Invitation: 1st Global Coking Coal Conference 2025. May 20-22 in Xiamen, China www.sxcoal.com

Against the backdrop of accelerating global energy transition and carbon neutrality goals, coking coal—a critical raw material in the steel industry chain—is undergoing profound transformations in its supply-demand dynamics, trade flows, and sustainable development pathways. In this context, the 1st Global Coking Coal Conference will be held during May 20-22 in Xiamen, China.
Key topics will cover:
ž   China, as the world’s largest steel producer and coking coal consumer, will play a pivotal role in shaping global trade patterns. Key factors include the operational trends of its steel industry, green and low-carbon transition pathways for its coking sector, and the challenges and opportunities within its domestic coal market.
ž   International Coking Coal and Coke Trade Dynamics and Market Opportunities
ž   Mongolian Coal Industry Prospects and Pricing Methods Exploration
ž   Russia's Coking Coal Domestic Demand, Export, and Potential Market Variables
ž   How Does Australian Coking Coal Cope with Significantly Increased Costs?
ž   Indonesia's Coking Industry: Prospects, Challenges, and Coal Sources Selection
ž   India's Steel and Coking Industries: Current Status, Future Trends, and Coking Coal Demand Prospects
ž   Key industrial technologies advancements going green
The event aims to invite industry leaders and experts to delve into the synergies and competition between China and global coking coal markets, analyze technological pathways and market opportunities under green transition pressures, and assess the impacts of geopolitical factors, cost volatility, and trade policies on resource flows. The goal is to provide strategic foresight and decision-making insights for stakeholders across the global industrial chain.
Email: ailsa.wang@fwenergy.com

Amendments to Parliamentary Election Law approved www.ubpost.mn

Mongolian banking sector's net external assets decreased by 46 pct at end of March www.xinhuanet.com

The Mongolian banking sector's net external assets decreased by 46 percent year-on-year to reach 5.3 trillion Mongolian tugriks (1.48 billion U.S. dollars), local media reported on Sunday, citing data from the National Statistics Office (NSO).
During the period, the net domestic assets of Mongolia's banks reached 36.2 trillion tugriks (10.16 billion dollars), which represents an increase of 31 percent compared to the same period of 2024.
Meanwhile, the cumulative savings within Mongolian commercial banks demonstrated a robust performance, reaching a total volume of 22.1 trillion tugriks (6.20 billion dollars) by the end of March 2025.
It is noted that the Mongolian tugrik savings experienced a substantial uptick, surging by 22 percent, while dollar savings exhibited a more modest increase of 10.4 percent.
Currently, there are about 1,500 branches of 11 commercial banks operating in Mongolia.

Mongolia's industrial output increases 17 pct in Q1 www.xinhuanet.com

 Mongolia's industrial output reached 7.9 trillion Mongolian tugriks (2.21 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of 2025, a 17 percent increase year-on-year, local media reported on Sunday, citing data from the National Statistics Office (NSO).
It was mainly attributed to a significant increase in the output of main mining and extractive products, the NSO said in a statement.
During the period, iron ore production increased by 27.2 percent, while the volume of coal production went up 11.8 percent against the corresponding period of 2024.
Currently, the mining sector remains one of the main pillars of the Mongolian economy, as the country is rich in natural resources such as gold, silver, copper and coal.
Mining commodities, such as coal, copper and unprocessed or semi-processed gold, constituted about 90 percent of Mongolia's total exports during this period, the data showed.

