Rapid Growth for U.S. Pet Food Exports to China

  |   Trade Spotlight
Column chart showing the rise of U.S. pet food exports to China. After years of stagnation from 2012 to 2018, exports began to rise in 2019 and skyrocketed to a record more than $250 million 2022

U.S. dog and cat food exports to China reached a record $264 million in 2022, with China becoming the second-largest U.S. export market. China’s dog and cat population grew from 69 million in 2012 to 186 million in 2022, making it the largest population of any country*. To meet rising demand, China’s total dog and cat food imports during this period increased from $10 million to $672 million, making the country the world’s fastest-growing importer.

In 2020, the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement improved market access in China by easing import protocols and lifting a ban on ruminant and poultry product ingredients used in dog and cat food. The United States has positioned itself as China’s top dog and cat food supplier in only 2 years, holding more than half of the total import market share in 2022. Year-to-date (January-May 2023) U.S. exports to China have already reached a promising $139 million, more than double the value exported during the same period in 2022.

*Source: Euromonitor International

Exporting
China, East Asia and the Pacific
Processed Food Products, Dog & Cat Food

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