Brazil’s pet industry reached new heights in 2024, recording its highest export numbers since tracking began in 2014. According to data from ComexStat, released by the Brazilian Association of the Pet Products Industry (Abinpet) and the Pet Brazil Institute (IPB), the country exported $580.6 million in pet-related goods—a 29.7% increase from 2023.
Pet food led the surge, accounting for 86% of total exports, or nearly $500 million. Pet care items followed with $67.6 million, making up 11.6% of exports. The remaining 2.3% came from ingredients, veterinary products, and live animals.
Abinpet attributes the growth to Brazil’s expanding market presence in Latin America, product quality, competitive pricing, and a favorable exchange rate. “Brazilian products are increasingly competitive globally,” said José Edson Galvão de França, Abinpet’s executive president and IPB advisory board member.
Top importers of Brazilian pet goods in 2024 included Colombia, Uruguay, the United Arab Emirates, Bolivia, and Chile.
Imports also hit record levels. Brazil imported $20.1 million worth of pet products in 2024—up 63.9% from 2023. Nearly the entire amount was spent on pet food ($20.08 million). The top supplying countries were the United States, Austria, and Thailand, which together made up 66.1% of the total import value.
Despite strong exports, domestic pet food production declined for the first time in ten years. Production dropped 0.6% from 2023, totaling about 4 million metric tons—less than half of Brazil’s 9-million-ton capacity.
Galvão de França warned that high taxes on pet food are harming the industry. In Brazil, complete pet food is taxed as a luxury item, on par with alcohol and tobacco. The total tax burden can reach nearly 50%, meaning R$0.50 of every R$1.00 spent goes to taxes.
“This tax structure is limiting production and increasing dependence on imported goods,” he said. If conditions remain the same, Abinpet expects domestic production to fall by up to 4% in 2025.
Still, the outlook for international trade remains strong. Abinpet forecasts that exports could reach between $650 million and $700 million in 2025, with pet food continuing to dominate the sector.
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