Pet Food Extrusion Market Report 2026

The pet food extrusion market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $89.93 billion in 2025 to $96.24 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in commercial pet food production, increasing pet ownership rates, expansion of dry pet food consumption, adoption of extrusion processing techniques, improvements in feed processing equipment.

The pet food extrusion market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $131.54 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for premium pet food products, rising focus on customized pet nutrition, expansion of sustainable pet food manufacturing, growing automation in pet food plants, increasing investments in advanced extrusion systems. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of twin-screw extrusion technology, growing demand for high-digestibility pet food, expansion of functional and specialized diets, rising focus on process efficiency optimization, enhanced ingredient mixing precision.

The rising pet population is expected to drive growth in the pet food extrusion market. Pets are animals kept at home as companions and treated with care. Pet food extrusion is a process used to produce food tailored to the needs of pets, enabling high-quality ingredients while maintaining an affordable retail price. For example, in March 2025, the American Pet Products Association, a US-based trade association, reported that pet ownership is increasing, with 94 million U.S. households owning at least one pet, up from 82 million in 2023. Therefore, the expanding pet population is fueling growth in the pet food extrusion market.

Leading companies in the pet food extrusion market are focusing on innovative solutions, such as freeze-dried extruders, to enhance the quality and shelf-life of pet food products. A freeze-dried extruder is equipment that combines the extrusion process with freeze-drying technology to produce pet food. For instance, in August 2024, Muenster Milling Company, LLC, a US-based pet food manufacturer, launched Kibble Plus, an innovative product combining extruded kibble, freeze-dried proteins, and blending techniques. Kibble Plus addresses the growing demand for high-nutrition pet food while remaining budget-friendly, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional freeze-dried meals, which can cost up to $36 per pound. The product leverages advanced manufacturing capabilities to ensure an even mix of kibble shapes and freeze-dried inclusions, providing versatile nutrition for pet owners.

In May 2025, Prefera Petfood Srl, a UK-based pet care company, acquired THE PACK for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition strengthens Prefera’s position in the sustainable pet nutrition sector, bringing expertise in cultivated and plant-based pet food. It provides access to advanced production capabilities, wider distribution, and strategic resources to accelerate growth across Europe, supporting the company’s mission to lead the shift toward next-generation, eco-conscious pet foods. THE PACK is a UK-based pet food company specializing in alternative protein pet food.

Major companies operating in the pet food extrusion market are Nestlé, Mars Petcare, J.M. Smucker Company, Bühler Group, Pavan Group, Reading Bakery Systems, Clextral, Baker Perkins, Lindquist Machine Corporation, American Extrusion International, Nanjing Haisi Extrusion Equipment, Diamond America, Doering Company, Coperion K-Tron (Coperion Ideal), Bonnot Company, Shandong Loyal Industrial, Kahl Group, Wenger Manufacturing, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, CPM Extrusion Group.

North America was the largest region in the pet food extrusion market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the pet food extrusion market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the pet food extrusion market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The pet food extrusion market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing steam-induced and co-extrusion. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The pet food extrusion market also includes sales of extruded pellets, biscuits, and kibbles. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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