Pawsitive growth: Thailand’s pet food exports skyrocket 31%

Thailand’s pet food exports have surged by around 31% in the first nine months of the year, raking approximately 80 billion baht, according to the Commerce Ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO).

The demand for high-quality dog and cat food led the charge, accounting for around 71 billion baht—an impressive 39% increase compared to the previous year.

“The pet food export sector has seen remarkable growth, with dog and cat food as the main driver,” said TPSO Director General. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn

While dog and cat food enjoyed booming sales, exports of other pet food products saw a slight dip, down by about 8%, bringing in around 9 billion baht.

Thailand’s pet food exports are making waves across the globe, with the top 10 markets including the United States, Japan, Italy, Australia, and the Philippines. Last year, Thailand was ranked the world’s fourth largest pet food exporter, claiming approximately 8% of the global market share. This impressive figure puts Thailand ahead of countries like the UK and India, but still behind industry giants like Germany, the US, and France.

The global pet care market, which includes food, products, and services, reached a monumental value of US$280 billion (9.5 trillion baht) in 2022.

“More and more pet owners are treating their pets like family,” according to Global Market Insights, explaining the surge in demand.

Looking ahead, the market forecaster predicts an annual growth rate of 7%, expecting the global pet-care sector to balloon to US$550 billion (18.7 trillion baht) by 2032, reported The Nation.

It’s clear, pets are not just animals anymore, they’re family, and businesses worldwide are profiting from it.

In related news, Bangkok is set to enforce a new regulation requiring all dogs and cats to be microchipped, alongside measures to control stray animal populations and manage dangerous dogs. The Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) has recently approved a draft ordinance regarding pet ownership and stray animals.