Pets contribute to China's economy
14/2/2005 12:10
China, the world's most populous nation, has about 150 million pet dogs --
about one for every nine people -- suggesting yet another promising consumers'
market in the country, according to the China Animal Agriculture Association 's
National Kennel Club. An average Chinese city has about 100,000 dogs and
gains about 10,000 per year, while large cities can have twice as many. Beijing
had more than 500,000 pet dogs in 2004. Behind the large pet population,
analysts said, is a market with huge growth potential. Pet owners in Beijing
spend more than 500 million yuan (more than US$60 million) on their pets a year,
according to the kennel club, and Shanghai seems to have a new pet shop open
almost every week. A purebred, well-shaped dog can sell as much as a million
yuan, while the cheapest cost just tens of yuan. Pet sales and services such
as medicine, hairdressing and food are also emerging industries in
Xi'an. Experts predicted that the annual sale of pet food and necessities in
the country might exceed 6 billion yuan by 2008. They also predicted the
market potential for the "pet economy" in China could reach a minimum of 15
billion yuan.
Xinhua
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