Brazil statistics

Brazil has built one of the world’s largest and most dynamic pet economies. After years of exceptional expansion, the market is now entering a more mature phase – one in which growth is increasingly driven by health, specialisation, services, digital distribution and products that respond more precisely to the needs of animals and their owners.

Few countries illustrate the transformation of the relationship between people and pets as clearly as Brazil.

Animals have moved from the edges of everyday life into the centre of the household. They are companions, family members and, for many owners, an important part of their identity. This cultural change has created an industry that extends far beyond food. It encompasses veterinary care, hygiene, accessories, digital services, specialist retail and an increasingly diverse range of products designed for different species, ages and health requirements.

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The resulting market is substantial. In 2025, Brazil’s pet sector generated revenue of R$ 77.96 billion, according to the final annual figures published by the Brazilian industry association ABEMPET. This represented nominal growth of 3.45% compared with the previous year.

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The pace was more moderate than in 2024, when revenue increased by 9.6% to R$ 75.4 billion. But the longer perspective is more revealing: in 2013, the market was worth R$ 24.3 billion. In little more than a decade, its nominal value has more than tripled.

Inflation remains part of the picture. Brazil’s official consumer price index rose by 4.26% in 2025, meaning that growth in the pet sector did not fully compensate for general price increases. Yet the market maintained its overall value in a demanding consumer environment – a sign of the priority many Brazilian households continue to give to their animals.

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Brazil is not only Latin America’s largest pet economy. Based on international retail estimates for 2023, it accounted for approximately 4.9% of the global pet market, placing it third behind the United States and China.

International rankings always depend on definitions and currency movements. Nevertheless, Brazil’s position reflects a market with considerable scale: a large animal population, an extensive specialist retail network, substantial domestic production and an increasingly diversified range of products and services.

The strongest period of expansion came during and immediately after the pandemic. Revenue rose by 15.5% in 2020, by 27% in 2021 and by another 16.4% in 2022. These exceptional rates were unlikely to continue indefinitely. The more moderate development since then therefore points less to a loss of relevance than to a market settling onto a broader and more established base.

During the first stage of Brazil’s pet-sector growth, the main drivers were rising pet ownership and the growing use of commercially produced food. The next stage is likely to be more differentiated.

Growth can increasingly come from functional nutrition, products tailored to particular breeds and life stages, professional services, preventive healthcare and formats designed for smaller households, new purchasing habits and different feeding routines. For manufacturers and packaging suppliers, this creates a market that may be growing more selectively, but also with greater sophistication.

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Food remains the foundation

Pet food continues to form the economic centre of the industry. In 2025, Brazilian pet-food sales reached R$ 41.42 billion, equivalent to 53.1% of the entire pet market.

No other segment approaches this scale. More than half of all expenditure in the sector is still connected to the daily feeding of animals, providing the industry with a large and recurring consumer base.

Pet food revenue increased by 1.59% in 2025. The relatively moderate rate partly reflects the maturity of the category: food is already purchased regularly by a large proportion of Brazilian pet-owning households. Future value growth will therefore depend increasingly on product differentiation, formulation, convenience and consumer trust rather than on market penetration alone.

At the same time, the categories surrounding nutrition continued to expand. General pet services increased by 6.87% to R$ 6.95 billion, while veterinary services grew by 6.71% to R$ 8.18 billion. Sales of animals by breeders reached R$ 8.57 billion, veterinary products R$ 8.21 billion and pet-care products such as hygiene items and accessories R$ 4.64 billion.

The figures illustrate the increasing breadth of the Brazilian pet economy. Animals are not only being fed. They are receiving more professional care, more preventive treatment and a wider range of services throughout their lives.

This development may also support the food market. Greater veterinary involvement can strengthen demand for specialized diets, age-specific products and formulations addressing weight, allergies, digestion, urinary health or mobility.

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Brazil’s pet food industry has undergone an impressive expansion. Production increased from approximately 2.36 million tons in 2013 to 4.075 million tons in 2023. The strongest increases occurred in 2020 and 2021, when output grew by 11.2 and 15.4% respectively.

Since reaching the four-million-ton level, production has remained comparatively stable. Output declined by around 0.6% in 2024 and increased by 0.12% in 2025, remaining slightly above four million tons.

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This stability should be viewed in the context of the preceding decade. Brazil has added roughly 1.7 million tons of annual production since 2013 and established one of the world’s largest pet-food manufacturing bases.

