Thailand Pet Food Industry Poised for a Powerful Push Toward a $5 Billion Export Goal

Thailand’s pet food sector is being framed by Thai officials and industry leaders as a fast-growing export engine with a clear milestone in sight. The country is described as the world’s second-largest pet food exporter after Germany, and both Thai reporting and regional coverage project exports reaching US$5 billion by 2030. In the near term, one forecast cited in Thai media puts pet food exports at US$3.1 billion this year, described as a 50% surge compared with the prior year’s 28% growth. That export momentum has not been risk-free, with the same report noting a two-month shipping suspension to the United States, identified as Thailand’s largest market.

Domestic demand is also supporting the outlook. Government data shared at Pet Fair Southeast Asia 2025 puts Thailand’s overall pet industry valuation at 92 billion baht in 2025, a 13% increase from the previous year, with projections to surpass 100 billion baht by 2026. Within that, the pet food segment alone is projected to reach 46 billion baht in domestic market value in 2025, growing 12% year-on-year, with total sales volume around 400,000 tonnes. Thai pet owners are also spending an estimated 50,500 baht per pet annually, a 23% increase from the previous year—an indicator often linked to the broader “pet humanisation” trend cited by sector leaders.

What’s Powering Growth—and What Could Slow It

Trade-facing performance is already substantial when viewed through official export tallies. A USDA report states that in 2024 Thailand exported US$2.7 billion worth of dog and cat pet food, ranking second globally behind Germany at US$3.3 billion (12.3% market share) and ahead of the United States at US$2.5 billion (9.4% market share). Competitive pressure is rising too. Thai reporting says the market hosts 317 brands, including 36 new entrants in 2024. It also notes imports—particularly from China—have grown at a 17% compound annual rate over recent years and now account for 40% of total imports, adding intensity to pricing, innovation, and shelf-space battles.

Private research also highlights how Thailand’s local market structure is evolving. Mordor Intelligence estimates the Thailand pet food market at USD 2.25 billion in 2025 and USD 2.46 billion in 2026, with a projection of USD 3.89 billion by 2031, reflecting a 9.53% CAGR over 2026–2031. In its breakdown, “food” held 72.10% revenue share in 2025, while pet veterinary diets are forecast to expand at an 11.55% CAGR through 2031. Dogs led by pet type with a 64.85% share in 2025, and supermarkets and hypermarkets held a 38.10% share of 2025 distribution; online channels are projected to grow at 11.12% CAGR through 2031, underscoring the role of e-commerce in how consumers buy.

For Thailand’s export ambitions, policy and standards are being positioned as enablers. Thai officials have described the pet industry as part of a broader value chain spanning agriculture, food processing, manufacturing technologies, and animal health services. Reported government support measures include enhanced production standards and quality certification, plus promotion of alternative proteins such as insect-based ingredients and a stronger focus on sustainability, including environmentally conscious production and traceable raw materials. Export markets named in Thai reporting include the United States, Japan, and Italy, with emerging opportunities in the United Kingdom and New Zealand—an encouraging map, even as geopolitical headwinds and trade tensions remain part of the backdrop.