Seoul (VNA) – Vietnam has emerged as a strategic destination for exporters of pet food and accessories from the Republic of Korea (RoK). RoK-made pet food accounts for around 30–40% of total purchases in certain segments, reflecting strong brand recognition and growing trust among Vietnamese consumers.
According to market research firm Euromonitor International, the RoK’s animal feed exports to Vietnam have reached 27.2 million USD, underscoring the country’s increasing importance as an overseas market for Korean companies seeking new revenue streams beyond a saturated domestic industry.
Pushing exports to Vietnam comes as the country’s pet economy is undergoing a period of rapid expansion. Statistics show that the pet population in Vietnam is expected to exceed 33 million by 2026. The pet market is projected to grow from about 500 million USD in 2023 to over 700 million USD by 2027, representing an annual growth rate of approximately 11%.
This growth is driven not only by the rising number of pet owners but also by a shift toward higher-value spending.
In major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, demand for pet-related services is surging. Dog training centres charge around 3 million VND (114 USD) per month and report stable booking rates.
Pet hotels and boarding facilities are also frequently fully booked during peak travel seasons, reflecting owners’ willingness to spend more on convenience and quality care.
Spending is increasingly diversifying beyond basic pet food to include services such as grooming, veterinary care, and training—areas where Korean companies see opportunities to introduce premium products and specialised offerings.
For Korean firms, Vietnam’s growth contrasts with the more stable situation at home. Data from the KB Financial Group Research Institute show that, as of 2024, 5.91 million households in the RoK, accounting for 26.7% of the total, own pets, with the total pet population estimated at 15.5 million.
The pet food market in the RoK is also sizeable, reaching around 2.2 trillion KRW (1.7 billion USD) in 2025, but growth is gradually stabilising. While consumer spending continues to rise, with data from KB Kookmin Card indicating that spending on pet-related products increased by about 30% between 2021 and 2024, companies are increasingly looking abroad to sustain growth momentum.
Major RoK food companies have been expanding their pet food portfolios as part of this outward-looking strategy. Pulmuone recorded a 35% year-on-year increase in pet food sales, with some products posting standout growth. Meanwhile, HY reported a 34.6% rise, and Dongwon F&B achieved double-digit growth while expanding exports to more than 10 countries, including Vietnam.
Given the promising outlook, RoK pet food companies are increasingly targeting Vietnam as a key growth market, leveraging the country’s rapidly developing pet economy and rising demand for premium pet care products in Southeast Asia./.