ABEMPET estimates that the country’s industrial infrastructure could theoretically produce more than nine million tons per year. This figure describes potential capacity rather than current market demand, but it underlines the scale of Brazil’s processing infrastructure and its ability to support future domestic and export growth.

The relationship between stable volumes and rising revenue may also indicate a gradual change in product mix. Higher-value formulations, specialized diets and more convenient formats can create value without requiring the same level of volume expansion.

This does not mean that the entire market is moving towards luxury products. The association estimates that the luxury segment represents less than one% of total pet-market revenue. Brazil remains primarily a broad middle-class market, based on regular expenditure for food, vaccination, veterinary care and grooming.

That broad base is one of its greatest strengths. Innovation does not have to be limited to the highest price segment. It can also mean better preservation, more appropriate pack sizes, improved portioning or products that deliver a specific health benefit at an accessible price.

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A nation of pets

Brazil’s pet population is among the largest in the world. The most recent publicly available breakdown with a transparent comparison to the previous year recorded 160.9 million animals in 2023. This included 62.2 million dogs, 42.8 million ornamental and songbirds, 30.8 million cats, 22.3 million ornamental fish and 2.8 million small mammals and reptiles.

The total had increased by 3.3% from 155.7 million in 2022.

Dogs remained the largest group, accounting for almost 39% of all pets. Cats represented approximately 19%, but their population was growing faster. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of cats increased by around 5.5%, compared with approximately 2.8% for dogs.

The faster growth of cat ownership is particularly relevant for product and packaging development. Cats are more frequently kept in urban homes and apartments, and their feeding patterns often include a combination of dry and wet food. This can support demand for smaller packs, portionable formats and products addressing urinary or weight-related health requirements.

Newer market presentations have circulated total estimates of between approximately 168 million and 178 million pets. These figures may reflect continued growth, but they cannot yet be linked seamlessly to the earlier detailed series. Different studies appear to use different definitions or population models, particularly for birds, fish and smaller animals.

For that reason, 160.9 million animals in 2023 remains the most reliable detailed reference point. Even this more conservative figure demonstrates the extraordinary size of Brazil’s pet-owning population.

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Emotional bonds meet informed purchasing

The economic strength of Brazil’s pet sector is closely connected to the role animals play within the household. ABEMPET currently estimates an average of 1.8 animals per residence. Although different industry publications have previously reported slightly different averages, the broader conclusion is consistent: multi-pet households are common, and animals are deeply integrated into family life.

A Kantar study reported that 62% of Brazilian families purchased dog or cat food in 2024. This was twelve percentage points more than four years earlier. Commercial pet food therefore continues to reach new households, even after years of rapid industry growth.

Brazilian consumers are also becoming more attentive to nutritional quality and suitability. Publicly available studies do not establish a simple generational division in which younger consumers prefer one animal species and older consumers another. The differences appear to be more closely connected to household structure, living situation, income and the type of emotional relationship owners develop with their pets.

Younger owners, particularly women without children, are frequently described as having an especially close, child-like relationship with their animals. Families remain an important ownership group, while single-person households are somewhat more likely to keep cats.

Purchasing responsibility, however, is not concentrated only among the youngest consumers. Earlier Brazilian research showed that the majority of pet-product purchases were made by people aged 30 and above. The market therefore brings together the emotional engagement of younger owners with the purchasing power and regular routines of older Millennials, Generation X and older consumers.

A 2025 online study of 443 Brazilian dog and cat owners provides additional insight into feeding habits. The sample was divided equally between dog and cat owners and was 86% female. It should therefore be interpreted as directional rather than nationally representative, but its comparison between the two groups is revealing.

Among the surveyed cat owners, 56% used a combination of dry and wet food. Cat owners also purchased food more frequently: 48% bought pet food at least twice per month, compared with 37% of dog owners.

Dog owners were more likely to complement dry food with treats and homemade components. They also placed relatively greater emphasis on feeding guidance and on products adapted to size, age and activity.

Health priorities differed by species. Urinary and renal health was mentioned by 80% of cat owners in the study, compared with 48% of dog owners. Weight control also played a greater role among cat owners. Dog owners placed comparatively greater emphasis on heart health, joint support and hypoallergenic properties.

These distinctions create opportunities for more precise products and clearer communication. Rather than treating pet food as a single mass category, manufacturers can address owners according to species, life stage, health concern and feeding routine.

The study also revealed a willingness to reconsider product choices. 63% of respondents said they had changed pet food during the preceding twelve months. Of those who changed, 89% selected a different brand. While 17% moved to a cheaper product, 32% changed to something more expensive.

