of future project revenues.
The third - and boldest - option on the table is to sell the lot. If Xanadu chooses to offload its full remaining 50 per cent stake, it would walk away with a war chest of US$50M in cold, hard cash.
Faced with these various alternatives, Xanadu’s board picked option two, which still lets the company ride the upside without having to raise a dime upfront. The board was then due to hold an extraordinary meeting on April 11 to gain shareholder approval.
However, in a dramatic twist worthy of a corporate thriller, Xanadu Mines hit the pause button on the key shareholder meeting - just as the final stage of its game-changing deal with Zijin Mining was set to be rubber-stamped.
Instead, the company has inked a Deed of Variation with Zijin, pushing back the expiry of a lucrative 25 per cent put option by at least 30 days after their current exclusivity period lapses.
The move, cloaked in secrecy, has been made to allow both parties more time to thrash out a range of potential corporate manoeuvres, hinting that something far bigger could be brewing behind the scenes.
Under the terms of the extension, Zijin retains exclusivity through a classic ‘no shop, no talk, no due diligence’ clause, preventing Xanadu from entertaining any rival suitors - for now.
But the delay has sparked speculation that the original deal terms with Zijin might be on the negotiating table, with room for a sweeter outcome. By keeping its cards close to its chest, Xanadu may have also just re-lit the spark for other interested players who once considered the deal done and dusted.
Whether it’s about extracting a better price, negotiating new terms, or attracting fresh bids, one thing is clear: Moorhead appears to have had his wish granted. Xanadu has seized the upper hand in the chess match, which with any luck, will land a big payday for shareholders. The clock is ticking and punters will be watching every move.
By James Pearson

State to pay salaries for ‘Dream Team’ behind Kharkhorum City www.ubpost.mn

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Studies Mongolia's Export Potential of Live Animals and Eggs www.montsame.mn

A delegation of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia paid a working visit to Mongolia on April 12-17, 2025.
The delegation, led by Head of the Animal Health Risk Department Nader Mohled Alharbi and Director of the Animal Quarantine Department Saleh Al-Saad met with officials of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia, the General Department of Veterinary Medicine, and the Mongolian Meat Association. The two sides exchanged views on the veterinary system, animal health, and the possibility of supplying live livestock and chicken eggs from Mongolia to the Saudi market.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a population of 34.4 million and imports about 10 million halal sheep meat annually for consumption. During the “Hajj” or the annual great Islamic pilgrimage, the country needs to import about 2 million live sheep. Therefore, the delegation worked in Mongolia to study Mongolian animal health, veterinary service system, and transport logistics, and agreed on quarantine measures and international certification conditions.

Azorra Delivers Mongolia’s first Embraer E195-E2 to Hunnu Air www.skiesmag.com

Azorra has delivered the first of two new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft to Hunnu Air, marking a new partnership for the lessor and the first E2 to operate in Mongolia.
The E195-E2 delivered from Azorra’s firm orderbook with Embraer will support Hunnu Air as it grows its fleet and expands its route network to key destinations across Asia-Pacific, offering greater capacity and longer-range capability.
John Evans, CEO and founder, Azorra, said: “We are thrilled to deliver Mongolia’s first new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft to our valued partners at Hunnu Air. This is a significant step in the growth of Hunnu Air and a major milestone for the future of aviation in Mongolia. This delivery also reinforces our strong partnership with Embraer. The E195-E2 is a modern, fuel-efficient aircraft that is optimally designed to reduce operating costs and improve efficiencies in existing markets, while facilitating the exploration and development of new markets. As demand for these jets surges across the Asia-Pacific region, we are excited to continue providing our airline partners with innovative fleet solutions.”
Munkhjargal Purevjal, CEO, Hunnu Air, said: “We’ve been an E190 operator since 2019 and the E195-E2 is the perfect extension as we meet growing demand for air travel across Mongolia and beyond. These new generation aircraft will allow us to increase capacity to Haikou, Sanya, and Phu Quoc, expand services to Japan, China, Vietnam, India and South Korea, and introduce scheduled flights to Tashkent. We’re thankful for the support of Azorra and Embraer as the E2 will be integral to our long-term growth.”
April 2025
Martyn Holmes, chief commercial officer, Embraer Commercial Aviation, said: “The entry of the E195-E2 into Mongolia is a key development for the region’s aviation landscape. The aircraft’s advanced technology, low noise levels, unbeatable efficiency, and unparalleled passenger comfort make it the ideal choice for airlines looking to grow strategically while optimizing operational costs. We look forward to supporting Hunnu Air’s strategic growth and thank Hunnu Air for their continued partnership and our leasing partner Azorra for their continued collaboration, combining again with Embraer.”
Azorra continues to work with Embraer to strengthen the E2’s presence in Asia, having previously delivered the region’s first E2 aircraft to Scoot in April 2024. The addition of Hunnu Air to Azorra’s expanding network of airline customers highlights the increasing demand for fuel-efficient, comfortable, new generation aircraft in the region. 
This press release was prepared and distributed by Embraer.

