Conserving Musk Deer the Uses of Musk and Europe's Role in its Trade (pdf, 360 kb)

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Summary of all trade data in raw musk

In reviewing overall global trade in musk, 1978-96, it can be concluded that the Soviet Union, Russia,

possibly Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia were the major countries of origin for raw musk on the international

market (Table 5).  The trend in the trade in raw musk indicates a dramatic increase in the export figures

after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1992 (Appendix 1).  Uzbekistan was an incorrectly reported

source country that probably re-exported Russian musk.  The CITES tabulations compiled by WCMC

contain references to the export of hundreds of kilogrammes of raw musk from Cambodia, which is also

indicated as the country of origin for the export.  As in the case of Uzbekistan, this seems highly unlikely

because Cambodia is not a range State for musk deer (Wemmer, 1998).  China was the major exporter of

musk products and derivatives, while Hong Kong, Singapore and Cambodia acted as notable re-export

centres for musk.  A one-off export of 122 kg of raw musk from Hong Kong in 1985 was not declared by

the reported importing country, Canada, and could be an error.  The major consumers of raw musk were

South Korea, Japan and France.  Germany and Switzerland have only been involved in the world trade in

musk since the early 1990s, but became leaders in the trade with Russia after just a few years.  Nearly all

musk that was imported to Germany and Switzerland was re-exported, mainly to East Asia.

Illegal trade in Europe (including Russia)

Russia

Of the 240 kg musk that was reported as officially traded in the Russian part of the Soviet Union and in

Russia from 1989 to 1993 (see Table 1), 30-40%, or approximately 70-100 kg, was estimated to be from

illegal sources (Prikhod‘ko, 1997).  A survey by TRAFFIC International (1994) of the illegal trade in musk

and other natural products in the Russian Far East showed that Vladivostok and Khabarovsk were major

centres of legal and illegal trade in the region.  Since the early 1990s the trade in musk has become increas-

ingly organised and has, since the mid-1990s, been in the hands of a small number of firms or organisa-

tions.  Owing to the large proportion of East Asian people in the region and their high level of demand for

musk, there is a great deal of trading in musk in this region, both legal and illegal.  In the 1996-97 hunting

season, 55 kg of musk were traded in the Russian Far East via Khabarovsk, but it was estimated that only

about 30% of the trade was conducted legally (TRAFFIC Europe-Russia, in litt., 1997).  Smuggled musk

glands can be hidden with ease and carried over the border to China or shipped to South Korea.  The

smuggling routes across the Russian-Chinese border have not been identified to date and the risk of inter-

ception for the smugglers is very low.  The proportion traded to Japan is estimated to be less significant

(TRAFFIC International, 1994).

According to TRAFFIC Europe-Russia staff (in litt., 1997), the region around Irkutsk also appears to be

growing in importance in the musk trade and to be of equal importance to the Russian Far East. 

Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, UK and the Netherlands

In Germany, information on illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products, including musk, is centralised

at the Zollkriminalamt (ZKA) in Cologne and also held by regional Customs investigations offices.

According to the ZKA and some Customs investigation officers, there were no records of illegal musk

trade nor of musk seizures in Germany between 1993 and 1998.

According to the Bundesamt für Naturschutz in Bonn, one seizure of products claiming to contain

processed musk was made in 1991 and another in 1992.  Both consignments came from China.  In 1995,

several thousand products which claimed to contain musk were seized.  However, the results of laboratory

analysis showed no musk ingredients in these products. 

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The  Ministère du Territoire et de l‘Environnement, Direction de la Nature et des Paysages and the

Direction National du Renseignement et des Enquêtes Douanières in Paris reported five seizures of musk

in France since 1988 (Table 10).  Three seizures concerned raw musk while the other two were of musk

tincture (musk: alcohol dilution ratio approximately 1:30) for the perfume industry.  The goods were trans-

ported to France, by air or sea, in crates which attracted the attention of Customs authorities because of

the high value of the goods and the penetrating musk aroma.  Part of the shipments had false tariff codes

and CITES permits were lacking.

Table 10

Seizures of illegally traded musk (M) and musk tincture (T) in France

Source: Direction de la Nature et des Paysages and the Direction National du Renseignement et des

Enquêtes Douanières, May 1998.

According to the Office Vétérinaire Fédéral in Bern and the Swiss Customs administration, no seizure of

musk nor of musk products took place in the period 1985-98 in Switzerland.

In 1995, numerous traditional East Asian medicines claiming to contain musk ingredients were seized in

Asian shops, supermarkets and company premises in Belgium by Customs authorities.  Several thousand

traditional East Asian medicines have also been seized by the police and Customs officers in various cities

in the UK since 1994.  These products contained musk or claimed to contain it.  In the Netherlands, too,

TEAM (traditional East Asian medicine) products have been seized by police, in Utrecht, in 1996.

Hundreds of these purported to contain musk.

According to CITES annual report data, from 1978-96 there were no musk derivatives recorded in trade

to European countries, excepting reports of traded derivatives from China in 1990-92, which were not

confirmed by European countries.  Therefore, most products which contained musk, or claimed to contain

it, which appeared on the market in Europe during 1978-96 were probably illegal.

Prices for musk

Supply and demand usually determine the prices of natural products and the price of musk varies a great

deal.  Fomenko (in litt., 1997) reported that a hunter in the Russian Far East could earn approximately

US$2-3 per gramme of musk (Table 11).  Dealers at the intermediate level in Russia retailed musk at about

US$7-8/g.  The price levels in Russia depend upon the time of the year, the hunting season and the region,

as well as the level of demand.  In remote regions of Russia it is customary to pay for goods in kind, e.g.

with sugar, textiles or vodka (A. Vaisman, pers. comm., March 1998).

According to information from middlemen in Germany and Switzerland, musk is traded in Europe and

sold to South Korea for around US$12-14/g (pers. comms, March 1998).  In recent years, prices rose by

more than 30% as a result of increased demand and reduced legal exports from Russia.  Customs services

Year

Quantity of musk

Country

Total value

Value of goods per

seized (kg)

of origin

of goods in US$

gramme (g) in US$

1988

47.8 (M)

China (probably)

1 092 143

22.85

1990

41.5 (T)

?

75 452

1.82

1990

15.0 (T)

?

48 098

3.21

1992

0.4 (M)

Singapore

7296

18.24

1995

0.1 (M)

Russia

3473.7

34.74

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