In a separate question, 84% said they would probably or definitely pay more for a diet that was better suited to their animal’s needs.

This does not remove price sensitivity from the market. It shows that Brazilian consumers assess value through several factors at once. Price matters, but so do health, ingredient quality, trust and the belief that a product is appropriate for a particular animal.

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Specialist retail remains a Brazilian strength

One of the most distinctive features of Brazil’s pet market is the continuing strength of specialized local retailers. Small and medium-sized pet shops generated R$ 37.5 billion in 2025, equivalent to 48.1% of total revenue across pet products and services. Veterinary clinics and hospitals followed with 17.5%. Pet megastores accounted for 9.6%, conventional food retail for 8.2%, e-commerce for 8.1% and agricultural retailers for 7.2%.

The figures refer to the broad pet economy rather than pet food alone. Even so, they demonstrate the importance of specialist expertise and personal relationships within the Brazilian market.

Neighborhood pet shops offer something that is difficult to replicate through conventional retail alone: proximity, advice, product familiarity and often a combination of sales and services. For many consumers, the local pet retailer is a trusted point of contact for questions about food, care and animal wellbeing.

This structure is supported by an extensive physical network. Industry data identified a whopping 50,856 specialized pet retailers in 2023. These included 41,518 neighborhood shops, 8,321 medium-sized stores and just over one thousand national and regional megastore locations.

Some of the percentage changes published alongside the outlet figures do not fully correspond with the absolute numbers. The precise growth rates should therefore be treated cautiously. The scale and fragmentation of the specialist network itself, however, are well established.

For international suppliers, this retail structure creates both a challenge and an opportunity. Reaching the Brazilian market may require more complex distribution than supplying a small number of national chains. At the same time, tens of thousands of specialist outlets provide a broad platform for differentiated products and formats that can be explained directly to consumers.

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The digital market

E-commerce generated R$ 6.31 billion in 2025, representing 8.1% of Brazil’s broad pet market. Physical retail therefore remains dominant, but digital purchasing has already developed into a substantial channel. This is particularly relevant for products such as larger dry-food bags, recurring purchases and items that consumers prefer to have delivered directly to their homes.

The internal structure of online sales is notable. Specialist digital pet shops accounted for 37.1% of pet e-commerce, or R$ 2.34 billion. Online shops operated by megastore chains followed with 32.8%. Digital operations run by small and medium-sized pet shops represented another 20.1%.

The specialist nature of the market is therefore being transferred into the digital environment rather than replaced by it. Brazilian consumers continue to seek pet-specific providers, even when shopping online.

Local retailers are also becoming part of this development. Digital ordering, delivery services, applications and messaging platforms allow smaller stores to maintain personal customer relationships while extending their reach beyond the physical shop.

For packaging suppliers, this combination of shelf retail and online delivery creates a valuable field for innovation.

Large bags must withstand compression, puncture risks and repeated handling during transport. Reclosure systems become increasingly important when products are delivered in larger quantities and stored in the home. Smaller packs require efficient material use and competitive unit costs, while wet-food formats must balance convenience, barrier protection and affordability.

The strongest solutions will be those that work across several channels rather than being designed exclusively for either the shop shelf or the delivery box.

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Brazil strengthens its export position

Brazil’s pet industry is primarily supported by its large domestic market. But exports have developed into an increasingly important additional growth area.

According to figures attributed to ABEMPET, broadly defined pet sector exports reached US$ 650.3 million in 2025. This was twelve percent more than the US$ 580.58 million reported for 2024.

In the first quarter of 2026, exports totalled US$ 137.47 million, with pet food accounting for 90.1%. The figures suggest that Brazilian manufacturers are continuing to establish their products in international markets, particularly across Latin America.

The broad ABEMPET export definition includes several product groups from the pet food, pet care and pet vet sectors. It should therefore not be confused with the narrower customs category HS 230910, which covers dog and cat food prepared for retail sale.

Under this individual customs code, Brazil exported products worth US$ 115.52 million in 2024, representing a volume of approximately 85,484 tons.

Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Bolivia and Paraguay were the leading destinations and together accounted for almost three quarters of export value. The geographical pattern reflects Brazil’s natural position as a regional production centre, supported by its agricultural resources, industrial scale and proximity to major Latin American consumer markets.

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Imports under the same customs code were considerably smaller, at US$ 21.24 million and approximately 5,650 tons in 2024. The United States, Austria, Thailand, China and Hungary were the largest suppliers.

