by Zafar Hussain

BEIJING, Aug. 7 (China Economic Net) - Pakistan’s first commercial shipment of donkey products arrived in Guangdong and cleared customs on July 15.

Speaking to China Economic Net, Muhammad Imran, Trade and Investment Counsellor at the Pakistan Mission in Guangzhou, said the achievement was the result of sustained coordination since a Chinese importer, Blue Natural Food HK, first approached the Mission in February 2026 with a Letter of Intent for donkey meat and hide procurement.

"Upon receipt of the enterprise's Letter of Intent on February 2, 2026, laying out procurement demand for import of donkey meat and donkey hides from Pakistan, the Mission coordinated promptly with

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, TDAP's Agro & Food Division, to identify and match licensed local exporter Han Geng Trade Pvt Ltd as the designated Pakistani supplier for this cross-border cooperation project," Imran said.

He noted that a formal bilateral negotiation session was hosted online on February 26, 2026, bringing together TDAP officials, Pakistan's Animal Quarantine Department, and senior representatives of both companies to address commercial and regulatory concerns. Continued engagement through a dedicated WeChat coordination group between March and May allowed both firms to finalize terms on shipping costs, payment structures, and supplier verification.

"These efforts culminated in the signing of a binding bulk sales contract for donkey hides, marking an order with an estimated value of $368,200," Imran said, adding that both companies have expressed clear intent to expand cooperation with additional frozen donkey meat orders going forward.

According to shipment certification, the consignment labeled as Frozen Boneless Donkey Foreleg Meat was exported from Gwadar, Balochistan Province. The shipment, packed in 25- kg cartons and frozen at or below -18°C with a 24-month shelf life, carries official certification from Pakistan's Animal Quarantine Department (AQD), confirming the consignment cleared inspection standards before export.

Imran affirmed that the Mission, working closely with TDAP, will continue promoting Pakistan's donkey meat, hide, and by-product exports in the Chinese market, describing the sector as an emerging avenue for bilateral agro-trade growth under the broader framework of Pakistan-China economic cooperation.

It is to be noted that Pakistan's exports to five key southern Chinese provinces and regions Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, Hunan, and Hainan rose to $549.15 million in the first half of 2026, up 31.9 percent from $416.19 million in the same period of 2025, according to trade data compiled from China's General Administration of Customs (GACC).