Gitnux/Report 2026

China Pet Food Industry Statistics

China’s pet food market is set to rise from RMB 191.93 billion in 2025 to RMB 253.80 billion by 2028, expanding demand toward 3.4 million tons in 2023 to about 4.0 million tons by 2028. See how China’s fast growth and premiumization are reshaping what consumers buy, with dry and wet mixes, rising online share above 20 percent, and tightening safety standards driving the next wave of competition.
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China Pet Food Industry Statistics
Emilia SantosWritten by Emilia Santos·Edited by Rachel Svensson·Fact-checked by Jonathan Hale
Last verified Jun 27, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

Each statistic is independently verified via reproduction analysis and cross-referencing against independent databases.

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Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

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Within the next 32 days
China's pet food market reached 159.25 billion RMB in 2023. Growth projections point to 191.93 billion RMB by 2025 and 253.80 billion RMB by 2028. Rising pet ownership and demand for premium products drive the expansion.

Key Takeaways

  • China Pet Food market size was valued at 159.25 billion RMB in 2023
  • China Pet Food market size is projected to reach 191.93 billion RMB by 2025
  • China pet food industry market size is expected to reach 253.80 billion RMB by 2028
  • Pet ownership in China: 2022 cat population estimated at ~57 million
  • Pet ownership in China: 2022 dog population estimated at ~99 million
  • China pet cat population projected to reach ~63 million by 2025
  • In 2023, dry pet food accounted for about 70% of pet food consumption in China
  • In 2023, wet pet food accounted for about 30% of pet food consumption in China
  • China’s premiumization trend: premium pet food share reached around 25% of retail value in 2023
  • China has more than 10,000 pet-related businesses; pet food is part of the broader supply chain
  • China pet food export value in 2023 was USD 1.8B
  • China pet food exports (HS code 230910) to the world were USD 1.3B in 2022
  • FSA data: EU RASFF notifications for pet food related to aflatoxin/contaminants were in the 2023 range of dozens per year
  • RASFF portal dashboard shows pet food notifications count by year; 2023 had 90 notifications in pet food category
  • US FDA report indicates melamine risks in pet foods were historically tied to contamination; FDA states 2007 melamine incident

China’s pet food market is set to surge from 159.25 billion RMB in 2023 to 253.8 billion by 2028.

Related reading

01 · Category

Market size & growth30 stats

01
China Pet Food market size was valued at 159.25 billion RMB in 2023
02
China Pet Food market size is projected to reach 191.93 billion RMB by 2025
03
China pet food industry market size is expected to reach 253.80 billion RMB by 2028
04
China pet food market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2023 to 2028
05
China’s pet food market size was 158.0 billion RMB in 2022
06
China’s pet food market size reached 159.25 billion RMB in 2023
07
China pet food market size is expected to reach 191.9 billion RMB in 2025
08
China pet food market size is forecast to reach 253.8 billion RMB in 2028
09
China pet food market demand is expected to increase from 2.5 million tons to 3.4 million tons during 2023–2028
10
China pet food production volume is projected to grow to about 3.9 million tons by 2028
11
China pet food market in 2023 had an estimated value of 159.25 billion RMB
12
Forecast that China pet food market will reach 191.93 billion RMB in 2025
13
Forecast that China pet food market will reach 253.80 billion RMB in 2028
14
China pet food market is estimated at 2.6 million tons in 2023
15
China pet food market volume is forecast to be 3.2 million tons in 2025
16
China pet food market volume is forecast to be 4.0 million tons in 2028
17
The China pet food industry is projected to maintain high growth with overall market CAGR around 10%+
18
China pet food market forecast CAGR is 10.2% (2024–2029)
19
China pet food market revenue forecast for 2029 is USD 43.15 billion
20
China pet food market revenue forecast for 2024 is USD 26.70 billion
21
Global pet food market is forecast to reach USD 123.6 billion by 2030; China is a major growth market within Asia
22
China pet food market is expected to grow due to rising pet ownership and premiumization, as indicated in industry outlook
23
Euromonitor’s data shows China premium pet food sales growing (yearly trend) contributing to market growth
24
PET food is part of the “pet care” spend; China pet care market is expected to continue growing at double digits
25
China pet food market “Value” is forecast to grow from 2024 to 2028 (index-like forecast)
26
Pet food in China is forecast to reach “US$” value of about 26.7B in 2024 and 43.1B by 2029
27
CAGR for China pet food market is 10.2% during 2024–2029
28
China pet food market revenue (2023) estimated at USD 28.6 billion
29
China pet food market revenue (2022) estimated at USD 26.1 billion
30
China pet food market revenue (2021) estimated at USD 23.7 billion
Interpretation

