Pet Food Ingredients Market Outlook, 2030

The pet food ingredients industry plays a pivotal role in the broader pet care sector, serving as the backbone of formulations that cater to the evolving dietary needs of companion animals. With the rising trend of pet humanization, consumers are increasingly demanding transparency, nutritional value, and functionality in pet food - mirroring the standards they expect in their own diets. As a result, ingredient manufacturers are under growing pressure to provide high-quality, traceable, and health-oriented inputs to pet food producers. This shift is fueling innovation across the supply chain, from sourcing raw materials to developing novel ingredients aimed at enhancing pet wellness, longevity, and palatability.

A major transformation in the industry is the movement toward natural, organic, and functional ingredients. Pet owners are scrutinizing labels for terms such as “grain-free,” “non-GMO,” and “human-grade,” signaling a departure from traditional formulations based primarily on meat by-products and synthetic additives. Protein remains a foundational component, but there's an increasing preference for novel proteins such as insect-based meals, algae-derived products, and plant-based alternatives like lentils and peas. These innovations are driven not only by dietary preferences but also by concerns over sustainability and resource efficiency.

For example, insect protein is gaining attention due to its high protein content, minimal land usage, and low greenhouse gas emissions, offering a viable solution for environmentally conscious consumers. Health and wellness trends in human food are also permeating the pet food ingredients space. Functional ingredients that offer specific health benefits - such as probiotics for gut health, omega fatty acids for coat and skin condition, and glucosamine for joint health - are being increasingly incorporated into pet foods and treats.

The rise in pet obesity, allergies, and chronic conditions such as diabetes and arthritis has led to a surge in demand for therapeutic and veterinary diets, prompting suppliers to innovate with ingredients that offer targeted benefits. Botanicals, superfoods, and herbal extracts like turmeric, blueberries, and flaxseed are now frequently found in premium pet food lines, contributing to an overall wellness positioning.

According to the research report “Global Pet Food Ingredients Market Outlook, 2030” the global Pet Food Ingredients market is projected to reach market size of USD 55.62 Billion by 2030 increasing from USD 39.80 Billion in 2024, growing with 5.86% CAGR by 2025-30. Regulatory scrutiny is another key factor shaping the pet food ingredients industry. With pet food classified differently in various regions - from feed to food-grade products - ingredient suppliers must navigate a complex web of safety, quality, and labeling regulations. The U.S.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) set the frameworks that guide permissible ingredients, manufacturing practices, and health claims. This regulatory landscape ensures consumer protection but also demands a high degree of compliance and documentation from suppliers, thereby driving demand for third-party certifications and transparent sourcing practices. Technological advancements are significantly altering the way ingredients are developed and used.

Precision fermentation, biotechnology, and advanced processing techniques such as cold extrusion and freeze-drying are being leveraged to enhance the bioavailability and shelf stability of ingredients. For instance, encapsulation technologies are being used to preserve the efficacy of sensitive compounds such as probiotics and omega-3 oils, ensuring they remain active until consumption. Ingredient suppliers are also investing in data-driven R&D, working closely with veterinarians, nutritionists, and pet food brands to design formulations that address specific breed requirements, life stages, and dietary restrictions. The global nature of the pet food market adds another layer of complexity and opportunity for ingredient suppliers.

Emerging markets in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Eastern Europe are experiencing rising pet ownership and shifting attitudes toward pet care, creating demand for more diverse and culturally relevant formulations. In these regions, affordability remains key, but there's a growing segment of middle-class pet owners who are seeking quality over quantity. This global expansion is encouraging ingredient companies to localize sourcing, adapt formulations to regional preferences, and collaborate with domestic pet food brands to co-develop new product lines.

