Page 20 - PET worldwide issue 04/2022

Markets

Photo: Qasim Rehmani, Pixabay With a population of 11.1 million, Lahore is Pakistan’s second-largest city after Karachi.

Disquiet in the pet

supplies market

An import ban on pet food has led to big price hikes in the

growing pet supplies market in Pakistan.

Pakistan is plagued by chronic in- perceptible towards products in the country, some pet owners
stability, which extends even into manufactured in the country. can no longer afford it on account
the pet segment. In June and July, The Pakistan Pet Food Manu- of the sharp hike in prices,” con-
the average price of pet food in Pa- facturers Association presently tinues Rafae Dossal. As a result
kistan virtually doubled. This was numbers seven companies, six of the price increase triggered by
due to an import ban imposed by of which have focused on pro- the import ban, the price of an im-
the government on nearly 800 ducing dry food for pets. These ported pack of premium dog food
items, including pet food, which include Waggles Pet Foods. Its has risen by nearly 40 per cent.
are deemed to be luxury goods CEO, Rafae Dossal, is quoted Many dog owners have stocked
by government representatives. as saying that “the Pakistan pet up, as it is not clear when the pro-
The alleged aim of the embargo, food market has good growth hibition on imports might be lifted.
as reported in a number of online prospects”. He adds that the The Pakistan Pet Food Manu-
media channels, is to stabilise the market is currently growing at facturers Association also spoke
country’s economy and its cur- around 20 per cent annually, at- out against the ban on imports of
rency exchange rate. “Pets in Paki- tributing this to rapid urbanisa- pet food, as it could damage the
stan consume around 6 000 to 8 tion and the increase in families. entire market. On the other hand,
000 tonnes of food annually and they are confident that the authori-
the entire segment is experiencing Import versus domestic ties will have to rethink their import
double-digit growth year on year,” production policy to support local companies.
reads a statement from the press Sector experts estimate that since The association has reported that
office of Pakistan’s association the start of the year, Pakistan has the ban has already led to many
of pet food manufacturers. The imported pet food to the value of pets being put down in the country,
market is currently dominated by five to six million dollars. “Although and states that more pets are likely
imported pet food, but a trend is imported pet food is still obtainable to die if it is not rescinded soon. n

20 PET worldwide 4|2022

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