Anhui Weilai Advances Major Pet-Food Manufacturing Project in China

ANHUI, CHINA | 16 October 2026 — Anhui Weilai Pet Food has completed installation and commissioning of an imported Bühler extrusion line at the first phase of its smart pet-food production base in Langxi Economic Development Zone, according to industry reporting published on 15 October. The project is preparing to begin production.

The facility is planned with total annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes across two phases, each designed for 50,000 tonnes. The reported total investment is approximately RMB1.28 billion, with expected annual output value of around RMB1.2 billion at the project level. These are planned project figures, not confirmed current production or realised revenue. Industry report by eFeedLink.

Extrusion technology and production flexibility

The commissioned line was imported from Switzerland-based Bühler. Extrusion is widely used to manufacture dry pet food, allowing ingredients to be processed under controlled conditions to create products with defined shapes, textures and physical properties.

The company’s investment signals an effort to build large-scale manufacturing capacity and flexible production capability. Actual output will depend on commissioning, product qualification, operating efficiency, demand, procurement and the timing of subsequent phases.

The project covers approximately 169 mu—about 11.3 hectares—according to the report. Its planned scale places it among the notable manufacturing investments being tracked in China’s expanding pet-food production base.

A second project approaches start-up

The same report describes a separate pet-food research and production project by Nantong Chunxian Biotechnology in Rudong County, Jiangsu Province. The reported investment is RMB102 million, with planned annual capacity of 8,000 tonnes of dog and cat food, one million cans of cat food and 20 million cat-treat sticks.

Construction was reported to be around 70% complete in mid-September, with equipment installation scheduled for October and full production targeted by year-end. These dates remain project targets rather than confirmation that commercial production has started.

Market implications

Additional capacity can intensify competition among manufacturers on production costs, product development, quality assurance and supply-chain execution. For ingredient suppliers, equipment providers, contract manufacturers and branded pet-food businesses, projects of this scale may create opportunities—but capacity announcements alone do not establish future utilisation, profitability or market share.

Commercial success will depend on the ability to meet applicable feed and pet-food requirements, maintain consistent product quality, secure distribution and match production to demand. Export opportunities, if pursued, would also depend on the rules and approvals applicable in destination markets.