Mongolia border closure see goods prices sky rocketing, as Mongolians scramble to make ends meet

Ulaanbaatar/Mongolia – China’s decision to close its borders with Mongolia ahead of the Winter Olympics in Beijing has heavily affected Mongolia, as the prices have increased tremendously.

As China has closed its borders to try to limit the threat of a spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mongolian market has started suffering from inflation due to the country’s reliance on Chinese products and Chinese imports.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, B.Munkhjin explained that China’s policy to tackle the pandemic is “very strict,” adding that in case the authorities found a single case, the country would go into standstill.

Munkhjin said that his country would like to ask China to adapt to the new norm as is the situation in Mongolia.

Speaking to A24 News Agency, some citizens complained that the price hike, including household goods, vegetables, and other items, have increased threefold reversely impacting their lives.

“Work gloves were 500 Mongolian Tugrugs; now they cost 1,500 Tugrugs (about $0.524). Garbage bags and plastic bags used to cost 4,000-5,000, Tugrugs but now they cost up to 10,000 Tugrugs (about $3.492),” said citizen T.Gereltuya.

Additionally, vendor Z.Naranchimeg told the agency that the closure prevented them from obtaining the goods they have ordered from Beijing since September, thus, causing all commodities to “become scarce”.

“The Chinese are saying that Mongolia is not withdrawing its goods. No new costumes were bought during the New Year season in December. The remaining goods are 12 months old,” she added.