Why Mongolia Matters in Northeast Asia www.arctusanalytics.com

Northeast Asia is home to some of the world’s most powerful and influential nations, collectively making up about 20% of the world’s GDP. This region – consisting of China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Russia, and Mongolia – is marked by intricate geopolitical dynamics. Despite long-standing historical tensions and unresolved rivalries, countries in this region are becoming increasingly interdependent. Yet, at the same time, geopolitical friction and uncertainty continue to rise.
This growing competition among major powers isn’t limited to Northeast Asia, but is evident globally, marked by growing hostility, an escalating arms race and a more volatile security environment that’s shaking up both domestic and foreign policy across nations. To illustrate, the ongoing tariff wars and trade disputes are rattling economies, while rising unpredictability feeds protectionist chaos. In addition, conflicts like Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, are stalling the advancement of multilateralism and reinforcing the idea of “a G-Zero World” – a global leadership deficit, as highlighted in the Eurasia Group’s 2025 Top Risks Report.
Amidst this tension, Mongolia stands out with a unique position. It is the only country in the region that has no territorial disputes, no military alliances, and no major political conflicts with its neighbors. That gives Mongolia something rare in Northeast Asia: genuine neutrality.
This position hasn’t come by chance – it’s the result of decades of carefully crafted foreign policy, grounded in independence and a diplomatic balancing act. Mongolia’s relationships with China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, and the United States are built on mutual respect and long-term strategic thinking. Our nuclear-weapon-free status, officially recognized in 2012, is yet another example of this deliberate and thoughtful approach to global engagement.
Lately, there have been growing murmurs about Mongolia emerging as a possible ‘mediator’ in regional diplomacy. Some international policy circles have floated the idea of Mongolia hosting future high-level talks between the United States and North Korea – particularly in light of Donald Trump’s re-election. While such discussions are still speculative and have been on and off since 2018, the fact that the idea continues to resurface says a lot. It’s a sign that Mongolia is seen as a neutral and practical venue for delicate diplomatic conversations.
Whether or not such a summit ever occurs is beside the point. What matters is that Mongolia remains in the conversation as a place where meaningful diplomacy can happen.
This possibility builds on a long track record of Mongolia’s regional engagement. Since the 1980s, Mongolia has pushed for greater dialogue across Northeast Asia. In 2013, Mongolia launched the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security, which has since evolved into an annual gathering of policymakers, scholars, and experts from across the region. The most recent forum, held in 2024, brought together 230 delegates from more than 30 countries and international organizations. The Dialogue has become one of the few platforms in the region that promotes inclusive, depoliticized conversation and trust-building among participants.
Despite our modest economic and military size, Mongolia’s neutrality, consistent diplomacy and commitment to democratic values give this country soft power potential. We aren’t involved in the region’s power struggles – and that’s exactly what makes us capable. In a space increasingly dominated by distrust and hard power, Mongolia offers a safe, stable setting for dialogue. It can be a credible voice for de-escalation and a dependable partner for formal engagement.
If Mongolia is to deepen this role, it must continue to show it is fully committed. That means staying true to our multi-pillar foreign policy, strengthening our diplomatic institutions, and investing in platforms that support regional cooperation. It also means being mindful of how others perceive us. Building trust takes more than goodwill – it requires professionalism, dependability, and consistent, sustained effort in every area.
Mongolia doesn’t need to dominate the headlines to be relevant. It can play a meaningful role by offering what others can’t: A peaceful and neutral ground and a genuine willingness to convene, listen, and collaborate. In a region often defined by rivalry and mistrust, Mongolia’s unique position – such principled neutrality and dependable diplomacy – could prove more powerful than any show of force over time. Mongolia now has both the opportunity and the responsibility to step confidently into this role. And this, ultimately, is why Mongolia matters in Northeast Asia.
By Namuun Bayarsaikhan

Mongolia's combed cashmere exports decrease by 55 pct in Q1 www.xinhuanet.com

Mongolia has exported 72.3 tons of combed cashmere worth 8.5 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter of this year, official data released by the Mongolian Customs General Administration showed on Saturday.
The figure decreased by 55 percent compared with the same period of 2024, the data said.
Under the national campaign "White Gold," initiated by President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and implemented by the Mongolian government, a total of 198 billion tugriks (57.5 million U.S. dollars) are planned to be invested to increase the capacity of cashmere processing plants in the country.
As a result, by 2028, it is planned to increase the primary processing of cashmere in the domestic market to 100 percent, and the deep processing of cashmere to 40 percent.
According to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia, the country's cashmere export revenues are forecasted to reach approximately 700 million U.S. dollars.
Currently, there are about 50 enterprises operating in Mongolia with an installed capacity to process 119,000 tons of combed cashmere.