Market Drivers

• Humanization of Pets: Pet owners increasingly view pets as family members, leading to demand for premium, nutritious, and human-grade ingredients. This shift is pushing manufacturers to source clean-label, organic, and functional ingredients - similar to trends in human health and wellness.
• Focus on Pet Health and Preventive Nutrition: Rising incidences of obesity, allergies, and chronic conditions among pets have led to a surge in demand for ingredients that promote gut health, joint support, skin and coat improvement, and immune support. This has propelled the use of probiotics, prebiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and natural antioxidants in formulations.

Market Challenges

• Ingredient Cost Volatility and Supply Chain Disruptions: Prices of key ingredients like meat meals, grains, and specialty oils fluctuate due to global supply chain challenges, climate change impacts, and competition from human food industries. This makes it difficult for manufacturers to maintain consistency and cost-effectiveness.
• Regulatory Complexity and Global Standardization Issues: Regulatory requirements for pet food ingredients vary across countries (e.g., AAFCO in the U.S. vs. EFSA in Europe), making global product formulation and marketing more complex. Achieving compliance across multiple jurisdictions while maintaining product integrity is a constant hurdle for suppliers.

Market Trends

• Rise of Alternative Proteins: There's a growing use of non-traditional proteins such as insects (e.g., black soldier fly larvae), single-cell proteins, algae, and plant-based sources like lentils and chickpeas. These offer sustainability benefits and cater to both environmental concerns and pet sensitivities.
• Personalized and Functional Nutrition: Ingredient use is becoming increasingly tailored to pets’ specific needs based on age, breed, activity level, or health condition. Customized formulations that include targeted functional ingredients (like adaptogens or condition-specific supplements) are becoming mainstream, especially in premium product lines.

Meat and meat products lead the pet food ingredients market primarily because they are the most biologically appropriate and preferred source of protein for carnivorous and omnivorous pets, especially dogs and cats.

Meat and meat products dominate the pet food ingredients market because they align closely with the natural dietary preferences and nutritional requirements of companion animals, particularly dogs and cats. These animals have evolved to thrive on diets rich in animal proteins, which provide essential amino acids, fats, and micronutrients that are more bioavailable and digestible than those from plant sources. Consumers, increasingly concerned about their pets’ health and wellness, recognize meat as a high-quality, species-appropriate protein source that supports muscle maintenance, energy levels, immune function, and overall vitality.

Additionally, the palatability of meat is significantly higher compared to plant-based or synthetic alternatives, enhancing acceptance and feeding satisfaction in pets. From a formulation standpoint, meat meals, organ meats, and animal by-products not only improve the nutritional profile of pet food but also allow manufacturers to use a wide range of protein options across different price points, including premium and therapeutic diets. This versatility and alignment with pet biology make meat and meat products the cornerstone of pet food formulations, sustaining their leading position in the ingredients market.

Animal-based ingredients lead the pet food ingredients market because they offer superior protein quality, palatability, and essential nutrients that closely match the biological needs of companion animals.

Animal-based ingredients hold a dominant position in the pet food ingredients market because they provide complete proteins with all essential amino acids that are crucial for the growth, maintenance, and overall health of pets, especially cats and dogs. These ingredients, which include meat, poultry, fish, and animal by-products, are naturally rich in vital nutrients such as taurine, vitamin B12, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids - many of which are either absent or less bioavailable in plant-based sources. Pets, particularly obligate carnivores like cats, have evolved to efficiently digest and utilize nutrients from animal tissues, making animal-based ingredients more aligned with their physiological needs.

Moreover, these ingredients enhance the taste and smell of pet food, improving palatability and encouraging consistent feeding behavior, which is essential for pets with health issues or selective appetites. The trust consumers place in animal-derived nutrition, combined with its superior nutritional density and compatibility with pet biology, continues to make animal-based ingredients the cornerstone of both conventional and premium pet food products worldwide.

Dry pet food leads the pet food ingredients market due to its convenience, cost-effectiveness, long shelf life, and ease of storage and distribution.

