Indonesia Launches First Pet Food Export to the Philippines

RRI.CO.ID, Banyuasin - Indonesia has successfully exported pet food products to the Philippines, valued at USD 176,000. This export is a strategic step to expand Indonesia's pet food penetration into the international market while strengthening Indonesia's reputation as a global standard pet food producer.

These three containers of pet food were exported by PT Evo Manufacturing Indonesia (EMI). The exported products consisted of 2,300 boxes of canned wet food, 11,200 boxes of pouch pâté, and 12,000 boxes of pouch chunk in gravy.

Indonesian Minister of Trade, Budi Santoso, appreciated this local pet food export. “Cats can be imported, but their food must be local,” he said during the export launch at the PT EMI factory in Banyuasin, South Sumatra, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, as quoted on the Ministry’s official website.

Ministry data shows that Indonesia's pet food exports grew by 158.27 percent between 2020 and 2024. From January to November 2025, the value reached USD 8.25 million, with the main markets being India, Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, and Hong Kong.

According to the International Trade Center (ITC), export opportunities are still wide open, including to the United States, Japan, Taiwan, and New Zealand. The Philippines is considered a potential market due to increasing demand.

Minister Budi encouraged businesses to leverage several trade agreements, such as the Indonesia-UAE CEPA and Indonesia-Chile CEPA, to expand their markets. “If exports increase, our economic ecosystem will keep running,” he said.

The Ministry is also leveraging 46 Indonesian Trade Promotion Centers (ITPCs) in 33 countries as hubs to reach various export destinations. These ITPCs will facilitate business matching through the UMKM BISA Ekspor (MSME Can Export) program.

PT EMI has participated in business-matching activities organized by ITPC Dubai and ITPC Jeddah. On this occasion, PT EMI successfully held meetings with four potential buyers.

Meanwhile, Evo Group's co-founder, Dimas Baskoro, is optimistic that the export of local pet food produced by PT EMI will boost exports and the competitiveness of Indonesian pet food globally. He hopes that this export will be the first strategic step for Evo Group and the Indonesian manufacturing industry to compete in the global market.

Dimas also expressed his appreciation for the Ministry's support. “We are currently exploring exports to the Middle East and other Asian countries such as Vietnam,” he said. ***