Mass Food Poisoning Incident Affects Miners www.foodpoisoningnews.com

Nearly 200 people have been hospitalized in Mongolia’s southern Umnugovi province following a suspected food poisoning outbreak, according to last Friday’s announcement from the country’s National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD).
Those affected, all miners between 20 and 48 years of age, developed symptoms including fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea after eating at a mine cafeteria on Wednesday. Nyam Suvdmaa, who heads the Early Warning and Response Unit at the NCCD, provided these details during a daily press briefing.
Of the 197 people affected, 105 are currently receiving treatment at the National Center for Communicable Diseases facility. The remaining individuals have been provided medication for at-home recovery, according to Suvdmaa.

Plot thickens as Xanadu axes Mongolian copper-gold sell down vote www.thewest.com.au

When veteran geologist Colin Moorhead took up the invitation to chair Xanadu Mines in late 2019, the veteran geologist was under no illusions.
The company, which owns a controlling interest in the massive Kharmagtai project in Mongolia - hosting 4.7 million tonnes of copper and 11 million ounces of gold - needed a major reset if it was ever going to generate a solid return for shareholders.
After Xanadu acquired 76.5 per cent of Kharmagtai in 2014, the market was buzzing at the prospect of a minnow getting its hands on a discovery credited to Canadian-listed Ivanhoe Mines, led by legendary mining entrepreneur Robert Friedland.
For a few years Xanadu was flying high. The share price jumped 10-fold to 30 cents by 2018 before the sheer size of funding required to develop the project on the back of the junior mining company’s modest bank balance eventually proved too much.
The message was crystal clear. Shareholders were demanding a fresh set of eyes, pushing the seasoned rock kicker to change the narrative.
Rather than developing up a small oxide deposit to start with – a strategy flawed by low grades, poor recoveries and high strip ratios – Xanadu would need to focus its attention instead on growing the resource through systematic drilling programs.
Within six months, the company’s senior ranks were bolstered with the addition of Spencer Cole – another ex-Newcrest executive – as chief financial officer.
By the end of 2020, a new plan had been hatched.
If Xanadu could unlock enough value in Kharmagtai’s copper potential to draw the interest of some major mining houses, there was an even money chance management could trigger a liquidity event.
Backed to the tune of $12 million in fresh capital from new institutions and cornerstone investors, Xanadu immediately set about peppering the deposit with 20 kilometres of drill testing.
The deposit steadily grew and on the back of a positive scoping study in early 2022, Xanadu convinced the $100 billion Chinese mining giant, Zijin Mining Group, to step up to the plate and back the project with a funding deal.
The two-pronged agreement involved Zijin sinking $12.8M into Xanadu in exchange for 19.99 per cent of the company. But the real muscle came in the form of a US$35M (A$55M) cash injection into a newly minted joint venture (JV).
The JV structure elevated Zijin’s funding of Kharmagtai to project level, allowing it to complete a pivotal prefeasibility study.
Xanadu and Zijin own an even split in the JV through Khuiten Metals, which controls 76.5 per cent of the project, effectively providing Xanadu with a 38.25 per cent interest in the mammoth copper-gold project.
After sealing the landmark deal, the joint venture revealed Kharmagtai’s jaw-dropping global resource.
A whopping 730Mt of that bounty now sits in the reserve category, packing in 1.6Mt of copper and 4M ounces of gold at grades of 0.21 per cent and 0.17 grams per tonne (g/t), respectively.
But the serious sizzle lies in high-grade core – punching well above its weight with 100Mt at a copper equivalent grade of 0.8 per cent. This rich centrepiece could drive early returns and fast-track Kharmagtai’s transformation into a globally significant producer.
Late last year the long-awaited feasibility study was also handed down on Kharmagtai revealing a net present value of US$930M (A$1.45B) using an 8 per cent discount rate against a capital cost of US$890M (A$1.4B) to produce an annual EBITDA of US$293M (A$458M).
