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With the steady rise in pet ownership and the ongoing premiumization trend, China’s pet food market has witnessed robust growth in recent years. Pet humanization is reshaping Chinese pet owners’ consumption habits, prompting a heightened focus on pet health and nutrition, which in turn has fueled strong demand for premium pet food. Indeed, China has become a key strategic market for global pet food companies. In this article, ChemLinked collects and analyzes China’s pet food import data in the first half of 2025.
Notes: Pet food data in this article are based on import statistics under the following HS codes:
23091010 Canned dog and cat food for retail sale
23091090 Other packaged dog and cat food for retail sale
According to data from China’s General Administration of Customs, the total import volume of pet food in H1 2025 reached 39,252.65 tonnes, representing a 15.52% year-on-year increase compared to the same period in 2024. The total import value grew by 7.75% YoY to RMB 1,706.66 million.
In terms of source countries, the top five suppliers accounted for 94.4% of total import volume in H1 2025. The United States remained the largest supplier, holding a dominant share of 70.76%. Notably, the share of U.S. pet food in China’s total pet food import volume has expanded significantly over the years—from 18.07% in 2021 to 46.97% in 2022, further increasing annually to reach 70.42% in 2024.
By category, canned pet food accounted for approximately 22% of total import volume, while other packaged pet food made up nearly 78%. Canned pet food was primarily imported from Thailand, which accounted for nearly 70% of the category’s import volume, followed by Austria, New Zealand, the United States, Germany and others. In the other packaged pet food category, the United States was the predominant supplier, contributing nearly 90% of this category's import volume, followed by Italy, Australia, Canada, Spain and others.
For analysis of pet food import data over the years, please refer to:
Paws for Growth: Unlocking the Dynamics of China’s Pet Food Market and Competitive Landscape
Before exporting pet food to China, securing market access approval and ensuring full product compliance are essential. This process covers multiple regulatory requirements including import permit at state level, overseas manufacturer registration, inspection and quarantine, exporter and importer filing, MARA registration, product composition compliance, and labeling compliance etc. Key regulatory instruments include:
Regulation on the Administration of Feeds and Feed Additives
Administrative Measures for Imported Feed and Feed Additives Registration
and more……
ChemLinked has established a dedicated feature-China Animal Food Regulatory Updates: Feed and Pet food-compiling key regulatory updates, in-depth insights, and essential resources to help stakeholders stay informed on China’s feed and pet food regulatory landscape.
For tailored regulatory consulting or product registration service, please contact: [email protected]
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