In a July 18 report, U.S. Department of Agriculture Service’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) analysts explored China’s imports of dog and cat food from the U.S. during the past decade. From 2012 to 2022, China’s total dog and cat food imports grew from US$10 million to US$672 million. That rapid increase made China the world’s fastest-growing importer of pet foods during the past ten years. U.S. dog and cat food exports to China reached a record high of US$264 million in 2022.
“Year-to-date (January-May 2023) U.S. exports to China have already reached a promising US$139 million, more than double the value exported during the same period in 2022,” FAS analysts wrote.
FAS presented Euromonitor International data showing that China’s dog and cat population grew to become the largest on Earth. China’s pet dog and cat numbers grew from 69 million in 2012 to 186 million in 2022.
US pet food exports at US$2.47B in 2022; Canada #1
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 FAS reported this data earlier this year.
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.
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.
