2 ways Chinese and U.S. pet food markets differ

While the U.S. pet food market dwarfs that of China, the Chinese pet industry is growing ten times faster.

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(aogireva | BigStock.com)
(aogireva | BigStock.com)

The pet food markets in China and the United States exhibit differences in growth rate and retail channels, according to Warren Rickard, co-founder of veterinary medicine company Anivive. Rickard shared his observations during his presentation at Petfood Forum China 2018 on August 21 in Shanghai. 

1. Pet food industry size and growth in China and U.S.

While the U.S. pet food market dwarfs that of China, the Chinese pet industry is growing ten times faster. The U.S. pet food market currently stands at US$44 billion per year, said Rickard. The Chinese market stands at US$7.7 billion. However, the Chinese market is growing at 20 percent per year, compared to the U.S. growth rate of two percent.

In 2017, China ranked as the 12th largest pet food market, according to Jared Koerten, senior food analyst at Euromonitor International. In 2012, the Middle Kingdom was ranked 19th. The United States remained the largest pet food market in 2017, as it was in 2012. In 2017, the U.S. accounted for almost 42 percent of the total global amount spent on pet care.

2. Online versus retail sales in China versus United States

Online and retail sales of pet foods also showed major differences between the United States and China, said Rickard. In 2016, online sales in China formed a much larger percentage of total pet food sales compared to the U.S. Online pet food sales made up 31 percent of the total in China. In the U.S., online sales of pet food made up three percent of the total.

About Petfood Forum events

Petfood R&D Showcase is scheduled for October 9-11, 2018 at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Registration is now open.

Petfood Forum is the not-to-be-missed trade show event for pet food professionals from around the world to network, exchange ideas and do business with one another and with the industry's leading pet food manufacturers and suppliers. Petfood Forum 2019 will take place at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri, USA on April 29 – May 1, 2019. Super early bird registration is now open for Petfood Forum 2019.

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