Pet Food Extrusion Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Dry-Kibble, Semi-Moist, and Treat & Snacks), By Pet Type (Dog, Cat, Birds, and Others), By Extruder Configuration (Single-Screw and Twin-Screw), By Source (Animal and Plant), and Regional Forecast, 2026-2034

The global pet food extrusion market size was valued at USD 81.56 billion in 2025. The market is projected to grow from USD 85.76 billion in 2026 to USD 133.63 billion by 2034, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.70% during the forecast period.

Over the past decade, the food extrusion industry has evolved significantly as manufacturers aim to deliver premium, functional, and customized nutrition for various pet types. Extrusion technology enables precise formulation control, texturization, nutrient encapsulation, and microbial safety, making it the most preferred processing method for dry pet food, semi-moist formats, and an increasing share of treat-based product types. Market expansion is further propelled by rapid retail modernization, increasing pet adoption, and the emergence of transparent, sustainable supply chains.

The market is dominated by major players with strong technological capabilities, such as Clextral, Buhler Group, The Wenger Group, ANDRITZ, and Baker Perkins. These companies continue to invest in innovations in twin-screw extruder systems, energy-efficient processing, automated inline monitoring, and high-capacity production solutions tailored for the fast-growing Asia Pacific and North America markets.

MARKET DYNAMICS

Market Drivers

Rising Pet Ownership and Growing Demand for Extruded Products to Accelerate Market Growth

Global pet ownership and pet humanization trends continue to rise, strengthening demand for extruded dog food, cat food, and treat product types. Extrusion technology enables the production of shelf-stable, lightweight, and nutritionally enhanced foods, appealing to pet owners seeking convenient, premium, and health-oriented products. The shift toward functional pet diets, protein-rich formulations, and carbohydrate-controlled blends further accelerates market adoption across all major regions, including North America and Asia Pacific.

• According to the American Pet Products Association, in 2025, 68 million U.S. households own a pet dog, and 49 million own pet cats.

Market Restraints

High Equipment Costs and Skilled Labor Requirements to Limit Market Expansion

Advanced twin-screw extrusion equipment requires significant capital investment and specialized technical expertise. This increases operational expenses for small and mid-range manufacturers, particularly in cost-sensitive regions of South America and parts of Africa. Additionally, raw material price fluctuations for proteins, grains, and additives create complexities in production planning, stifling the pet food extrusion market growth.

• According to the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) survey 2024, around 56% of pet food manufacturers reported difficulty hiring extrusion technicians, citing a lack of technical training programs.

Market Opportunities

Rising Demand for Customized, Premium, and Functional Extruded Diets to Unlock New Growth Opportunities

Rising demand for customized, premium, and functional extruded diets is creating new growth avenues in the global pet food extrusion market. As pet owners seek to address specific health and wellness needs, there has been a shift toward tailor-made nutrition, focusing on breed, age, lifestyle, and medical conditions. This aligns with trends toward pet humanization and growing awareness of pet health management.

• According to the Pet Food Industry, in 2024, pet owners are increasingly choosing functional foods with prebiotics and probiotics for gut health, immunity, and digestion, driving market growth for these supplements and foods, with 2024 witnessing notable upticks such as 18% for dogs and 9% for cats.

Pet Food Extrusion Market Trends

Shift Toward Sustainable and Alternative Protein-based Raw Materials to Shape Industry

With rising ingredient costs and sustainability concerns, producers are integrating plant-based proteins, insect meals, algal extracts, and fermented proteins into extruded pet foods. Extrusion efficiently processes these raw materials into high-quality kibble without compromising palatability.

• For instance, the use of BSF (Black Soldier Fly) meal as a sustainable protein source is growing, and its successful application in twin-screw extruder systems highlights its potential for commercial-scale production without compromising product quality or palatability for dogs and cats.

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SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS

By Product Type

Affordability and Long-Shelf Life of Dry Kibble Fuels its Dominance

By product type, the market is segmented into dry-kibble, semi-moist, and treats & snacks.

Dry kibble captured the largest pet food extrusion market share in 2025 in terms of product type. The segment’s growth is attributed to its affordability, long shelf life, supply chain efficiency, and high adoption across retail and online channels. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.54% through 2034.

The treat & snacks segment is expected to grow significantly in the forecast period with a CAGR of 6.48% in 2026.

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By Pet Type

Dog Segment Holds Leading Position owing to High Ownership of Dog as Pets

On the basis of pet type, the market is segmented into dog, cat, birds, and others.

Dog food remains the dominant category with a 56.52% market share in 2025, underpinned by high global dog ownership, large consumption volumes of dry extruded kibble, and strong demand for high-protein and functional formulations. This segment is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.74% over the forecast period.

The cat food segment is expected to grow faster at a CAGR of 6.11%, driven by rising cat ownership in Europe and Asia Pacific, premiumization trends, and the growing need for highly digestible extruded diets.

By Extruder Configuration

Cost Advantages and Operational Simplicity Fuel’s Single-Screw Segment’s Market Leadership

On the basis of extruder configuration, the market is segmented into single-screw and twin-screw.

Single-screw extruders accounted for a major share in 2025 and will grow at a moderate CAGR of 5.51%. Single-screw extruders excel in operational simplicity, low capital and maintenance costs, and minimal energy use while preserving ingredient integrity during processing. These features make them ideal for standard pet food production, appealing to cost-sensitive manufacturers amid rising demand for premium kibble.

The twin-screw segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.97% during the forecast period.