The difference in average unit values is striking. Brazilian exports averaged approximately US$ 1.35 per kilogram, while imports averaged around US$ 3.76 per kilogram.

The gap may reflect more specialised formulations, premium wet food, smaller pack sizes or other high-value products entering Brazil. Customs statistics alone cannot identify the precise product mix, but they show that domestic production covers the majority of the country’s mass-market requirements while selected higher-value products continue to be imported.

Trade data can also vary depending on which reporting country is used. Brazil recorded US pet-food imports of US$ 6.27 million in 2024, while US statistics reported exports to Brazil worth US$ 9.25 million. Such differences can arise from freight valuation, reporting periods, re-exports and differences between country of origin and country of dispatch.

For analysing the Brazilian market, the figures reported by Brazilian customs provide the more consistent reference point.

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Packaging opportunities

For an industry of this size, publicly available data about pet-food packaging remains surprisingly limited. No reliable national dataset could be identified showing the precise shares of bags, cans, trays and pouches. There is also no freely available breakdown of flexible-plastic structures, paper content, metal formats, average pack sizes or the proportion of packages designed for recycling.

This leaves an important part of the Brazilian market open for further research. It also highlights the number of areas in which packaging development may influence the next phase of growth.

Dry food remains the foundation of the market, meaning that larger bags will continue to account for a substantial proportion of volume, particularly in the dog-food category. Mechanical strength, barrier properties, dosing information and reliable reclosure will therefore remain central requirements.

At the same time, the faster growth of the cat population and the frequent combination of wet and dry food among surveyed cat owners support demand for smaller units, portionable products and pouch formats.

The strength of neighborhood retail favors a broad spectrum of pack sizes. Some consumers require smaller and immediately affordable units that fit weekly or monthly budgets. Others prefer larger economy packs, especially when purchasing online or caring for several animals. These trends are not contradictory. They reflect the diversity of Brazilian households. A small apartment with one cat creates different packaging needs from a family home with several large dogs. A consumer buying through a neighborhood shop may select a different pack size from one ordering a recurring delivery online. Premium functional food and affordable everyday nutrition can grow alongside one another because they serve different needs.

E-commerce adds further requirements. Heavy bags must withstand repeated transport and handling, while packaging formats increasingly need to be efficient both on retail shelves and in delivery systems.

The development of recyclable and mono-material structures is likely to become more important as regulatory and corporate sustainability expectations increase. Yet the pace of adoption and the actual distribution of packaging formats still need to be confirmed by manufacturers and the industry association.

For packaging companies, this information gap is itself significant. It suggests that Brazil should not be viewed simply as a large-volume market. It is a highly varied market in which format, pack size, convenience, affordability and product communication can all become competitive factors.

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A market with room to develop

Brazil’s pet sector has already achieved remarkable scale. It is worth almost R$ 78 billion, supports a pet population of at least 160 million animals and produces more than four million tons of pet food annually. It combines a large domestic consumer base with extensive manufacturing capacity, a dense specialist retail network and a growing export business.

The market’s next stage may look different from the extraordinary expansion of the early 2020s. Growth is becoming more selective and increasingly connected to services, health, specialist nutrition, digital distribution and products that solve a clear consumer need.

That change offers significant opportunities. When markets expand primarily through volume, companies can grow by supplying more of the same. In a more mature market, growth depends on understanding differences: between dogs and cats, large and small households, local shops and e-commerce, basic nutrition and specialized diets.

Packaging will play an important role in translating these differences into practical products.

A pouch can make wet food easier to portion. A reliable closure can protect a large dry-food bag over several weeks. A smaller pack can make a specialized diet accessible to a price-conscious household. A robust structure can help the same product succeed in a neighborhood shop and through home delivery.

Brazil’s pet economy is moving beyond its first great phase of expansion. Its foundations remain strong. What follows is likely to be a period in which value is created more deliberately – through better products, more precise positioning and packaging designed around the everyday lives of Brazilian owners and their animals.

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Editorial note

The final 2025 market figures were published by ABEMPET in February 2026 and replace earlier projections issued during 2025.

Since 2025, the former industry association ABINPET and Instituto Pet Brasil have operated jointly as ABEMPET. Historical figures published before the merger may therefore use different definitions of industry revenue, retail revenue or total market value.

The most recent publicly available detailed pet-population breakdown relates to 2023. Newer total estimates exist, but differences in methodology and definitions mean that they should not automatically be treated as a continuous statistical series.