The United States could increase its shipments of pet food to the Philippines by nearly 10 percent to $28.8 million this year, from $26.2 million a year ago, according to the latest Global Agricultural Information Network (Gain) report.
The Gain report, prepared by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Manila, said Filipino pet owners are expected to buy more pet food this year.
“Exports of US dog and cat food to the Philippines more than tripled over the past 10 years and reached $26.2 million in 2016, up 10 percent over the previous year,” the report published on July 27 read. “The booming economy and higher disposable income contributed to the healthy export performance.”
The Gain report noted that the Philippines is the top importing country of American dog-and cat food among all Southeast Asian nations. The country is also the 10th-largest export market in the world for the US, it added.
“Trends that boost pet ownership and dog-and cat-food consumption include animal-welfare initiatives, urbanization and the rise in smaller unit households, popularity of pedigree pets and a growing awareness of proper
pet care,” the report read.
The FAS in Manila projected that this trend will be sustained until next year as Philippine import bill for US pet food is expected to rise by 7.64 percent to $31 million in 2018.
“The US is the leading supplier of dog-and cat-food to the Philippines with a 45-percent market share,” the report read.
“Other major exporters of dog and cat food to the Philippines include Thailand, Australia, France and Italy. Thai exports consist largely of processed fish-based cat food,” it added.
Citing data from the Global Trade Atlas, the Gain report noted that Thailand was behind the US in terms of dog- and cat-food exports to the Philippines in 2016. The Philippines bought $14.8 million worth of dog and cat food from Thailand, according to the report.
Australia’s dog and food exports reached $7.4-million, while France’s export receipts amounted to $1.8 million. Italy’s total shipments of dog and cat food to the Philippines last year was valued at $1.6 million.
Citing reports of traders, the Gain report said there is still a “tremendous” room for growth for American cat and dog food, as only 5 percent of households own a cat, while only 30 percent own a dog.
The Gain report also noted that feeding table scraps to pets is still a common practice among
pet owners.