Dry pet food, commonly known as kibble, holds the largest share in the pet food ingredients market primarily because it offers unmatched convenience for both pet owners and manufacturers. Its formulation allows for bulk production, efficient packaging, and extended shelf stability without the need for refrigeration, making it a practical choice for retailers and consumers alike. For pet owners, dry food is easy to store, measure, and serve, while also being less messy compared to wet or raw food options. It also supports dental health in pets by reducing plaque buildup through its crunchy texture.

From an ingredient standpoint, dry formulations allow for the incorporation of a wide range of ingredients - from meat meals and grains to added vitamins, minerals, and functional additives - all while maintaining product integrity during high-temperature processing like extrusion. Additionally, the lower production and transportation costs of dry pet food contribute to its affordability, broad accessibility, and popularity across both developed and emerging markets.

Dogs lead the pet food ingredients market because of their higher global population, diverse dietary needs, and greater consumer spending on their nutrition and wellness.

Dogs dominate the pet food ingredients market largely due to their widespread popularity as pets, particularly in North America, Europe, and emerging regions like Asia-Pacific and Latin America. With a global dog population surpassing that of other companion animals, the demand for dog-specific food products naturally drives the demand for a broad and specialized range of ingredients. Unlike cats, dogs are omnivorous, which allows for more diverse ingredient inclusion - from animal proteins and grains to vegetables, fruits, and functional additives - providing manufacturers greater flexibility in product development.

Additionally, pet owners are increasingly treating dogs as family members, which leads to higher expenditure on premium, customized, and health-focused dog food products. This trend has accelerated the innovation and use of quality ingredients like glucosamine for joint health, probiotics for digestion, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin health.

Furthermore, the variety in dog sizes, breeds, and life stages has created segmented markets - such as puppy food, senior dog diets, breed-specific formulas, and therapeutic products - all of which require tailored ingredient compositions. This robust demand for diversified, health-centric, and breed-specific nutrition makes dogs the primary driver in the global pet food ingredients market.

North America leads the pet food ingredients market due to its high pet ownership rates, strong consumer spending on premium pet nutrition, and a well-established pet food manufacturing infrastructure.

North America, particularly the United States, dominates the pet food ingredients market owing to a combination of cultural, economic, and industrial factors that support robust demand for high-quality pet nutrition. The region has one of the highest pet ownership rates globally, with a significant portion of households owning at least one pet - primarily dogs and cats. This deep-rooted pet culture is matched by a strong willingness to invest in pet health and wellness, leading to higher spending on premium, organic, and functional pet foods. Consumers in North America are highly informed and label-conscious, driving demand for clean-label ingredients, sustainability, and transparency in sourcing.

Furthermore, the region is home to some of the world’s largest and most innovative pet food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and research institutions, all of which contribute to advanced product development and formulation capabilities. Regulatory bodies like the FDA and AAFCO also provide clear frameworks that promote safety and innovation, encouraging the use of a wide range of specialized and scientifically validated ingredients.

• In April 2024, Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition, LLC, a top supplier of cutting-edge animal nutrition solutions, and Bond Pet Foods, Inc., a Boulder, Colorado-based pioneer in fermentation-based production of sustainable animal proteins, announced a collaboration to create customized ingredients for pet food applications.
• In January 2024, Global Food and Ingredients (GFI) made agreements on its newly established subsidiary, Big Sky Milling Inc. GFI announced that the funds obtained from the agreements will be utilized by the company's core ingredients segment to repay current debts and generate additional capital to support the expansion of the operation.

Considered in this report

• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report

• Pet Food Ingredients Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Ingredient

• Meat & meat Products
• Cereals
• Vegetables & Fruits
• Fats
• Additives & Others

By Source

• Plant Based
• Animal Based
• Synthetic

By Form

• Dry
• Wet

By Pet

• Dog
• Cat
• Fish
• Others (rabbits, birds, and horses)

The approach of the report:

This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases.

After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to this industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.