Report request: I am a consultant with a fashion design company and am looking for products that our company can use to produce clothing. We are looking for sustainable natural fibers that are not very costly, yet provide an income for their producers. Mongolian cashmere is one that has drawn our attention, and I am writing a report to assess its viability for our clothing line.
I am interested in the Mongolian cashmere fiber industry. I am seeking economic statistics about the industry, including: how much cashmere fiber is produced domestically; how much is exported; the countries that import cashmere fiber from Mongolia (and in what quantity); how much income is generated; and, the outlook for growth.

Assessment questions and gold answers:
question_text: What is the cashmere goat herd count in Mongolia?
gold_answers: 27 million goats
question_text: What is the annual cashmere production in Mongolia?
gold_answers: 9,400 tons
question_text: Together with China, how much cashmere does Mongolia produce in a year?
gold_answers: 90% of the world’s cashmere
question_text: Has the cost of cashmere increased or decreased?
gold_answers: Decreased
question_text: Why has the cost of cashmere decreased?
gold_answers: Goat production increased
question_text: How much was the profit of exported finished cashmere products in 2018?
gold_answers: 305 million euros
question_text: How much has the profit increased in 2018 from 2008?
gold_answers: 171 million euros
question_text: Who is competing to purchase cashmere from Mongolia?
gold_answers: High end couture companies
question_text: Name one high end couture company purchasing cashmere.
gold_answers: Ermenegildo Zegna
question_text: What has Mongolia done to increase its connectivity to the world market?
gold_answers: Became a Northeast Asia trade partner
question_text: What has Mongolia done to increase its cashmere market?
gold_answers: Launched an online sales platform
question_text: Through what exchange did Mongolia launch its online sales platform?
gold_answers: a Chinese commodity exchange
question_text: What is the environmental impact of raising cashmere goats?
gold_answers: Degradation of the Mongolian steppe
question_text: How much of the Mongolian Steppe has been degraded?
gold_answers: 60 percent
question_text: What companies are reducing or ceasing their purchase of new cashmere?
gold_answers: Stella McCartney
Sweden’s H&M
Patagonia
question_text: Why have certain companies decided against new cashmere?
gold_answers: It is unsustainable
question_text: What has Gucci done in order to continue using cashmere?
gold_answers: Backed sustainable grazing practices
question_text: What problems has Mongolia encountered in their cashmere production?
gold_answers: Largest fabric factory burnt down