Emerging market of the future

Did you know that 80 per cent of the Mexican population own a pet? This means that after Argentina, Mexico is the country with the second-biggest number of pets per capita in the world. This issue of PET worldwide features an extensive country report on Mexico, which is also an important pet product market with high growth potential. Although Mexico's overall economy is flatlining at present, this has not so far had any negative impact on the pet supplies sector. Industry experts put the sales volume of this market at 2.3 to 2.5 bn dollars, with annual average growth of more than 6 per cent.
Mexico is a country in which dogs are the predominant pet. Although market researchers do not agree entirely on the exact number of dogs, it is assumed that at least 60 per cent or more of all Mexican pets are dogs. The cat population is increasing rapidly, however, and may even overtake dogs in terms of annual growth rates in the future.
This is a dry pet food market par excellence, and dry food accounts for well over 80 per cent of the market as a whole. American pet food manufacturers in particular, such as Mars, Hill's and Blue Buffalo, divide the market between them along with Nestlé Purina. In the last few years, some domestic companies have managed to become established in the market also. Most of these, for example El Nogal and Malta Ceylon, started out in livestock feed and over time have extended their business operations to pet food.

With over 124 mio inhabitants, Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world. Growing deregulation and privatisation in the 1990s resulted in strong growth in the country's economy. Like Brazil and Turkey, Mexico is one of the emerging industrial nations. In consequence of this, a growing middle class is emerging that has the purchasing power to buy even high-quality products for its pets. This middle class is driving advancing premiumisation of the Mexican pet supplies market. It should also ensure that the pet supplies industry will grow further in the Central American country in the next few years.
Ralf Majer-Abele
Contact details Phone +49/72 43/575-230 E-Mail r.majer-abele@daehne.com