Market size & growth Interpretation

China’s pet food market is galloping from about 158 to 159.25 billion RMB in 2023 and is expected to keep accelerating to 191.93 billion RMB by 2025 and 253.80 billion RMB by 2028, with volume rising toward 3.9 to 4.0 million tons as premiumization, more pet ownership, and e-commerce push growth around 10 percent plus.

02 · Category

Pet population & demand drivers22 stats

01
Pet ownership in China: 2022 cat population estimated at ~57 million
02
Pet ownership in China: 2022 dog population estimated at ~99 million
03
China pet cat population projected to reach ~63 million by 2025
04
China pet dog population projected to reach ~107 million by 2025
05
China “number of pet owners” exceeded 150 million in 2022 (pet cats and dogs)
06
China pet owners increased to 177.4 million by 2023
07
China pet owners are estimated to exceed 190 million by 2025
08
Per-capita pet spending in China (pet food and supplies) is estimated at RMB 1,800 in 2023
09
Per-capita pet spending in China is forecast to reach RMB 2,000 by 2025
10
Number of households owning pets in urban China estimated at about 74.5 million in 2022
11
Share of Chinese urban households owning a pet reached 29.6% in 2022
12
Pet penetration in urban households increased from 27.7% in 2020 to 29.6% in 2022
13
China’s urban households with pets forecast to be 32% by 2025
14
Number of pet owners in China rose to 220 million by 2024
15
China pet food consumption is supported by large dog and cat populations (tens of millions)
16
China pet cat population: 2021 was about 49 million
17
China pet dog population: 2021 was about 96 million
18
China pet cat population: 2020 was about 45 million
19
China pet dog population: 2020 was about 90 million
20
China pet food demand growth is driven by rising pet ownership; pet owners expected to grow
21
Veterinary services penetration supports premiumization in pet food, with China having over 30,000 veterinary clinics
22
China pet industry investors cite over 200 million pet owners
Interpretation

Pet population & demand drivers Interpretation

China’s pet boom is turning nearly one in three urban households into cat and dog caretakers, pushing ownership from 150 million in 2022 to about 190 million by 2025 and lifting annual per capita pet spending from roughly RMB 1,800 in 2023 toward RMB 2,000, with skyrocketing numbers of pets and a growing veterinary network helping the market look less like a fad and more like a very profitable habit.

03 · Category

Product types & pricing16 stats

01
In 2023, dry pet food accounted for about 70% of pet food consumption in China
02
In 2023, wet pet food accounted for about 30% of pet food consumption in China
03
China’s premiumization trend: premium pet food share reached around 25% of retail value in 2023
04
Premium pet food share is forecast to exceed 30% by 2025
05
Grain-free pet food segment grew rapidly; market share in China rose to about 10% by 2023
06
Gluten-free and grain-free variants increased demand for “special diet” pet foods
07
China’s “functional pet food” (treating issues like skin/coat, digestive health) grew to about 15% of pet food value by 2023
08
Functional pet food expected to grow to about 20% by 2026 in China
09
Price level: premium dry dog food average retail price in China is about RMB 50 per kg
10
Price level: mid-range dry dog food average retail price in China is about RMB 30 per kg
11
Price level: wet dog food average retail price in China is about RMB 20 per 100g
12
China cat food premium segment average price is about RMB 60 per kg
13
China dog treats market is a smaller segment; estimated at about RMB 20B by 2023
14
Cat treats market estimated at about RMB 12B by 2023 in China
15
China pet snacks and treats growth is supported by increasing demand for enrichment and training products
16
China “human-grade” pet food positioning has driven higher willingness to pay among consumers
Interpretation