K-culture meets the Silk Road as Korean brands and lifestyles take root in Mongolia www.koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

Turn any street corner in the Mongolian capital's downtown, and you can spot Korea's leading convenience store chains — CU and GS25.
Korean influence is certainly having an impact on urban Mongolians, from daily essentials to language and pop culture.  
When asked questions in English, locals replied in fluent Korean. K-pop could be heard blasting in convenience stores, and Korean bakery chain Tous Les Jours was seen throughout the city. 
The Korea JoongAng Daily was greeted by a familiar scene when visiting a CU store on Amarsanaa Road in downtown Ulaanbaatar on Monday. 
The CU store had outdoor signage and an interior layout identical to CU stores in Seoul. As well as a counter plastered in yellow-green and snacks displayed near the counter, the store's signage came in a mixture of purple and yellow-green, just like in Korea. 
The nationality of the employees and some of the products on the shelves were the only differences. Along with staples of Korean convenience stores such as Korean instant noodles, beer, rice balls and almonds, the store had some locally sourced products.
As of the end of March, CU had 467 branches in Mongolia, indicating Korea's growing presence in the country. 
Is this Ulaanbaatar or Seoul?    
In the city’s Khan Uul District, hypermarket chain Emart was bustling with locals regardless of age when the Korea JoongAng Daily visited on Monday afternoon. The parking space was full, and the shelves for Korean foods were relatively empty.
Emart, a leading Korean retailer owned by the Shinsegae Group, has five branches across Ulaanbaatar and aims to open five more by 2030. The retailer entered the Mongolian market in 2016 in partnership with Altai Holding, a Mongolia-based retail group that operates and manages Emart branches in Mongolia.
Inside the store, some students swiftly grabbed banana-flavored milk made by Korean food manufacturer Binggrae from the fridge before it sold out. Only a few packages of fish cakes produced by another Korean food company, Chungjungone, were left, while other food piled up.
“I visited Emart every day when I was in Korea, and that experience led me to shop at Emart in Mongolia,” Khulan, a young woman who stayed in Korea for six months last year, said in Korean while shopping for groceries at the retailer.
A spokesperson from Emart headquarters in Korea told the Korea JoongAng Daily that Mongolian consumers display a high preference for Korean culture, adding that its Mongolian branches allow local people to indulge directly in Korean culture.
Korean influence becomes a lifestyle  
However, Emart has the grander ambition to shape mindsets and behavior "in a healthier way," said Javzmaa Lkhagvasuren, CEO of Emart in Mongolia. 
Mongolian Emart executives added library-themed spaces to Ulaanbaatar. In this space, Mongolian visitors can freely read Korean and Mongolian books displayed on the shelves. There were books for children and for visitors with deeper academic interests, such as professional journals. New books are added to their collection each year.
“I believe that providing an environment where consumers can easily read books will empower them and the country at the same time,” Lkhagvasuren told reporters, adding that the strategy helped increase consumer satisfaction.
Lkhagvasuren also said Mongolian branches plan to list 100 healthy dishes and reduce the amount of liquor in the stores.
While Emart tries to reshape Mongolian lifestyles, Korean influence has also reached their homes.
About a mile from the Emart branch, high-rise apartments along the Tuul Gol River that crosses the southern part of urban Ulaanbaatar showed that contemporary Mongolians are settling into Korean-style apartments. This trend has been observed since the 2010s, Kim Ki-sun, a professor of Mongolian studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said. 
Apartments in Korea are largely box-shaped buildings of 15 to 20 floors with several units on each floor. Apartment complexes usually have several buildings with public amenities such as gyms, saunas and libraries for residents.
