Iberzoo Propet hosts a powerful pet sector with a turnover approaching 37 billion euros
With more than 30 million pets in Spain, the industry will once again meet at IFEMA MADRID from 11 to 13 March.
The Spanish pet industry has its annual meeting at the most extensive trade platform in Southern Europe, Iberzoo Propet, Feria Internacional para el Profesional del Animal de Compañía (Pet Industry International Trade Fair), organised by IFEMA MADRID from 11 to 13 March in Hall 10 of the Recinto Ferial. More than 300 exhibiting companies will take part in this record-breaking edition. They will be representing around 1,200 brands, demonstrating the health of a sector that turns over nearly 37 billion euros each year in Spain.
According to the Sector Report issued by the Asociación Madrileña de Veterinarios de Animales de Compañía (Madrid Association of Pet Veterinarians), AMVAC for 2026, overall activity in the pet sector reached 36.681 billion euros in 2025, representing 2.3% of Spanish GDP. This important segment of the economy generates 44,500 direct jobs and more than 356,000 indirect jobs.
According to the Spanish Business Association of the Animal Health and Nutrition Industry, Veteindustria, also participating in the Fair, the sector meets the needs of an estimated 30 million pets in our country. The majority are dogs (9.3 million), followed by fish and aquarium animals (7.8 million), and cats (5.8 million). The remaining 7.9 million specimens are small mammals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters.
The companies associated with Veterindustria are committed to R&D+i, allocating up to 18% of their total turnover to it, across the 28 high-tech centres spread throughout Spain. Likewise, the Association, as a founding patron, leads the Vet+i Foundation – Spanish Technological Platform for Animal Health, with the aim of promoting public-private collaboration in animal health research. Because of this, the Spanish animal health and nutrition industry can develop veterinary medicines for pets that boast exceptional quality, proven safety and confirmed efficacy, as well as pet nutrition products.
Meanwhile, the Asociación Española de la Industria (Spanish Association of Pet Product Distributors), AEDPAC, will present its 3rd " Barometer on the new habits and profiles of pet parents in Spain and Portugal", which has been technically supervised by Hamilton Global Intelligence. In last year's edition, in 2025, interesting data on attitudes toward pets in Spain compared with Portugal, the leading country in Europe for pet ownership, was included. Interestingly, it was confirmed that 52% of Spanish households have pets, compared to 58% in Portugal, and that 86% of Spanish families consider their pets part of the family, compared to 79% in Portugal.
As the main new feature, this year will host the presentation of the “1st Pet-Friendly Barometer in Spain 2026”, also by AEDPAC, dedicated to the real degree of integration of companion animals in areas such as hospitality, transport, work, leisure, or services, among others.
Both AMVAC and AEDPAC will present their respective sector reports at La Tarde de Iberzoo Propet 2026, at 18:30 on Thursday, 12 March next, at the Stage set up for the purpose.
In addition to the outstanding participation of AMVAC and AEDPAC, sponsors of the fair, Iberzoo Propet has renewed support from the main associations and entities - AEVET, Spanish Association of Clinical Veterinarians; ANFAAC, National Association of Manufacturers of Pet Food; CEVE, Spanish Veterinary Business Confederation; VET+i Foundation; and VETERINDUSTRIA, Spanish Business Association of the Animal Health and Nutrition Industry-, which attest to the sector's confidence in its main commercial showcase.