CHINA PET CARE INDUSTRY

Driven by strong market demand, China’s $43.4 billion pet market is expected to continue its impressive growth of 14.2% annually in the coming years, reaching $66.4 billion in 2023.  Propelling this growth are China’s fast-growing single and elderly populations, decreased birth rate, rapidly aging population, and consumers’ rising disposable income and willingness to spend on high-quality products and services.  These factors create great potential for U.S. exporters in the pet care industry.

China’s 58 million pet cats and 54 million pet dogs benefited from $38.5 billion in spending in 2021, an impressive growth of 20.6% over the previous year.  Pet foods (staple foods, treats, and supplements) account for 40% market share with continuously growing demand for imported products, while pet healthcare services (preventative care like examinations and vaccines, diagnosis and medication, and surgery treatment) ranked second in market share at 20%.  Pet grooming, training, sitting services and living products constitute the remaining market share, with pet tech products attracting strong buyer interest from young city-dwelling consumers.  

According to China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) data, China imported 17,595 metric tons of U.S. pet food worth $114 million in 2021; most of this came from Canada (47%), followed by the U.S., with a 20% market share.  According to China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs’ (MARA) Notice No. 20, effective September 2019, all imported pet food must have both 1) a facility registration by GACC and 2) a feed product registration by MARA.  Further information on pet food opportunities in China is outlined in USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service May 2022 GAIN report.

Chinese consumers’ rising demand and preference for quality products and services for their pets’ health and well-being generate tremendous business opportunities for U.S. pet products and services exporters, and the U.S. Commercial Service is eager to assist companies interested in exploring this opportunity.

For more information contact Jane.Shen@trade.gov