Over the past three years, the pet products industry has emerged like a dark horse, riding the economic wave with a dramatic rise, becoming a force to be reckoned with in the consumer market.
According to authoritative data, between 2022 and 2024, the size of China's pet products market is projected to surge from 30 billion yuan to 51.3 billion yuan, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 28.7%, far exceeding the growth rate of many traditional industries. This astonishing growth trajectory outlines a new landscape of thriving pet products industry.
Transformations in social structure and evolving perspectives have laid a solid foundation for the rise of the pet products industry. With accelerating urbanization and the growing number of young people living alone and elderly people living alone, pets, as a vital source of emotional companionship, have become an integral part of everyday life.
The "2024 China Pet Industry White Paper" indicates that the number of pet dogs and cats in urban areas in my country has exceeded 124 million, a year-on-year increase of 2.1%. The role of pets has evolved from traditional guardians and insect catchers to valued family members, a shift that has significantly stimulated consumer demand. Pet owners are no longer content with basic pet feeding and are beginning to pursue high-quality, diverse pet products. From smart feeders to customized pet clothing, from luxury cat villas to pet-specific spa treatments, every segment is experiencing explosive growth.
Consumption upgrades and technological innovation are the twin engines driving the pet products industry's growth. On the one hand, as people's living standards improve, their consumption perspectives are gradually shifting from a "survival" perspective to a "pleasure" perspective, and they are willing to invest more in their pets' quality of life.
In 2024, the average annual expenditure per pet in urban areas will exceed 2,500 yuan, with the proportion of pet supplies spending increasing significantly. On the other hand, the deep integration of cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence with pet products has spawned a plethora of smart products, injecting new vitality into the pet products market. Smart litter boxes not only automatically clean excrement but also allow real-time monitoring of a cat's health via an app. Smart cameras allow owners to interact with their pets while away from home. These products have quickly become market favorites since their launch.
The booming online channels have given the pet products industry wings to take off. E-commerce platforms have broken the constraints of time and space, providing consumers with more convenient and diverse shopping options while also reducing marketing and operating costs for pet product companies. Numerous emerging brands have rapidly risen through online channels, leveraging innovative marketing methods like livestreaming and content marketing to precisely reach their target customer base. During the 2024 "Double 11" (Singles' Day) shopping festival, total online pet food sales reached 5.9 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 22.92%. On Tmall, nine pet brands surpassed the 100 million yuan mark in transaction volume, and 1,340 pet brands doubled their transaction volume year-on-year. JD.com's pet product sales for over a million-dollar item increased by over 37% year-on-year, and the number of stores with doubled transaction volume increased by over 56%. Online channels have become the primary frontier for pet product sales.
Looking ahead, the pet product industry is expected to maintain its strong growth momentum. With the deepening emotional needs of people for their pets, the continuous advancement of technology, and the further segmentation of the consumer market, the pet product industry is expected to continuously innovate, open up broader development space, and continue its legendary growth in the consumer market.
Compiled by：Luna
2025.08.07
