For the Muslim pawrents in Malaysia, halal pet food is a must – also in Indonesia and Thailand

On By Pranco

At a bustling pet fair in Bangkok, where cat litter from Shandong and dog snacks come from Japan vying for attention, Malik Abdulbut takes the stage, ready to spread the word about an often overlooked segment that is poised to reshape the pet food landscape.

His message is clear: halal pet food is not just a market opportunity, it is a necessity for the rising number of Muslim pet owners in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, who demand high-quality, compliant diets for their pets.

Because the pet owners will handle it, halal pet food must be free of pork and its derivatives – which is considered haram (forbidden) in Islam – and the entire supply chain must adhere to strict hygiene standards.

An advertisement for the Malaysian Notti pet food shows its halal and other certifications. Photo: Handout
An advertisement for the Malaysian Notti pet food shows its halal and other certifications. Photo: Handout
“The restrictions on achieving Halal certification pose a challenge,” said Abdulbut, representative Thailand‘s Bureau of Livestock Standards and Certification at the fair.

“With the perceived extra costs and the confusion over the rules… there aren’t that many pet food operators out there”

But within these challenges lies a major business opportunity. Thailand is already the world’s third largest exporter of halal pet food, with increasing demand from the Middle East, especially the United Arab Emirates And Saudi Arabia. But Southeast Asia, where young people are increasingly delaying starting a family and pet ownership is booming, tops the export list.
In IndonesiaThe number of domestic cats is expected to reach 5.9 million by the end of 2026, almost two and a half times the number in 2018. Cats rule Southeast Asia’s largest economy, accounting for 56 percent of all pets. while dogs – often considered unclean in Islam – make up less than 8 percent of the pet ownership market.