That dollar amount results from a 15.6% increase from $59.2 billion five years earlier in 2018.
Year over year, the total value of exported beauty, cosmetics and skincare goods fell by -4.2% compared to $71.5 billion for 2021.
Year over year, export sales resulted in an annual inflation rate of 12.3% from $62.1 billion in 2021.
By value, the biggest 5 exporters of these specialized personal care commodities are France, South Korea, Singapore, United States of America, and Japan. Collectively, that powerful quintet of suppliers generated about half (50.5%) of globally exported beauty, cosmetics and skincare products.
From a continental perspective, European countries sold the highest dollar worth of exported beauty, cosmetics and skincare goods during 2022 with shipments from Europe valued at $31.5 billion or 45.9% of the global total. In second place were Asian exporters at 39.6% while another 11.7% of related shipments originated from North America.
Smaller percentages came from product shippers located in Africa (1.1%), Oceania (0.9%) led by Australia, and Latin America (0.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 3304 for beauty or makeup preparations and preparations for the care of the skin including sunscreen.
Beauty Cosmetics and Skincare Exports by Country
Below are the 25 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of beauty, cosmetics and skincare products during 2022.
- France: US$10.7 billion (15.6% of total beauty, cosmetics and skincare exports)
- South Korea: $6.7 billion (9.8%)
- Singapore: $6.2 billion (9.1%)
- United States: $6 billion (8.8%)
- Japan: $5 billion (7.2%)
- Germany: $4.2 billion (6.1%)
- Hong Kong: $3.8 billion (5.6%)
- China: $2.8 billion (4.1%)
- Italy: $2.4 billion (3.5%)
- United Kingdom: $2.23 billion (3.3%)
- Poland: $2.2 billion (3.2%)
- Switzerland: $1.6 billion (2.3%)
- Netherlands: $1.59 billion (2.3%)
- Canada: $1.53 billion (2.2%)
- Spain: $1.47 billion (2.1%)
- Belgium: $1.2 billion (1.8%)
- Czech Republic: $1 billion (1.5%)
- Thailand: $676.2 million (1%)
- Australia: $567.9 million (0.8%)
- Mexico: $453.2 million (0.7%)
- Denmark: $386.3 million (0.6%)
- Taiwan: $370 million (0.5%)
- Sweden: $352.7 million (0.5%)
- Israel: $329.5 million (0.5%)
- South Africa: $315.2 million (0.5%)
By value, the listed 25 countries shipped 93.7% of global beauty, cosmetics and skincare exports in 2022.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing suppliers from 2021 to 2022 were: Netherlands (up 14.4%), Canada (up 13.8%), mainland China (up 13%) and Israel (up 9.7%).
Those countries that posted double-digit percentage declines in their export sales were: Japan (down -20.6% from 2021), Hong Kong (down -15.8%), Taiwan (down -13.5%), South Korea (down -12.7%) and Sweden (down -10%).
Countries Generating Greatest Trade Surpluses from Specialized Personal Products
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The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for beauty, cosmetics and skincare products during 2022. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s exported beauty cosmetics and skincare items and its import purchases for those same commodities.
- France: US$8.7 billion (net export surplus down -2.2% since 2021)
- South Korea: $5.8 billion (down -14.6%)
- Japan: $3.5 billion (down -27.4%)
- Singapore: $3.2 billion (down -9.8%)
- Germany: $1.6 billion (up 15.9%)
- Italy: $1.2 billion (up 4%)
- Poland: $977.1 million (down -1.2%)
- Switzerland: $975.8 million (up 1.4%)
- Ivory Coast: $185.2 million (up 3%)
- Israel: $154.4 million (up 13.4%)
- Spain: $112.3 million (down -48.9%)
- South Africa: $96.2 million (down -26.2%)
- Czech Republic: $89.8 million (up 203.4%)
- Thailand: $79.2 million (down -12.6%)
- Togo: $73.9 million (up 9.6%)
A well-established fashion mecca, France earns the highest surplus in the international trade of beauty cosmetics and skincare offerings. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms France’s strong competitive advantage for this specific product category.
Countries Causing Worst Trade Deficits from Specialized Personal Products
The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2022. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s import purchases and its exports for these specialized personal care commodities.
