内蒙小县，为何能供应全球20%的猫砂？

Core Insights - The article discusses the rise of Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia, as the world's largest cat litter production base, producing two-thirds of China's and one-fifth of the world's bentonite cat litter [7][10][20]. Group 1: Industry Overview - Cat litter was invented in the 1940s by Edward Lowe in the United States and has since become essential for cat owners [2][4]. - Bentonite cat litter accounts for nearly half of the market share, making it the dominant choice among various types of cat litter [5][22]. - In 2023, Ningcheng produced 1.5 million tons of cat litter, contributing to an industry value of 900 million yuan and tax revenue of 70 million yuan [7][9]. Group 2: Production Capacity and Growth - Ningcheng's cat litter production is expected to exceed 2 million tons in 2024, with a growth rate of 20%-30% [7][10]. - The local goal is to surpass 2.4 million tons of production and achieve a value of 1.6 billion yuan by 2025 [7][10]. Group 3: Resource Advantages - Ningcheng has abundant bentonite resources, with a reserve of 16.415 million tons and a potential resource of 2 billion tons [17]. - The quality of Ningcheng's bentonite is high, making it suitable for deep processing, which enhances the effectiveness of the cat litter [17][19]. Group 4: Market Dynamics - Despite being a major producer, Ningcheng's cat litter primarily serves as OEM for foreign brands, lacking strong local brands [22][25]. - The domestic cat litter market is experiencing growth, with approximately 80% of products being domestic brands, while high-end products are mostly foreign [25][28]. Group 5: Future Development - Ningcheng's cat litter industry is focusing on brand development and innovation to move from low-end to high-end markets [22][23]. - The local cat litter association is working on establishing industry standards and collaborating with universities to enhance product quality [25][27]. - The global pet industry is projected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, with China's pet market expected to reach 360 billion yuan by 2026, indicating significant growth potential for the cat litter sector [28][30].