Asia Pacific Pet Food Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Asia Pacific Pet Food Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The Asian-Pacific pet food market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period.

• Pet foods are gaining popularity in the region owing to their high nutritional value. Pet foods are easily digestible for pets and help avoid health issues like food allergies, obesity, and a sensitive stomach. Pet owners should also consider a vet check before purchasing a new pet. This can help identify any breed- or health-related concerns. The Australian Veterinary Association has provided guidelines for the sale of pets online, including some information important for pet owners to seek, such as the unique microchip number, a recent picture, and the medical history, including the vaccination status. An increase in the pet population in the region due to pet humanization has boosted the pet food market.
• Thailand is the third largest global pet food exporter, behind Germany and the United States. Their products target both middle and upper markets, especially in the functional food sector for owners of alternative pets. They meet international safety standards with a manufacturing process that ensures environmental sustainability, which helps establish trust in quality among global pet owners. Now this country aims to be the world leader in pet food after seeing 34% growth year on year last year, with continued support from the government and close cooperation between the ministry and the Thai Pet Food Trade Association [TPFA].
• The factors driving the market are rising disposable income due to urbanization, increased demand for pet food, changing consumer perceptions toward pet health, and the rising trend of nuclear families have also enhanced the market. The mixture of different cultures leading to different buying patterns is helping the market's growth.

Over the years, there has been a shift in the culture of families in the Asia-Pacific, and the number of nuclear families has risen. Urbanization and changing preferences have made this change in family structure. This factor has contributed to the growth of the pet food industry.

In Asia, Australia’s pet population is estimated to be 28.7 million, with 6.9 million households having a pet today. In 2022, According to the National Survey of Pets in Australia, the highest number of households owning pets dogs was 4,831.1 thousand, followed by cats with 3,365.0 thousand across the country. Dogs can be found in almost half of all households (48%), equating to an estimated 6.4 million pet dogs nationwide. While dog-owning households each have 1.3 dogs on average, the vast majority (75%) have only one dog, and most of the remainder (21%) have two dogs. A third of Australian households have a cat today (33%), with the estimated number of pet cats at 5.3 million. While cat-owning households each have 1.6 cats on average, the vast majority (67%) have only one cat. Most of the remainder (23%) have two cats, and 10% have three or more cats and followed in popularity by fish (12%), birds (11%), small mammals (4%), reptiles (3%) and other pets (1%) such as horses, farm animals, and crustaceans. This will boost the pet market during the forecast period.

High educational levels and modern infrastructure facilities in economically developed nations like Japan and Korea are accompanied by a strong sense of culture and locality. These factors have increased the humanization of pets which is leading to the growth of the pet food market. According to Statistics Korea, there was a divorce rate in the age group of 20 to 30 years of age. These factors have eventually pushed the adoption of pets, thereby enhancing the pet food market in the Asia-Pacific.

The high internet connectivity in the nations of the Asian-Pacific region is boosting e-commerce sites as an effective distribution channel for pet food sales. The ideas of convenience, affluence and exclusivity are crucial for the consumers of developing nations. Consumers have a wider sense of safety and market awareness toward procuring pet wellness products and foods.

Pet owners estimated spending over USD 17 billion on food for their pets in the last year, with the majority from supermarkets and pet stores (in person and online) shopping revealed that 30% of dog owners and 30% of cat owners are buying pet food through online channels - primarily online pet shops, followed by online subscription services. Compared to owners of other pet types, fish and bird owners are the least likely to use online sources (22% and 25%, respectively), while small mammal owners are most likely (36%). Supermarkets remain the most common place for owners to purchase most pet foods, including treats, and it has become an even more popular source of air- and freeze-dried food. The market forces and the connectivity in most areas are expected to boost the market.

Mostly 18% of pet owners buy healthcare products online, including 4% via online subscriptions that ship regular deliveries. Flea and worming treatments remain the top healthcare products bought online (65% each), which declined compared to the previous year. This may be due to a shift towards in-person purchases for these products, or it may align with industry reports that suggest pet owners are 'stretching out' healthcare products in response to cost-of-living pressures.

The popularity of branded products and the unreliability of local products has boosted the reliance on e-commerce sites for access to quality products. Pet humanization has increased the demand for high-quality pet products, especially through online retail channels.

The major players in the segment include Mars Inc., Nestle SA (Purina), Colgate Palmolive (Hill’s Pet Nutrition), Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc., and JM Smucker (Big Heart). The pet food industry is consolidated with major players making innovations occasionally. The market is driven by customer loyalty and the habitual eating pattern of pets. Since the pet food industry is influenced by the habits developed in pets, it is more difficult to gain market share. With the growing importance of natural foods for health reasons, major players are looking to expand in that direction.

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support