04
2026
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04
A new district in Shandong Province boasts an annual pet-food output value of nearly RMB 3.5 billion and exports worldwide.
When a bag of pet food made in Qingdao crosses the ocean and appears Shopping Basket of Overseas Pet-Keeping Households Behind this lies not only the quality upgrade of Chinese manufacturing, but also a profound transformation: a regional industrial cluster is moving from behind the scenes to the forefront.
According to insights into the global pet industry’s overseas expansion, Qingdao’s West Coast New Area recently hosted a brand press conference for the pet food industry, officially unveiling the pet food sector. “The Nine Major Enterprises’ Own Brands” , marking the entry of the district’s pet food industry into a new stage of brand-driven, cluster-based development.
1
Industry Scale and Industrial Layout
Leading the province in output value
The pet food industry in Qingdao’s West Coast New Area has evolved from a patchwork of small, boutique workshops into a nationally influential industrial cluster. According to the latest official data:
Current New Area A total of 106 pet food companies have been clustered here. , accounting for the total in Qingdao city More than 50% , among which 21 enterprises above designated size 。
2025, New Area The output value of the pet food industry above designated size reached RMB 3.46 billion. , respectively Accounting for 29% and 58% of the total in Shandong Province and Qingdao City, respectively. , thereby becoming a new growth driver for the regional economy. This means that one out of every three bags of pet food in Shandong is produced in the West Coast New Area, and more than one out of every two bags of pet food in Qingdao comes from this area.
In niche segments, Ten enterprises have achieved an output value exceeding RMB 100 million. , thereby forming a tiered corporate matrix.
The industry has achieved leapfrog development, creating “Leading by flagship enterprises, cluster-based agglomeration, and cutting-edge technical standards” a healthy pattern, and establish a system that integrates High-end manufacturing, export-oriented, and intelligent upgrading A national hub for the pet food industry, integrating all aspects.
Collaborative Development Across the Entire Value Chain
Innovatively Building the West Coast New Area "One core, multiple poles" Industrial layout, with Liuwang Town Centering on this core area, we will foster coordinated development among adjacent subdistricts such as Yinzhu and Tieshan, creating an industrial layout characterized by differentiated complementarity and collaborative advancement. This approach not only avoids homogeneous competition but also fully leverages the unique resource endowments of each region, thereby achieving efficient synergy across all links in the industrial value chain.
Core Area (Liuwang Town): By clustering leading enterprises and critical supporting industries and integrating R&D, manufacturing, and testing under one roof, flagship companies such as Kangda Changrong and Mingyue Anxin have established strong roots in this region.
Collaborative Zone (Yinzhu, Tieshan, etc.): Develop specialized niche product categories to establish differentiated competitive advantages, such as: Jingwang Pet Food Specializing in drying high-end snacks such as chicken breast and duck breast;
Full-chain support: A complete industrial chain has been established, spanning raw material supply, production and processing, testing and certification, and brand marketing, with nine enterprises holding feed production licenses to ensure product quality and safety.
2
Enterprise Clusters and Indigenous Brands
Multi-tiered corporate talent pipeline
The West Coast New Area has already formed a system centered on Kangda Changrong, Bright Moon, Peaceful Heart , Yalute A matrix of leading enterprises serving as the vanguard has been established, while a cohort of distinctive small and medium-sized enterprises has also been nurtured, together fostering an industrial ecosystem characterized by diverse and vibrant innovation.
In 2024, the New Area was established. Pet Food Trade Association It has attracted 35 member organizations, thereby fostering an industry ecosystem characterized by collaborative development.
Taking the following table as an example, we can see the strength that the new district has demonstrated in the pet food industry:
Global Pet Industry Overseas Expansion Insights Table: Representatives of Leading Pet Companies
Nine Major Brands Make a Joint Appearance
In niche segments, each company leverages its own strengths. Taking the following table as an example, we can see that the pet food industry in the New Area is Shifting from OEM/ODM-centric operations to brand-led development strategic breakthrough.
Global Pet Industry Overseas Expansion Insights Table: Nine Companies’ Own Brands
These brands cover Ration packs, canned goods, freeze-dried foods, dried snacks, and more Multiple product categories herald the pet food industry in the West Coast New Area. Upgrading from “manufacturing” to “creation” , laying a solid foundation for Chinese pet food brands to expand into overseas markets.
3
Export Scale and Future Plans
Rely on Abundant raw material resources, convenient maritime transportation, and proximity to the Japan–South Korea trade region. With three core competitive advantages, the pet food industry in the West Coast New Area has developed a distinct export-oriented profile. By 2025, the New Area’s pet food Total import and export value reached RMB 2.28 billion. , among which Exports of RMB 1.92 billion 。
Currently, the New Area has:
Registration of Pet Food Export Enterprises 46 companies , accounting for the total in Qingdao city 37.1% ；
Enterprises registered with the European Union 29 companies , a Russian-registered enterprise 11 companies ；
Enterprises with Actual Import and Export Performance 26 companies , enterprises with export value exceeding 100 million yuan 5 companies ；
A total of enterprises have been recommended for registration in the EU, Russia, South Korea, and other jurisdictions. 92 factory visits 。
From a market distribution perspective, the main products are selling well. Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and others Core market. Qingdao Maijian Foods’ “ Proud Pet “The brand has achieved strong sales in more than 30 countries worldwide, with its brand influence continuing to grow.”
Notably, enterprises in the New Area have made breakthrough progress in expanding into emerging markets. Recently, Qingdao Bellman, Qingdao Oule, Qingdao Jingchuan, and Qingdao... Huafuxing Four enterprises have succeeded. Obtained official Brazilian feed export registration资质 , becoming one of the first pet food companies nationwide authorized to enter the Brazilian market.
As one of the largest pet food markets in South America, Brazil’s breakthrough in its market access regime signifies a new phase for the pet food industry in the new zone. International Competitiveness Ascend to a new level.
Furthermore, at this new stage of development, the West Coast New Area has proposed to vigorously implement five major targeted initiatives for the high-quality development of the pet food industry: Continuously strengthen top-level design and project planning, intensify efforts to cultivate leading enterprises and promote digital and intelligent transformation, support enterprises in leveraging technological innovation as the driving force to accelerate standards development and brand building, and integrate resources to ensure robust talent support and market expansion services. 。
4
Final Thoughts: Lessons from Going Global
The development of the pet food industry in the West Coast New Area has provided valuable experience for Chinese pet food companies expanding overseas, highlighting four major opportunities for international expansion:
Product Upgrade Opportunities: From “low-end OEM manufacturing” to “high-end intelligent manufacturing”;
Opportunities for Brands to Expand Overseas: From “OEM production” to “own-brand development”;
Market Expansion Opportunities: From “single market” to “global footprint”;
Ecological Collaboration Opportunities: Building an overseas expansion ecosystem featuring “industrial clusters + service platforms.”
These initiatives will further accelerate the industry’s transformation toward high-quality development. The pet food industry in Qingdao’s West Coast New Area has, through Enterprise clustering, technological innovation, brand development, and policy support Through coordinated efforts, a national hub for the pet food industry has been established, demonstrating robust growth momentum.
In summary, this case provides for China’s pet food industry Replicable and scalable experience. Looking ahead, as the global pet economy continues to expand, the West Coast New Area is poised to become a key “bridgehead” for Chinese pet food on the world stage, helping the Chinese pet food industry secure a higher position in the global value chain.
Excerpted from “Global Pet Industry Export Insights”
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