India’s pet food industry is standing at a breakthrough moment, powered by soaring domestic demand, a fast-expanding pet population, and global interest in affordable, high-quality nutrition. With exports rising steadily and markets like the Middle East, Europe, and North America opening new doors, India has a unique opportunity to position itself as a major global supplier. Strategic upgrades in compliance, packaging, and market-specific formulations can unlock a multi-billion-dollar export opportunity by 2030—making this one of India’s most promising consumer and agri-processing sectors.
India’s pet food industry is rapidly emerging as a competitive player in the global market, backed by abundant raw materials, cost-efficient production, and supportive policy measures for animal welfare and trade. Indian manufacturers are increasingly recognized as reliable suppliers in the international pet food and animal feed segments, positioning the country to capture growing demand for safe, sustainable, and high-quality nutrition products worldwide.
At the same time, the domestic market is witnessing remarkable expansion. With a pet population exceeding 42 million in 2024—including over 36.8 million dogs—and rising disposable incomes among urban millennials and Gen Z households, India’s organised pet food market has reached a valuation of US$ 600–700 million within a broader US$ 4 billion pet-care ecosystem.
It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6–10% through 2030, driven by rapid urbanization and the global “pet humanization” trend. As consumers increasingly seek premium, human-grade, and organic nutrition for their companions, India stands at the crossroads of strong domestic consumption and growing export opportunity.
The global pet food industry is on an accelerated growth path, reflecting the world’s deepening bond with companion animals. According to new analysis by Future Market Insights (FMI), the market — valued at US$ 132.4 billion in 2025 — is projected to nearly double to US$ 247.7 billion by 2035, expanding at a healthy CAGR of 6.5%.
Conventional pet food continues to lead with a 70% share thanks to affordability and wide retail reach, while dog food dominates at over 60% of sales. Regionally, Western Europe is the growth engine: the UK is forecast to be the fastest-growing market at 6.8% CAGR through 2035, followed by the U.S. (6.2%), Germany (6.4%), and Japan (6.1%), where small-breed, senior, and functional diets are in highest demand.
The major change in India’s pet ecosystem today is the mass movement of pet parents away from homemade or loose food and toward branded, science-backed nutrition—a trend that has accelerated at remarkable speed over the past five years.
“Packaged food has become the default choice for a lot of the pet parents… We are seeing a clear migration to mid-premium, premium and functional diets across the board. The biggest theme that we see within packaged food particularly is there is a rising appetite for spending on mid-premium, premium and functional diets… and vets are increasingly influencing the dietary choices.” — Mrigank Gulgutia, Partner, Redseer Strategy Consultants
Redseer’s consumer surveys reveal that a growing cohort now spends ₹50,000–₹1 lakh annually per pet, with food accounting for 60–70% of that wallet. Quick-commerce platforms (Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart) have become the lifeline for repeat purchases of heavy items—10-kg kibble bags and cat litter—while e-commerce (Amazon, FirstCry, Supertails) introduces newer consumers to functional treats for skin allergies, gut health, joint support, and dental care.
Indian pet food exports have grown from US$ 36.1 million in FY2018–19 to US$ 59.25 million in FY2023–24. Dog and cat food alone touched US$ 36.4 million in the first half of 2024. Germany (27%), the United States (20%), the United Kingdom (15%), and the UAE are the top destinations. Several Indian brands—Drools, Heads Up For Tails, Dogsee Chew, and Farmina’s Indian arm—are now regular fixtures in premium pet stores from Dubai to Dallas.
“India needs to narrow the gap in documentation and packing, as they are major hindrances in making Indian products international-market ready… Having success in India doesn’t translate to being successful in UAE, because they have different taste and nationalities and it has to be customised as per the market.” — Sidarth Mahindra, Chief Pet Officer, Pet Corner Dubai
The Middle East, with its 30–35% YoY e-commerce growth (versus India’s 6–8%), large expatriate population, and premium-seeking consumers, is the most attractive first overseas market. However, success demands more than great product: halal certification, Arabic-English labelling, heat-resistant packaging, and flavour profiles that appeal to European, South Asian, and Arab palates are mandatory.
“Compliance is key to enter the market… Very few brands or very few categories see that sort of growth since 2021 to 2025 consistently seen triple-digit growth in pet food in India across border trade… If anybody is looking to export to US, UK, Europe or even Canada and Japan, there are global certification bodies in India — BRC is one of the highest standards in the world.” — Jeffery Thomas, Manager – Business Development, Walmart Global Sourcing
BRC Global Standard for Food Safety (Issue 9), HACCP, ISO 22000, SQF, FSSC 22000, and country-specific registrations (FDA for the US, DEFRA for the UK, CFIA for Canada) are non-negotiable. Critically, human-food certifications do not count.
“To export to international markets, we need to navigate the international regulations and compliance… We reached out to many embassies and trade bodies to understand the international trade. Then we cracked other clients via social media marketing. The international market is nicely structured… Attending global events helps in building connections with exporters, importers, global buyers, distributors, etc. These connections helped me penetrate nicely and easily into global markets.” — Bhupendra Khanal, CEO, Dogsee Chew
To convert today’s momentum into sustained global leadership, Indian brands and policymakers must act on five fronts:
India’s pet food sector is entering a pivotal growth phase. Despite challenges such as volatile raw material prices, compliance hurdles, and modest brand visibility abroad, the industry’s fundamentals remain strong—supported by a domestic market set to reach US$ 1.98 billion and rising global demand for natural, functional, and innovative formulations. Strategic progress in areas like sustainable packaging, hypoallergenic products, and the effective use of FTAs with the UAE and Australia will be key to unlocking the next wave of export expansion.
With cost-efficient manufacturing, rich natural ingredients, and proven blends of traditional superfoods and modern nutrition, India holds a unique competitive edge. By doubling down on quality certifications, marketing strength, and international distributor partnerships, the country is well positioned to accelerate penetration into premium and emerging markets alike. If these levers come together cohesively, India’s pet food exports could realistically double by 2030, solidifying its place as a rising global leader in the category.
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