China petfood market brief

According to a recent USDA Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN Report (pdf-file), there were roughly 150 million pet dogs in China in 2005. Research found that the percentage of Chinese owning dogs increased from 5% in 1999 to 7% in 2004. Analysts estimate that sales of dog and cat food in China reached nearly RMB1.6 billion in 2004 (approximately US$199 million)—up 13% over the previous year. Experts predict annual sales of petfood and necessities might top RMB6 billion (roughly US$750 million) in 2008.

Chinese import figures show steady growth in the import of petfood products from around the world—from about 1,000 tons in 2000 to nearly 3,000 tons in 2005. Chinese petfood manufacturers are also exporting at a rapid pace—about 1,000 tons in 2000 to more than 20,000 tons in 2005. So, while there is a growing domestic market in China for US exporters, Chinese petfood exporters are going to provide great competition for US petfood producers around the world, said the report.