With a forecast production of up to 80,000t per annum of copper and 170,000 ounces of gold at a cost of 70c per pound copper, the project is forecast to wash its face within four years. It has a staggering 29-year mine life.
The release of the prefeasibility study did more than just outline the economics - it also opened a pathway for the final stage of the original funding agreement with Zijin.
Xanadu finds itself sitting in the box seat, armed with not one, but three strategic levers that could unlock serious value for shareholders.
The company’s first option is to simply roll up the sleeves and co-fund its 50 per cent share of project construction alongside Zijin, which would involve sourcing north of A$700M in fresh funding.
Option two gives Xanadu the right - but not the obligation - to cash in half of its remaining stake in the JV for a cool US$25M. Zijin would also foot all of Xanadu’s construction bill via an interest-bearing loan to be repaid out of future project revenues.
The third - and boldest - option on the table is to sell the lot. If Xanadu chooses to offload its full remaining 50 per cent stake, it would walk away with a war chest of US$50M in cold, hard cash.
Faced with these various alternatives, Xanadu’s board picked option two, which still lets the company ride the upside without having to raise a dime upfront. The board was then due to hold an extraordinary meeting on April 11 to gain shareholder approval.
However, in a dramatic twist worthy of a corporate thriller, Xanadu Mines hit the pause button on the key shareholder meeting - just as the final stage of its game-changing deal with Zijin Mining was set to be rubber-stamped.
Instead, the company has inked a Deed of Variation with Zijin, pushing back the expiry of a lucrative 25 per cent put option by at least 30 days after their current exclusivity period lapses.
The move, cloaked in secrecy, has been made to allow both parties more time to thrash out a range of potential corporate manoeuvres, hinting that something far bigger could be brewing behind the scenes.
Under the terms of the extension, Zijin retains exclusivity through a classic ‘no shop, no talk, no due diligence’ clause, preventing Xanadu from entertaining any rival suitors - for now.
But the delay has sparked speculation that the original deal terms with Zijin might be on the negotiating table, with room for a sweeter outcome. By keeping its cards close to its chest, Xanadu may have also just re-lit the spark for other interested players who once considered the deal done and dusted.
Whether it’s about extracting a better price, negotiating new terms, or attracting fresh bids, one thing is clear: Moorhead appears to have had his wish granted. Xanadu has seized the upper hand in the chess match, which with any luck, will land a big payday for shareholders. The clock is ticking and punters will be watching every move.
By James Pearson

State to pay salaries for ‘Dream Team’ behind Kharkhorum City www.ubpost.mn

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Studies Mongolia's Export Potential of Live Animals and Eggs www.montsame.mn

A delegation of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia paid a working visit to Mongolia on April 12-17, 2025.
The delegation, led by Head of the Animal Health Risk Department Nader Mohled Alharbi and Director of the Animal Quarantine Department Saleh Al-Saad met with officials of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia, the General Department of Veterinary Medicine, and the Mongolian Meat Association. The two sides exchanged views on the veterinary system, animal health, and the possibility of supplying live livestock and chicken eggs from Mongolia to the Saudi market.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a population of 34.4 million and imports about 10 million halal sheep meat annually for consumption. During the “Hajj” or the annual great Islamic pilgrimage, the country needs to import about 2 million live sheep. Therefore, the delegation worked in Mongolia to study Mongolian animal health, veterinary service system, and transport logistics, and agreed on quarantine measures and international certification conditions.