(Yicai Global) May 21 -- The pet industry in China is growing rapidly, and pet owners in the southern province of Guangdong spent most on pet supplies nationally, according to an exhibitor at Pet Fair Asia, held in provincial capital Guangzhou from May 18-20.

Average monthly pet-related spending in the country is between CNY200 and CNY500 (USD31 and USD78), while in Guangdong, it is between CNY600 and CNY1000, Guangzhou Daily reported the exhibitor as saying. 

Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the two most economically-developed cities in the province, account for about 50 percent of total provincial spending, added the report.

Chinese shoppers are set to spend CNY46.3 billion (USD7 billion) on their pets by 2022, up from CNY17.5 billion last year as the market grows at around an annual 20 percent, reported Reuters citing Euromonitor data. 

Pet Fair Asia is an important platform for overseas pet supplies companies to enter the Chinese market, and while the annual sub-show is held in Guangzhou, the main fair will take place in Shanghai in August.

Editors: Emmi Laine, William Clegg