Buying and exporting animal food from China can be a smart way to reduce costs and expand your product range—if you do it correctly. With strict regulations, complex documentation, and long supply chains, working with an experienced export partner like Wigmore Trading can make the difference between smooth shipments and expensive delays.

Why source animal food from China?

China is one of the world’s largest producers of animal food, including:

• Livestock feed (poultry, cattle, fish)

• Pet food (dry kibble, treats, canned food)

• Additives and premixes (vitamins, minerals, amino acids)

For importers and distributors, export animal food from China can mean:

• More competitive prices compared to local or regional manufacturers

• Access to a wide variety of formulations and packaging formats

• Scalable volumes to meet growing demand in African and global markets

However, lower cost should never come at the expense of quality, safety, or compliance. That’s where expert sourcing support becomes essential.

Key challenges when exporting animal food from China

1. Quality and safety standards

Animal food must meet strict safety standards to protect animal health and, indirectly, human health. Common issues include:

• Inconsistent ingredient quality

• Mislabelled formulations

• Non-compliance with destination country regulations

Importers must ensure suppliers comply with applicable standards (e.g. GMP, HACCP) and that products are accompanied by correct test reports. Wigmore Trading can help by pre-vetting factories, reviewing documentation and arranging independent inspections before shipment.

2. Regulatory and customs compliance

Every country has its own rules for importing animal feed and pet food. These may involve:

• Veterinary or agricultural authority registrations

• Health certificates and sanitary/phytosanitary (SPS) documents

• Restrictions on certain ingredients or additives

• Labelling rules (language, nutritional information, batch numbers)

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If any of these elements are missing or incorrect, your goods can be delayed or refused at the border. When you export animal food from China, it is critical to match Chinese export documents with the import requirements of your country.

Wigmore Trading works closely with customs agents and authorities in African and other markets to ensure the paperwork is aligned before the container leaves China.

3. Supplier selection and due diligence

There are thousands of animal food manufacturers in China—but not all are suitable for export. Risks include:

• Factories without proper export licenses

• Inexperience with your target market’s regulations

• Poor communication and slow response times

Wigmore Trading helps buyers identify reliable, export-ready producers with a proven track record. Our team conducts due diligence, reviews certifications, and confirms production capabilities so that you don’t waste time on unsuitable suppliers.

How Wigmore Trading supports your animal food exports

End-to-end sourcing support

From initial enquiry to final delivery, Wigmore Trading can support you to buy and export animal food from China by:

• Identifying suitable manufacturers for livestock feed, pet food, or additives

• Negotiating pricing, MOQs, and payment terms on your behalf

• Coordinating product samples and lab testing where required

• Checking packaging, labelling and palletisation match your market’s needs

This helps you secure the right product at the right price—without sacrificing quality.

Documentation and compliance management

To keep shipments moving smoothly, Wigmore Trading can:

• Coordinate commercial invoices, packing lists, and export declarations

• Arrange veterinary health certificates and related documents

• Check that labels meet destination requirements (language, ingredients, shelf life)

• Work with your customs broker to pre-clear any regulatory questions

By handling the complexity behind the scenes, we reduce the risk of delays, penalties or product rejection. Wigmore Trading can help.

Logistics from China to your destination

Exporting animal food also involves careful logistics planning. Products may be sensitive to moisture, heat, or contamination. Wigmore Trading helps you:

• Choose the most suitable shipping method (FCL, LCL, or air freight for urgent loads)

• Plan routes and transit times that protect product shelf life

• Optimise container loading to reduce damage and maximise space usage

• Track shipments and coordinate with local partners on arrival

Whether you are shipping to West Africa, Southern Africa, or other global markets, Wigmore Trading can manage the full journey from factory to port of discharge.

Practical steps to start exporting animal food from China

If you are planning to export animal food from China, here is a simple roadmap:

1. Define your product needs

   • Type of animal (poultry, cattle, fish, pets)

   • Nutritional requirements and formulations

   • Packaging sizes and branding (private label or OEM)

2. Check import regulations in your country

   • Required certificates and registrations

   • Permitted ingredients and additives

   • Labelling language and format

3. Engage a trusted partner
   Contact Wigmore Trading to help identify compliant suppliers, negotiate prices, and coordinate documentation and logistics.

4. Order samples and conduct tests
   Confirm quality and performance before placing the main order.

5. Place your bulk order and ship
   Wigmore Trading can manage production follow-up, inspections, and freight so your goods arrive ready for sale.

If you are ready to expand your product range or reduce sourcing costs, contact Wigmore Trading today to streamline your animal food sourcing from China.