Pet News

The upcoming Pet Fair Southeast Asia in 2026, scheduled to take place in Bangkok, is poised to become a pivotal gathering for the international pet care sector. This significant event will host a vast array of participants, including 450 exhibitors representing 40 nations and drawing approximately 12,500 trade visitors from over 80 countries. This convergence underscores the fair's growing influence as a crucial platform for business-to-business interactions, sourcing opportunities, and fostering collaborations within the dynamic pet industry across the globe.

The fifth iteration of Pet Fair Southeast Asia will run from October 28 to 30, 2026, at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC). This event is a collaborative effort between VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific and Globus Events, the organizers behind Pet Fair Asia in Shanghai and proprietors of the Pet Fair Network. Their joint venture further solidifies Bangkok's standing as a central meeting point for global pet trade professionals. Johannes Kraus, Senior Project Manager of Pet Fair Southeast Asia, noted that the fair's evolution over recent years has established it not only as a leading regional trade platform but also as a truly international nexus for the industry. He highlighted the unique opportunities for business, sourcing, and partnerships that arise from bringing together such a diverse group of exhibitors and buyers from more than 80 countries in a single location, an feat difficult to replicate elsewhere in the region.

The exhibition floor for Pet Fair Southeast Asia 2026 is projected to showcase 450 exhibitors from 40 different countries, encompassing the entire supply chain of the pet industry. This includes prominent brands, private label manufacturers, and suppliers of ingredients, technology, packaging, machinery, and logistics solutions. The exhibitor demographic is expected to consist of approximately 30% local companies and 70% international enterprises, emphasizing the event's dual role as a regional sourcing and international business development hub. Complementing this global presence, the fair will feature dedicated country-specific showcases from nations such as the US, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian markets. This structured approach allows visitors to efficiently explore exhibitors by their origin market and provides participating countries with a focused platform to highlight their unique contributions to the pet industry. Leading international and regional exhibitors, including Sea Value, i-Tail, Thai Awesome, Absolute Nutrition, Kaniva, Animonda, Gimborn, and My Family, will be present, representing key segments like pet food, health products, accessories, technology, and OEM manufacturing.

The international scope extends beyond exhibitors to the visitor demographic, with Pet Fair Southeast Asia anticipating 12,500 trade visitors from over 80 countries. This follows a robust attendance in 2025 from regions including Southeast Asia, East Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, Europe, and the US. The event maintains a strict B2B focus, catering to professionals involved in distribution, retail, and sourcing. It is specifically designed for trade professionals such as distributors, importers, wholesalers, retailers, private-label buyers, manufacturers, and veterinarians. Given the continuous growth in pet ownership and pet care expenditures across Southeast Asia, Bangkok provides a strategic advantage for companies aiming to enter or expand within the region's rapidly evolving markets. Furthermore, the city's extensive air connectivity makes it an accessible and convenient meeting point for international buyers and exhibitors from across Asia and beyond.

Exhibitors at Pet Fair Southeast Asia represent a comprehensive cross-section of the pet industry supply chain. Pet brands constitute the largest portion of the exhibition space, at 44%, closely followed by OEM and private label manufacturers, who make up 42%. This distribution highlights the fair's dual function as a venue for both brand discovery and supply chain procurement. The remaining exhibitors include suppliers of ingredients, packaging, and machinery. In terms of product categories, pet food and treats are the dominant segments, forming the core of the exhibition. A significant wellness segment follows, encompassing pet hygiene, healthcare products, accessories, grooming equipment, toys, pet technology, furniture, and apparel. These diverse categories collectively showcase the full spectrum of products and innovations that are currently shaping the pet care market.

Beyond the exhibition floor, Pet Fair Southeast Asia 2026 will enhance networking and engagement through an online and on-site matchmaking program. This initiative aims to connect exhibitors with qualified buyers both before and during the event, facilitating targeted meetings and maximizing face-to-face networking opportunities. The event will also feature a robust conference program across two dedicated stages, where industry experts from around the world will share insights on market trends, product innovation, and business strategies across the entire value chain. The combination of the exhibition, matchmaking services, and conference programs creates a holistic platform for companies looking to explore new markets, identify sourcing opportunities, forge distribution partnerships, and stay abreast of the latest advancements in the global pet industry.

The upcoming Pet Fair Southeast Asia 2026 in Bangkok is set to be a landmark event for the pet industry, bringing together a vast international network of exhibitors and trade visitors. Its comprehensive coverage of the pet care supply chain, strategic location, and emphasis on business-to-business interactions solidify its role as a pivotal gathering for industry professionals seeking to innovate, connect, and grow in a dynamic global market.

A recent study commissioned by the Swedish Customs Service indicates a notable shift in the purchasing behaviors of Swedish consumers, primarily influenced by the European Union's newly implemented €3 customs duty on low-value online imports. This new regulation is prompting a reevaluation of cross-border shopping habits, with a considerable segment of the population, especially older women, contemplating a complete halt to purchases from outside the EU. Conversely, younger individuals and those residing in major urban areas seem less inclined to alter their current online shopping routines, suggesting a varied impact across different demographics.

The European Union recently abolished the €150 de minimis customs duty exemption for e-commerce imports, replacing it with a flat €3 charge on all low-value items entering the bloc. This change, which took effect in September 2026, aims to streamline customs procedures and potentially level the playing field for businesses within the EU. The Swedish Customs Service, or Tullverket, initiated a survey involving 1,068 Swedish adults between May 14 and May 21, 2026, to gauge the prospective impact of this policy shift on consumer behavior.

The survey's findings highlight a generational and geographical divide in consumer response. Approximately 14% of all respondents expressed their intention to completely cease shopping from non-EU countries. This percentage significantly increased to 23% among women aged 65 to 84, with 19% of this age group also endorsing such a decision. This demographic appears to be the most sensitive to the new duty, possibly due to differing shopping priorities or a greater perceived impact of the additional cost.

In contrast, a substantial 41% of respondents stated that the new customs duty would not influence their shopping decisions at all. This figure rose to 49% among consumers aged 18 to 34 and those residing in larger metropolitan areas, such as Stockholm. This suggests that younger, urban populations might be more accustomed to online shopping logistics or perceive the €3 charge as a minor deterrent.

Despite the changes, cross-border e-commerce remains popular in Sweden. The data from Tullverket indicate that one-third of Swedish consumers engage in online shopping from non-EU platforms. Specifically, 12% shop a few times per quarter, and 19% do so a few times per year, with a small segment (2%) shopping monthly. Men aged 50 to 64 and households with children are more frequent quarterly shoppers. Meanwhile, a higher proportion of women (45%) and individuals aged 65 to 84 (46%) reported never having purchased from non-EU stores, indicating existing disparities in engagement with international online retail.

The introduction of the new EU customs duty is set to recalibrate the e-commerce landscape for Swedish consumers. While some segments of the population are prepared to significantly alter their shopping habits, others, particularly younger and urban demographics, anticipate minimal disruption. This policy change will likely lead to ongoing adjustments in how Swedes engage with international online marketplaces, influencing both consumer choices and market dynamics.