Browse Data and Analysis

U.S. pet food exports to China have grown with the increasing number of registered facilities and approved import licenses. The largest share of Chinese pet owners lives in second-tier cities, with export opportunities for U.S. pet food brands that want to reach more of the Chinese market.

Korea’s pet food market has been growing strongly. But, while imported products have traditionally dominated the market, imports declined in 2023 for the first time in over a decade.

In 2023, Hong Kong was the tenth export market for U.S. pet food. Pet owners in Hong Kong value U.S. pet food for its high safety and quality and have confidence in U.S. origin and branding.

Vietnam offers abundant opportunities for exporting consumer-oriented products, despite the challenges of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and dealing with high inflation. The Vietnamese economy is poised for significant expansion in the coming decades. With a burgeoning population and a growing middle class, Vietnamese consumers are becoming more discerning about the origin and composition of their food.

The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) reorganized and restructured its food safety regulatory system in 2018-2019, substantially changing registration procedures and import requirements applicable to U.S. exports of feed and feed additives.

Ample opportunities exist for U.S. agricultural exports to South Korea. Highlighted in the chart above, U.S. agricultural product exports were a record $9.5 billion in 2022, up 2 percent from 2021. South Korea is the sixth largest export market for the United States, thanks in part to a successful free trade agreement (KORUS) between the two countries and a robust demand for high-quality U.S. food products.

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.

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is an increasingly important market for the United States pet food and related products industry.

Since the implementation of the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement in 2020, U.S. pet food exports to China have experienced significant grown. Earlier this year, the United States overtook Canada as the largest exporter of pet food to China.

With one of the highest dog and cat ownership rates in Asia, the Philippines presents a growing opportunity for U.S. pet food. As pets became more popular household companions, especially during the pandemic, pet ownership and pet food sales have grown immensely over the past five years.