Wholesale Meat Market and Distribution Changes in Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar

Since the adoption of market economy in the 1990-ies and with the advancement of the economic reforms, significant concentration of population in the urban areas of Mongolia is increasing. Approximately 62.6% of 2 million and 740 thousands of the total population (2009) are urban dwellers. Meat demand is also increasing with the increase in urban population. The instability of the meat market and price hikes have been occurring frequently in the past decade. In Mongolia, the increase in meat prices, which is the staple food, affects seriously the daily life of the increasingly economically disparate city dwellers. In this paper, we explore the causes of the meat price formation by analysis based on the realities of the meat wholesale market survey of the capital city Ulaanbaatar, and the trends in the wholesale meat market distribution are discussed. This paper reports a research study tracking the data obtained in 2005-2006 and adding a new survey data conducted in July and October 2010. Trends in the meat market were changing fast in the past decade. There are six food markets in the city. 80% of the total meat market trading accounts for the Khuchit-Shonhor market proceedings. From 2005 to 2010, the Khuchit-Shonhor, which is the largest wholesale meat market in the city, has increased its sales area four-fold. The number of the meat dealers in the market has increased 2-3 times. There are frequent disputes arising between the market company and the individual meat wholesalers, and the sale of meat is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain for the independent wholesalers. In July 2010 there was formed the meat wholesalers’ cooperative to protect their rights before the market company. In October 2010 survey, more than half of the wholesalers of Khuchit-Shonhor market moved to the new meat market Naran-Tuul-2 located in 1 km distance apart from the Khuchit Shinkhor. The Naran-Tuul market was founded through the initiative of the meat wholesalers themselves seeking independence from the monopoly of the Khuchor Shonkhor market. To respond to the relocation of the mass of the meat wholesalers, the Khuchit Shonhor company lowered various rental prices to attract back the vendors in the market. Thus, specialization has progressed further in the meat wholesale distribution, with the meat market becoming more competitive.