In Pakistan, the price of donkeys has soared to as much as PKR 300,000, driven by robust demand from China, where donkey hides are crucial in producing cosmetics and traditional medicines like “e Jia.”
This sharp price increase has notably reduced the number of local buyers at markets such as Karachi’s Lehari donkey market. Sellers attribute the rise primarily to China’s escalating demand for donkey hides used in various cosmetic products.
The spike in demand has transformed donkeys into a highly profitable asset, especially for exporters catering to Chinese markets.
As prices climb, local customers struggle to afford donkeys, leading to buyers declining in markets that traditionally experienced strong local demand. This shift underscores the broader global demand for natural resources used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, now impacting domestic markets in Pakistan.
With demand expected to persist, high prices are likely to continue. In June 2023, Pakistan officially sanctioned the export of donkey hides, cattle, dairy products, and chillies to China.
The federal cabinet, via a circulating summary, approved signing four protocols with China to formalize and regulate these exports. The Ministry of Law and Justice had earlier green-lighted these protocols, enabling Pakistan to move forward with the trade agreement.
The relevance of donkey hide exports has increased in light of China’s pronounced interest, as discussed in a 2022 Senate Standing Committee on Commerce meeting where it was revealed that China had also shown interest in importing donkeys and dogs from Pakistan.
