China and Mongolia produce 90% of the world’s cashmere, according to one report.
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with Mongolia producing 40% of the world’s supply according to another.
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Once a rare luxury, production of cashmere has increased significantly, reducing the cost.
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Export of cashmere fiber to Europe has increased, as well as finished products - mainly from Italy - to other countries of the world.
Exports of cashmere products in Italy reached 305 million euros in 2018, up from 171 million euros in 2008.
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Mongolia, itself, has launched an online sales platform for its cashmere fiber and products through a Chinese commodity exchange.
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7,000 tons of the material worth $218 million sold in 2017.
In 2018, the Mongolian government launched a 4-year program to develop the fiber industry with the goal of increasing exports fivefold.
At the time of this report, Mongolia has a total of 27 million goats and an annual cashmere production of 9,400 tons.
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Mongolia also created an online platform for Mongolian indigenous artists to well their ware, including to the global market.
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However, Gobi, the world's largest cashmere fabric factory, burning down needs to be taken into account.
The corporation supplies 100% cashmere to more than 30 countries.
Domestically, Gobi accounts for 66% of the domestic market.
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Mongolia became a new partner of the interregional trade centers with the countries of Northeast Asia (NEA).
This will give Mongolia greater trade opportunities, which includes cashmere, in the Russian region.
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Mongolia is also actively looking for access to seaports in order to increase their access to the world market.
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Also, rather than just raw material, Mongolia plans to increase exports of finished good from 15 to 25%.
Particularly, the goal is to increase finished textile products to 80%, which includes cashmere.
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Grazing cashmere goats has led to the degradation of 60% of the Mongolian steppe.
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Sweden’s H&M, Stella McCartney, and Patagonia have reduced or ceased using new cashmere fiber for the reason.
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Gucci, on the other hand, has backed an effort to have Mongolian shepherds graze their flocks sustainably.
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Also, high end couture Ermenegildo Zegna continues to use cashmere in their tailored suits and provides awards to farmers, including those in Mongolia, for the quality of their product.
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Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What is the cashmere goat herd count in Mongolia?
A: 27 million goats and an annual cashmere production of 9,400 tons. [19a2ef8e-b23e-4a60-af4b-b08b1f425b2f]

Q: How much cashmere does Mongolia produce in a year?
A: China and Mongolia produce 90% of the world’s cashmere [21939e19-260e-480a-9f9f-f19049e25b33]A: 40% of the world’s supply according to another. [19a2ef8e-b23e-4a60-af4b-b08b1f425b2f]A: 7,000 tons of the material worth $218 million sold in 2017. [19a2ef8e-b23e-4a60-af4b-b08b1f425b2f]

Q: Has the cost of cashmere increased or decreased and why?
A: The increase in production of goats has decreased the cost. [19a2ef8e-b23e-4a60-af4b-b08b1f425b2f]

Q: What has been the profit of exported finished cashmere products?
A: 305 million euros in 2018, up from 171 million euros in 2008. [21939e19-260e-480a-9f9f-f19049e25b33]

Q: What has Mongolia done to increase its cashmere market?
A: launched an online sales platform for its cashmere fiber and products through a Chinese commodity exchange. [19a2ef8e-b23e-4a60-af4b-b08b1f425b2f]A: Started a 4 year plan to increase production 5 times [19a2ef8e-b23e-4a60-af4b-b08b1f425b2f]A: created an online platform for Mongolian indigenous artists to well their ware, including cashmere, to the global market [901bf7be-11a6-47a5-bd96-7b7b83472ac3]

Q: What has Mongolia done to increase its connectivity to the world market?
A: Joined as a trade partner with Northeast Asia (NEA) countries [175bf8f9-aa38-4f81-a627-4a04cd4f7167]A: actively seeks seaports [54273948-20c0-4fa2-8379-9d46cc89747a]

Q: What is the environmental impact of raising cashmere goats?
A: Grazing cashmere goats has led to the degradation of 60% of the Mongolian steppe. [21939e19-260e-480a-9f9f-f19049e25b33]

Q: What is the competition for purchasing cashmere from Mongolia?
A: high end coutures such as Ermenegildo Zegna use cashmere for their products [85476850-150f-47b8-9ae9-cd344631f9cf]

Q: What companies are ceasing their purchase of new cashmere?
A: Sweden’s H&M, Stella McCartney, and Patagonia have reduced or ceased using new cashmere fiber. [21939e19-260e-480a-9f9f-f19049e25b33]

Q: Why have they decided against new cashmere?
A: Because it is unsustainable [21939e19-260e-480a-9f9f-f19049e25b33]

Q: What has Gucci done in order to continue using cashmere?
A: Gucci backed an effort to have Mongolian shepherds graze their flocks sustainably. [21939e19-260e-480a-9f9f-f19049e25b33]

Q: What problems has Mongolia encountered in their cashmere production?
A: The world’s largest cashmere fabric factory burnt down [51765b44-a5e0-4726-874d-efe6c2bcef5f]