THIS REPORT CONTAINS ASSESSMENTS OF COMMODITY AND TRADE ISSUES MADE BY USDA STAFF AND NOT NECESSARILY STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY - Date: GAIN Report Number: Post: Report Categories: Approved By: Prepared By: Report Highlights: In 2012, Taiwan’s total pet food imports continued their record-setting trajectory, reaching an all-time high of nearly US$110 million, a nine percent increase from 2011. The United States continues to be the leading supplier with a 33% market share. Despite increasing competition, U.S. pet food brands are commonly viewed as being significantly higher quality and market opportunities still exist. The attention to - and willingness to pay for - high quality product is representative of the larger trend in the Taiwan market where pets are treated as valued family members. Amy Hsueh, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, American Institute in Taiwan Emily Scott, Acting Chief, Agricultural Section, American Institute in Taiwan Agricultural Trade Office Activities Market Development Reports Livestock and Products Taiwan Pet Food Market – Market Opportunities Exist for U.S. Product Taipei Taiwan TW13026 7/24/2013 Public Voluntary
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Taiwan Taiwan Pet Food Market Market Opportunities Exist for
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THIS REPORT CONTAINS ASSESSMENTS OF COMMODITY AND TRADE ISSUES MADE BY
USDA STAFF AND NOT NECESSARILY STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT
POLICY
-
Date:
GAIN Report Number:
Post:
Report Categories:
Approved By:
Prepared By:
Report Highlights:
In 2012, Taiwan’s total pet food imports continued their record-setting trajectory, reaching an all-time high of nearly US$110 million, a nine percent increase from 2011. The United States continues to be the leading supplier with a 33% market share. Despite increasing competition, U.S. pet food brands are commonly viewed as being significantly higher quality and market opportunities still exist. The attention to - and willingness to pay for - high quality product is representative of the larger trend in the Taiwan market where pets are treated as valued family members.
Amy Hsueh, Agricultural Marketing Specialist,
American Institute in Taiwan
Emily Scott, Acting Chief, Agricultural Section,
American Institute in Taiwan
Agricultural Trade Office Activities
Market Development Reports
Livestock and Products
Taiwan Pet Food Market – Market Opportunities Exist for
U.S. Product
Taipei
Taiwan
TW13026
7/24/2013
Public Voluntary
General Information:
I. Market Overview
In 2012, Taiwan’s total pet food imports continued their record-setting trajectory, reaching an all time high of
nearly US$110 million, a nine percent increase from 2011. The value of Taiwan’s pet food (dog and cat food for
retail sale) imports have tripled over the past ten years, growing from $36 million in 2002 to nearly $110 million
in 2012. The United States continues to be the leading supplier with a 33% market share. Despite increasing
competition on both ends of the retail price spectrum, unexplored and undeveloped market opportunities exist.
U.S. pet food brands are commonly viewed as being significantly higher quality with quality being the primary
factor in a Taiwan pet owner's decision to purchase a more expensive product. The attention to - and
willingness to pay for - high quality product is representative of the larger trend in the Taiwan market where
pets are increasingly treated as valued family members.
Source: Global Trade Atlas (GTA)
Social Trends
The growth in Taiwan’s high-quality pet food market reflects a societal shift in attitude toward animals as pets:
from feeding table scrapes to stray animals to serving prepared pet foods to well cared for family companions.
With rising incomes and strong western influences, dogs and cats are now a symbol of affluence and sometimes
fashion in Taiwan.
Taiwan is an aging society with one of the lowest birthrates in the world. Taiwan's 2012 birthrate was 1.265 and
represented a 10-year high. Consistent with global trends, singles in Taiwan are delaying marriage until later in
life. Single households - at both ends of the age range - are increasingly viewing pets as supportive
companions. Moreover, an increasing number of financially independent singles and DINKs view pet ownership
as a cheaper and possibly less overwhelming option than raising children. Thus, with more cash in hand,
members of the younger generation are willing and able to spend increasing amounts money on their pets'
food, services, healthcare etc. Steve Tsou, chairman of the Taipei Pet Appliances Association, confirms, "As
services for pets become more closely modeled after those offered to humans, the gap between the quality of
pets' lives and our lives is shrinking. That indicates a huge market potential for the pet products and services
industries."
Taiwan continues to deal with a significant stray dog
population, many the result of abandonment by owners who no
longer have the space, time or desire to care for a full size
animal. However, local and international non-profit agencies are
increasingly successful in rescuing these animals and placing
them in adoptive homes. While pet ownership overall is a
symbol of affluence in Taiwan, people tend to favor purebred
dogs, especially if they can afford it. Large breeds in
particular as seen as a status symbol, indicative of someone who
has sufficient space to raise such animals in one of the most
densely populated regions of the world. Still, the most popular dogs are of the smaller or toy varieties.