- mainland China: -US$15.2 billion (net export deficit down -14.6% since 2020)
- Hong Kong: -$2.38 billion (down -12.7%)
- Macao: -$2.36 billion (down -25.9%)
- United Arab Emirates: -$1 billion (down -828.2%)
- Russia: -$650.7 million (down -37.2%)
- Vietnam: -$619.3 million (up 266.6%)
- Saudi Arabia: -$588.4 million (down -4.9%)
- Taiwan: -$486.9 million (up 10.7%)
- Australia: -$407 million (up 18.6%)
- Malaysia: -$383.2 million (up 51%)
- United States: -$352.8 million (up 614.9%)
- Ireland: -$343 million (up 23.5%)
- Norway: -$333.8 million (down -2.2%)
- Chile: -$280.6 million (down -0.9%)
- Canada: -$277.6 million (up 19.5%)
Mainland China incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of beauty cosmetics and skincare products. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights the Asian entity’s strong competitive disadvantage for this specific product category but also signals opportunities for supplying countries positioned to satisfy the powerful demand among Chinese consumers and businesses.
Top Beauty/Skincare Products Subcategories
Different types of beauty cosmetics and skincare exports are listed in descending order below, starting with the most lucrative subcategory.
- Beauty/makeup preparations and skincare: US$55.7 billion (down -5.1% from 2021)
- Eye makeup: $4.7 billion (down -5.1%)
- Lip makeup including lipstick: $4.1 billion (up 3.2%)
- Makeup or skincare powders: $2.5 billion (up 5%)
- Manicure or pedicure preparations: $1.5 billion (down -0.1%)
Just two of the above product categories gained from 2021 to 2022.
The greatest percentage increase of 5% year over year was for makeup or skincare powders including baby powders.
Average Prices for Main Beauty, Cosmetics & Skincare Exporters
Based on an analysis of the major suppliers that report their specialized personal care exports priced in tons, listed below are 15 leading countries. They are ranked in descending order starting with exporters generating the highest dollar value in total international sales.
- France: US$34,146 per ton of beauty/cosmetics exports (up 8.7% from 2021)
- South Korea: $31,163 per ton (up 3.2%)
- United States: $33,262 per ton (up 6.6%)
- Japan: $59,672 per ton (down -8.3%)
- Germany: $20,489 per ton (up 5.8%)
- mainland China: $12,601 per ton (up 1%)
- Italy: $23,714 per ton (down -7.7%)
- United Kingdom: $25,420 per ton (up 4.9%)
- Poland: $11,248 per ton (down -5.9%)
- Switzerland: $77,281 per ton (up 2.9%)
- Netherlands: $6,809 per ton (down -60.4%)
- Spain: $10,744 per ton (down -6.4%)
- Belgium: $23,319 per ton (down -1.2%)
- Czech Republic: $30,520 per ton (down -0.5%)
- Thailand: $8,073 per ton (up 2.5%)
Globally, the average unit price charged by all countries was $22,371 per ton. Nine among the above leading suppliers exceeded the worldwide average unit price.
In 2022, the lowest average unit prices for exported beauty, cosmetics and personal care products originate from the Netherlands ($6,809 per ton), Thailand ($8,073 per ton) and Spain ($10,744 per ton).
The most expensive average prices are sourced from suppliers in Switzerland ($77,281 per ton), Japan ($59,672 per ton), fashion world leader France ($34,146 per ton), the United States of America ($33,262 per ton).
Major Beauty, Cosmetics & Skincare Companies
Below are global conglomerates that represent established players engaged in the international trade of beauty, cosmetics and skincare offerings. Each conglomerate’s home country is shown within parenthesis.
- Avon Products (United States)
- L’Oreal (France)
- Proctor & Gamble (United States)
- Shiseido (Japan)
- Unilever (United Kingdom)
See also Beauty Cosmetics and Skincare Imports by Country, Perfumes Exporters by Country, Diamond Exports by Country, Wine Exports by Country and France’s Top 10 Exports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on July 20, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 20, 2023
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 20, 2023
Wikipedia, Cosmetics. Accessed on July 20, 2023
Wikipedia, Category:Cosmetics companies. Accessed on July 20, 2023
