In 2022, companion animal food exports by United States-based dog, cat and other pet food companies reached a value of US$2.47 billion. The average dollar value of U.S. pet food exports from the U.S. was US$2.08 billion during the past three years. Pet food exports from the U.S. grew by 6.2% between 2013 and 2022. Canada continued to lead the list of importers, but China’s pet food imports from the U.S. grew dramatically in 2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Service’s Foreign Agricultural Service reported this data.
Pet food export value by nation
- Canada - US$1.12 Billion
- China - US$264.15 Million
- Mexico - US$177.88 Million
- Japan - US$134.9 Million
- Australia - US$125.89 Million
- European Union - US$64.77 Million
- South Korea - US$61.22 Million
- Colombia - US$54.81 Million
- Philippines - US$52.49 Million
- Costa Rica - US$47.98 Million
US pet food exports to China in 2022
In 2020, the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement came into effect. Following this, U.S. pet food exports to China grew significantly. The United States is now the largest exporter of pet food to China, surpassing Canada. China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) reported that U.S. pet food exports to China were valued at over US$304 million in the first eleven months of 2022, nearly a 200% increase.
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The U.S. now accounts for 49% of total pet food imports by China. In addition, the United States has the most pet food facilities registered by GACC.
On June 15, 2020, a protocol went into effect regarding the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement signed by the two countries in January. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and their Chinese counterparts reached an agreement on the certificate language for the entrance of U.S. pet foods into China’s pet food market. That agreement allowed the development of a set procedure to export U.S. pet food to China.
That protocol, developed by APHIS, facilitates the export of U.S. pet foods containing ingredients made from ruminants, the prohibition of which was a relic of the mad cow prion disease scare. In case another livestock disease breaks out, the protocol includes provisions on how to safely continue utilizing poultry products in pet food in the event of an avian influenza or Newcastle disease outbreak. The trade agreement also will remove procedural barriers, such as facility questionnaires and audits.
Steps to export U.S. pet food to China
U.S.-based pet food companies stand to benefit greatly from the trade deal, Peter Tabor, vice president of regulatory and international affairs for the Pet Food Institute, said in 2020. three steps that U.S.-based pet food companies can take in the near term.
- Review the trade agreement and the APHIS protocol
- Schedule an APHIS inspection and get approved
- Begin product registration process in China