According to a 2011 survey by Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA), there are 1.24 million dogs on the island;
down 31% from a historic peak in 2001, but stable over the past decade. On the other hand, from 2003 to 2011
the cat population rose by 22% reaching 302,847 cats in 2011. Overall, sings of pet diversification are showing.
Cats are becoming especially popular likely due to Taiwan's tight living spaces. Alternative and exotic pet
ownership is growing too - fish, turtle, rabbit, and hedgehog ownership have all increased.
II. Market Access Analysis
Despite stagnant growth in the domestic pet population, demand for high quality pet food is growing. Taiwan's
pet food market is fairly mature, with an increasing focus on high quality or niche products.
Imported pet food, aside from product produced in Thailand, is more expensive than locally produced product.
Trade and Competition
In 2012, Taiwan imported US$110 million worth of pet food, a 9 percent increase from 2011. The United States
continues to be the largest supplier with a 33% market share followed by Thailand (24%), France (15%),
Australia (12%), Canada (4%) and the Netherlands (3%). While official data on domestic pet food production is
not available, industry executives estimate that pet food produced on the island - using both domestic and
imported ingredients - accounts for only 20-30% of the total pet food market, in terms of value.
Premium U.S. pet food products have increasingly faced competition from France which supplies Royal Cain pet
food, also perceived to be a high quality product. Thailand has also captured increasing market share though
Thai product tends to be at the opposite end of the price and quality spectrum compared to both the U.S. and
French products. In 2012, imports from the United States posted a nearly 3% decrease in value while imports
from both France and Thailand posted a 15% and 23% increase respectively. Australia, on the other hand,
previously the number two supplier of pet food to Taiwan, has seen exports fall considerably over the past few
years.
Source: GTA
Dog food accounts for approximately 75% of the pet food market with cat food making up the rest. Dried food
captures 80% of the market with "wet" or canned food accounting for the remaining 20%. A list of the major
pet food brands available in the Taiwan market and corresponding market share can be found in Appendix I.
Distribution Channels
In Taiwan, pet food is sold in a variety of outlets, from simple convenience stores to high-end specialty pet
stores. Pet food importers prefer to sell directly to retail outlets to avoid costs associated with wholesalers and
distributors.
Hypermarkets: These grocery/department store behemoths have done very well in Taiwan, especially
Costco where free samples and low-priced bulk goods result in lines of customers! Pet products tend to
be lower priced, but opportunities abound.
Supermarkets: Despite retail space dominated by domestically produced or low-cost imports, this is an
important distribution channel which captures the majority of citizens during their weekly shopping
expeditions, for instance.
Convenience Stores: Although limited space prevents these stores from carrying extensive variety, they
should not be discounted. Taiwan has the highest density of convenience stores in the world. Foot
traffic abounds as people can pay phone bills, mail packages or purchase train tickets at any one of the
9,100 stores on the island.
Pet Stores: As pet ownership has become fashionable, so have the pets themselves. These stores offer
pet clothes and accessories as well as food, treats, shampoos etc. The majority of U.S. pet food is sold
at these specialty stores which cater to high-spending clientele.
Veterinary offices/animal hospitals: At one time, heavy lobbying efforts resulted in an unspoken
agreement which realized Royal Cain as the only brand of pet food sold at Taiwan veterinary clinics.
However, there is more diversity now and U.S. pet food companies should realize the potential these
outlets have as distribution points for prescription or dietary products, supplements and product
marketed as “healthy” or “nutritious.”
Online stores: Unsurprisingly, online pet food store sales have increased in recent years. The younger
generation is keen to quickly find bargains on their product of choice using the internet.
ATO Taipei strongly recommends investing necessary time and energy to find a reliable and efficient importer
and distributor for any pet food product. The ATO Taipei maintains listings of potential
importers/distributors for U.S. suppliers interested in accessing the Taiwan market.
Barriers to Trade
Taiwan’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) is the division of COA charged
with overseeing dog and cat food imports. BAPHIQ’s pet food import requirements are detailed in the
regulation "Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Dog and Cat Food" which can be found at the
following link BAPHIQ webpage: http://www.baphiq.gov.tw/admin/upload/twgov_file_201107262350302.pdf
The biggest barrier to entry for U.S. pet food to Taiwan continues to be the lingering ban on ruminant products
from countries determined by COA - not an international, scientific body such as the World Organization for
Animal Health (OIE) - to have Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). Moreover, all U.S. facilities producing
pet food for the Taiwan market are subject to an extensive application process including on-site review and
inspection by COA's BAPHIQ division at the facility's expense. At present, only 20 facilities are approved by
BAPHIQ for export to Taiwan.
In June 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) commented on draft language submitted by BAPHIQ to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) amending Taiwan's current dog and cat food import regulations. In May