India’s cat and dog food imports increased 500% in a decade

According to data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India’s imports of dog and cat food have more than doubled from $25.5 million (€22.9M) in the first half of 2019 to $69.8 million (€62.8M) during the same period in 2024.

Additionally, imports of this commodity have surged over 6 times in the past decade, rising from $11.2 million (€10M) in the first half of 2015 to their current figure.

While pet food imports accounted for 6 million kg in H1 2015, they represent 29 million kg a decade later.

Import value

The value of pet food imports, including cat and dog food in addition to other animals, for H1 2024 was $126.41 million (€113.7M).

The commodity was valued at $129.4 million (€116.4M) between 2022 and 2023, significantly higher than the $46.4 million (€41.7M) imported between 2018 and 2019.

In H1 2024, India received pet food worth $71.24 million (€64.1M) from Thailand, $12.2 million (€10.9M) from South Africa and $10.45 million (€9.4M) from Italy. Not only were these countries the top suppliers by value, but they also shipped the largest volume of goods.

Other leading suppliers included France, Indonesia, China, Spain, the UK and Canada.

Boost in exports

India’s growing pet food industry has also seen a rise in exports. In the first half of 2024, exports reached $36.4 million (€32.7M) compared to $18.8 million (€16.9M) before the pandemic.

In the first half of 2024, Germany (27%), the US (20%) and the UK (15%) emerged as the top export destinations. These 3 countries also dominated exports for the 2023 to 2024 period, with Germany receiving $16.1 million (€14.4M) in pet food, the US $11.9 million (€10.7M) and the UK $9.46 million (€8.5M).

In terms of volume, Germany (4.1 million kg) and the US (2 million kg) were the top export destinations, followed by the Philippines (1.4 million kg) in H1 2024.

Between 2023 and 2024, India exported $59.25 million (€53.3M) worth of dog and cat food globally, a slight decline from $61.76 million (€55.5M) in 2022 and 2023 but significantly higher than the $36.1 million (€32.4M) between 2018 and 2019.