There were several Korean-style apartment buildings under construction in Ulaanbaatar. The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency said some 10 apartment complexes in the Mongolian capital were built by Korean construction companies. 
“Mongolians who have been in Korea are fascinated by convenient amenities in Korean apartments, such as gyms, saunas and playgrounds for children,” Kim said, noting that locals admire Korean apartments.
Kim said Mongolian students, migrants and laborers who have lived in Korea, estimated to be around 350,000 over the last 35 years, played a crucial role in spreading Korean-style apartments in Mongolia. He noted that their experience in Korea made construction companies duplicate structures and features of Korean apartments in Ulaanbaatar. 
Sister cities, Seoul streets
Acceptance of Korean culture can be attributed to the long shared history and friendly relations between the two countries, Mongolian experts said.
Ulaanbaatar has a 2.1-kilometer-long (1.3 miles) road called “Seoul Street.” 
A pavilion decorated with Korean roof tiles stood in an open space. Lamps along the street were decorated with Seoul's city symbols. Several Korean eateries had signboards written in Korean, including the one selling grilled pork. 
The street name was coined after Seoul and Ulaanbaatar became sister cities in 1995, a millennium after the royal court during the Koryo Dynasty (918-1392) reportedly sent 10 students to Mongolia in 995. According to Prof. Kim, the record marks the start of the two nations' shared history.
“Korea is one of Mongolia's most prioritized and friendly neighbors,” said Dashdorj Sainbilegt, a Korean studies professor at the National University of Mongolia.
She also said young Mongolians perceive Korea as geographically close since travel times within Mongolia are almost equal to the two or three hours it takes to fly between Seoul and Ulaanbaatar.
“More than 1,000 undergraduates take Korean language courses yearly,” said Sainbilegt. “Elementary and junior high schools in Mongolia now provide Korean language classes as an elective course.”
Korean language courses have become widely available, ranging from college academic courses to short-term evening courses offered by the three King Sejong Institute branches in Mongolia. Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism manages the institute to support Korean linguistic education overseas.  
Still, Mongolians believe that there is unexplored potential for synergy between Korea and Mongolia.
Sainbilegt said she hopes Korean influence will expand beyond consumer culture and the service industry as the traditional nomadic country urbanizes.
“I hope Korean corporations will actively participate in Mongolia’s infrastructure-building projects to transfer their expertise and train the Mongolian work force, ultimately strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries." 
BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]

MSM Group became authorized dealer of Snap-on in Mongolia www.msmgroup.mn

MSM Group is pleased to announce that we have officially acquired the authorized dealership rights for the world-renowned Snap-on and its sub-brands in Mongolia, transitioning from the previous representative, “TES Industrial” LLC. This marks an exciting new chapter as we continue to expand and strengthen our operations within the industrial sector.
Snap-on was founded in 1920 and has since become a global leader in designing and manufacturing premium-quality hand tools, power tools, workshop equipment, diagnostic systems, and productivity solutions. Recognized for their precision, durability, and innovation, Snap-on products are trusted by professionals across various industries including automotive and heavy-duty equipment.
With this new partnership, MSM Group is committed to delivering Snap-on’s world-class solutions to the Mongolian market, further enhancing the efficiency and productivity of local industries and we look forward to serving our customers with the excellence and expertise that both MSM Group and Snap-on proudly represent.