By Source

Strong Palatability and High Protein Digestibility Drives Animal Segment’s Growth

On the basis of the source, the market is segmented into animal and plant.

Animal-based raw materials achieved the largest share of the market in 2025, driven by strong palatability, high protein digestibility, and their widespread use in extruded dog and cat kibble. This segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.56% from 2026 to 2034, supported by rising demand for protein-rich diets and the continued dominance of meat-based formulations in premium products.

The plant segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.13% during the analysis period.

Pet Food Extrusion Market Regional Outlook

Regionally, the report covers the global market analysis across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

North America

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North America’s pet food extrusion market held the largest share of 40.21% in 2025, supported by a highly developed pet food industry, strong consumer preference for premium and functional pet diets, and widespread adoption of advanced twin-screw extrusion equipment. The U.S. leads regional production, with major manufacturers investing in automation, digital quality control, and large-scale kibble plants designed for high throughput and efficient raw material utilization.

Europe

Europe is expected to register a CAGR of 5.53% during 2026–2034, supported by a mature yet steadily evolving consumer base that prioritizes nutritional transparency and sustainable sourcing. The region’s growth is fueled by stringent regulatory standards, sustainability-driven ingredient sourcing, and rapid adoption of alternative protein raw materials such as insect protein, algae, and plant concentrates. Manufacturers in Germany, France, the U.K., and the Netherlands increasingly deploy energy-efficient twin-screw systems to support premium formulations with high fresh-meat inclusions and functional ingredients targeted at digestion, joint health, and immunity.

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market, with a CAGR of 6.84% in the forecast period. The market is rapidly expanding due to rising pet ownership, urbanization, and premiumization trends across China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Increasing disposable incomes and shifting consumer lifestyles have led to a surge in demand for premium extruded diets, particularly grain-free kibble, functional treats, and recipes utilizing novel proteins. Regional manufacturers are scaling production capacity by investing in modern extrusion lines to meet growing domestic and export of pet food extrusion market demand, while global brands are expanding manufacturing facilities in APAC to reduce import dependency.

South America

South America is forecast to grow at a robust CAGR of 6.42%, supported by improving supply chain efficiency and rising preference for commercially formulated dry kibble. The market continues to strengthen its position due to rising pet populations in Brazil and Argentina, increasing awareness of animal nutrition, and growing availability of mid-priced and premium extruded pet food. The region benefits from expanding retail penetration and greater access to high-quality raw materials, although many manufacturers still rely on single-screw extrusion systems to keep production costs competitive.

Middle East & Africa

The Middle East & Africa are projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.74%, driven by expanding veterinary infrastructure, premium brand penetration, and a shift toward balanced, nutritionally fortified extruded diets. The region represents a growing but underpenetrated market where urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and Westernized pet ownership trends are increasing demand for long shelf life extruded products.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Key Industry Players

New Product Launch by Key Players to Support Market Growth

The global pet food extrusion market is moderately consolidated, with competition driven by technological innovation, capacity expansion, flexible product development, and supply chain optimization. Manufacturers are increasingly investing in digitization, smart automation, and sustainability to attract large pet food brands seeking consistent quality and long-term production stability.

Key Players in the Pet Food Extrusion Market

List of Key Pet Food Extrusion Companies Profiled

• Clextral (France)
• Buhler Group (Switzerland)
• The Wenger Group (U.S.)
• ANDRITZ AG (Austria)
• Baker Perkins (U.K.)
• Triott Group (Netherlands)
• Kahl Group (Germany)
• Brabender GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
• Coperion GmbH (Germany)
• ECI Extrusion Concepts Inc. (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

• November 2025: Furchild, a Dubai-based raw pet food company, opened a new 15,000-square-foot human-grade production facility in Dubai, backed by a USD 5 million investment. The kitchen produces complete, balanced raw meals for dogs and cats using ethically sourced, human-grade ingredients without fillers, preservatives, or artificial additives.
• March 2025: CPM unveiled its pet food processing solutions at VIV Asia 2025, in Thailand, showcasing equipment designed for high-performance, energy-efficient production. The lineup includes twin-screw extruders, advanced dryers, precision coating systems, and hammermills, all engineered for consistent quality, scalability, and nutritional integrity in pet food manufacturing.
• February 2025: Marsapet launched MicroBell, the first complete dog food product featuring FeedKind Pet protein from Calysta. MicroBell dry kibble falls under Marsapet's Marsavet line, targeting animal health. It is vegan, grain-free, and gluten-free, primarily made from sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, and FeedKind protein, providing all essential amino acids for dogs.
• September 2023: Symrise unveiled a dry pet food pilot production line at its regional headquarters in Elven, France. The facility integrates the full dry pet food production chain, from raw material preparation through extrusion, coating, and kibble drying, using modular equipment to replicate industrial scenarios.
• December 2023: Primal Pet Foods launched "Kibble in the Raw" as an innovative dog food line that merges raw nutrition benefits with kibble convenience. This product uses freeze-dried raw proteins, steam-cooked sorghum, cold-pressed fish oils, and air-dried organic produce, processed in small batches without high-heat extrusion to preserve nutrients and digestibility.

REPORT COVERAGE

The global pet food extrusion industry research report analyzes the market in depth and highlights crucial aspects such as global trends, growth dynamics, prominent companies, investment in research and development, and end-use. Besides this, the report also provides insights into the market analysis and highlights significant industry developments.

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Report Scope & Segmentation