Wet Pet Food Becomes Main Growth Driver for Pet Food Production in Russia

From January to May 2026, factories in Russia produced 757,000 tonnes of pet food, up 11% compared to the same period last year. Wet pet food production increased 17% to 345,000 tonnes, while dry pet food production grew 6% to 390,000 tonnes. The data comes from a study by the AgroInsight agricultural analytics platform for the Veterinariya i Zhizn publication.

The growth rate disparity is reshaping production structure. The share of wet pet food increased from 43% to 46% over the year, while the share of dry pet food decreased from 54% to 51%. The gap between the two main categories narrowed from 11 to 5 percentage points. Pet food supplements account for the remaining 3% of output.

Analysts attribute accelerated wet segment growth to the rising popularity of mixed feeding, where owners combine dry and wet diets. Concurrently, manufacturers are expanding specialized, premium, and therapeutic pet food ranges. Monthly performance indicators show that output growth has remained consistent since the second half of 2025, demonstrating sustained stability.

Total pet food production volume in Russia reached 1.69 million tonnes in 2025, up 42% from 2020. Maintaining current growth rates could push output past 1.8 million tonnes in 2026 for the first time.

Export operations are also expanding. In 2025, companies in Russia shipped 106,000 tonnes of pet food abroad, and during the first five months of 2026, exports grew by approximately 30% compared to the same period last year. Belarus remains the primary export market, followed by Kazakhstan. Deliveries to Uzbekistan are growing fastest among major export destinations.

Finished pet food imports totaled 63,000 tonnes in 2025, accounting for less than 4% of the market in Russia. Foreign products consist primarily of premium and specialized categories, including veterinary diets and functional nutrition. However, the industry remains dependent on imported ingredients, including functional additives, vitamin complexes, specific amino acids, flavorings, and specialized protein raw materials.

According to AgroInsight estimates, manufacturers in Russia cover approximately 96% of domestic finished pet food consumption, including export supplies. As market saturation approaches, competition is shifting toward formulation quality, specialized product ranges, brand recognition, and sales channel efficiency.