A recent market study conducted by CashNetUSA, an online lender, has shed light on the diverse expenses associated with pet ownership across Asia and Oceania. The study, which focused on the cost of feeding a medium-sized dog, weighing 40 pounds, a daily diet of 540 grams of dry dog food for one year, revealed intriguing insights into regional disparities in expenditure.
Among the 62 countries surveyed in Asia and Oceania, 14 were identified as incurring annual expenses ranging from US$300 to US$900 for pet dog food. The study utilized data from October 2023 and based its calculations on the cost of the most affordable dry dog food available in local supermarkets, using exchange rates to convert prices into US dollars.
The 14 countries and their corresponding annual dog food expenditures are as follows:
- Japan: $2,056.88
- Australia: $955.09
- Sri Lanka: $913.23
- Singapore: $838.33
- Thailand: $817.31
- Fiji: $791.79
- New Zealand: $785.25
- Pakistan: $612.32
- South Korea: $498.27
- Brunei: $490.78
- Taiwan: $419.82
- Malaysia: $403.44
- Philippines: $340.59
- Vietnam: $307.00
Notably, the study did not include data on dog food consumption in China and India. Furthermore, countries labeled as part of Asia by the United Nations Development Program were categorized under the Middle East and Central Asia in the study.
Japan emerged with the highest annual budget for dog food, surpassing not only its Asian counterparts but also countries worldwide. The study revealed that Japanese dog owners prioritize super premium and gourmet dog food, irrespective of cost, with an average expenditure of $2,057 per pet dog annually.
Factors such as currency rates and the availability of imported dog food significantly influence a country’s pet food spending. For instance, Sri Lankan dog owners spend more ($913.23 annually) compared to counterparts in wealthier nations like Singapore ($838.33) and South Korea ($498.27), possibly due to the higher cost of imported dog food.
Geographical distance from major pet food exporting countries also impacts retail prices. Countries in Oceania, particularly Australia and New Zealand, face higher freight costs for dog food due to their distance from suppliers in countries such as Thailand and the US.
While China and India were omitted from the study, consumption figures from neighboring countries such as Pakistan ($612.32) and Taiwan ($419.82) were included.
Additionally, the study highlighted the Philippines as having the second lowest annual budget for dog food in the region, despite boasting the highest dog population in East Asia and ranking seventh globally. With over 17 million dogs in the Philippines, projected to increase to 21.1 million by 2026, the average annual expenditure on dog food stands at $340.59.
Vietnam emerged as the country with the lowest budget for dog food, with an annual expenditure of just $307, according to the study’s findings.