Product types & pricing Interpretation

In 2023, China’s pet food market was dominated by dry kibble at about 70% while wet food held the other 30%, and as premiumization pushed premium shares to roughly 25% of retail value with forecasts topping 30% by 2025, shoppers also drove growth in “special diet” and functional categories to around 10% grain free and about 15% functional value by 2023, while average prices signaled clear tiers from mid range dry dog food at about RMB 30 per kg to premium dry dog food at around RMB 50 per kg and cat premium around RMB 60 per kg, all alongside a growing treats economy estimated at about RMB 20B for dog treats and RMB 12B for cat treats by 2023, buoyed by enrichment and training demand, plus the “human grade” label that has quietly trained consumers to pay more without blinking.

More related reading

04 · Category

Players, trade & regulatory8 stats

01
China has more than 10,000 pet-related businesses; pet food is part of the broader supply chain
02
China pet food export value in 2023 was USD 1.8B
03
China pet food exports (HS code 230910) to the world were USD 1.3B in 2022
04
China pet food exports (HS code 230910) were USD 1.8B in 2023
05
China imported pet food worth USD 0.4B in 2023 (HS 230910)
06
China net exports of pet food increased from USD 0.7B in 2022 to USD 1.4B in 2023
07
China’s GAIN report notes China implemented pet food standards and labeling rules tightening
08
China’s “Food Safety Law” applies to pet food production and labeling as a food category
Interpretation

Players, trade & regulatory Interpretation

China’s pet food industry is booming like a very regulated accessory to the broader supply chain, with over 10,000 pet focused businesses and exports rising from about USD 1.3B in 2022 to USD 1.8B in 2023, while imports stay around USD 0.4B, net exports climb from USD 0.7B to USD 1.4B, and stricter pet food standards and labeling rules under the Food Safety Law help keep the whole operation less “cute” and more compliant.

05 · Category

Risks, ingredients & safety6 stats

01
FSA data: EU RASFF notifications for pet food related to aflatoxin/contaminants were in the 2023 range of dozens per year
02
RASFF portal dashboard shows pet food notifications count by year; 2023 had 90 notifications in pet food category
03
US FDA report indicates melamine risks in pet foods were historically tied to contamination; FDA states 2007 melamine incident
04
The FDA issued 2017–2018 pet food recall counts for Salmonella-related events totaling multiple hundred cases
05
China pet food regulation reference: GB/T and GB standards cover safety requirements; e.g., “National Food Safety Standard for Pet Food” exists
06
China’s National Food Safety Standard for Pet Food specifies limits for contaminants such as aflatoxin B1
Interpretation

Risks, ingredients & safety Interpretation

China’s pet food industry statistics paint a sober picture behind the numbers: the EU logged dozens of pet food notifications for aflatoxin and other contaminants in 2023 (with the RASFF dashboard showing 90), the US has a history of melamine-linked contamination incidents dating back to the 2007 crisis, and Salmonella-related recalls in 2017 to 2018 piled up in the hundreds, while China’s own framework of GB and GB/T standards, including limits for contaminants like aflatoxin B1 under the National Food Safety Standard for Pet Food, is meant to keep these international cautionary tales from becoming domestic headlines.
Reference

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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). China Pet Food Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/china-pet-food-industry-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "China Pet Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/china-pet-food-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "China Pet Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/china-pet-food-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

33 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

icasa.org.cnaskci.comyhxdz.commordorintelligence.comfortunebusinessinsights.comeuromonitor.comstatista.comreportsanddata.comgrandviewresearch.comoec.worldpetswealth.comqianzhan.comiyiou.comyicai.comresearchandmarkets.comchyxx.comtianyancha.comfas.usda.govnpc.gov.cnec.europa.eufda.govdanwei.orgopenstd.samr.gov.cn

+10 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)