“牛马都不缺，就缺驴”，中国商人早已满世界找驴

Core Insights - The demand for donkeys in China has surged due to the booming demand for donkey-hide gelatin (Ejiao), despite a significant decline in the domestic donkey population [1][3][4] - China was once the world's largest donkey-raising country, with a peak population of 11.2 million donkeys, but by 2023, the number has plummeted to approximately 1.46 million [1][3] - The search for donkeys has expanded globally, with Chinese merchants sourcing donkeys from Central Asia, Pakistan, and increasingly from Africa due to the limited supply in neighboring regions [1][4][5] Industry Overview - The donkey population in China has decreased dramatically from over 4 million in 2015 to about 1.46 million in 2023, with a continuous downward trend [3] - The demand for donkey-hide gelatin in China necessitates the slaughter of over 1 million donkeys annually, leading to a reliance on imports to meet this demand [3][4] - The donkey farming industry in Pakistan is growing, with the country being the third-largest donkey-raising nation, having over 5 million donkeys, and is becoming a key exporter to China [5] Global Supply Dynamics - The majority of the world's donkey population is concentrated in developing countries, with Africa becoming the largest donkey-raising region since 2008 [1][4] - The price of donkeys in Africa has increased significantly, with some countries experiencing price hikes of over 60% between 2014 and 2016 [4] - A recent decision by African Union leaders to impose a 15-year ban on donkey-hide trade reflects growing concerns over animal welfare and the sustainability of donkey populations [4]