Year over year, export sales for these specialized personal care commodities resulted in an annual inflation rate of 12.3% from $62.1 billion in 2020.
By value, the biggest 5 exporters of beauty cosmetics and skincare goods are France, South Korea, Singapore, Japan and the United States of America. Collectively, that powerful quintet of suppliers generated over half (52.7%) 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 2021 with shipments from Europe valued at $31.2 billion or 44.7% of the global total. Close behind in second place were Asian exporters at 42.6% while another 10.3% of related shipments originated from North America.
Smaller percentages came from product shippers located in Oceania (0.89%) led by Australia, Africa (0.88%) and Latin America (0.6%) 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 2021.
- France: US$10.8 billion (15.4% of total beauty, cosmetics & skincare exports)
- South Korea: $7.7 billion (11%)
- Singapore: $6.6 billion (9.5%)
- Japan: $6.2 billion (8.9%)
- United States: $5.5 billion (7.9%)
- Hong Kong: $4.6 billion (6.5%)
- Germany: $4 billion (5.7%)
- United Kingdom: $2.4 billion (3.4%)
- China: $2.28 billion (3.3%)
- Italy: $2.24 billion (3.2%)
- Poland: $2.16 billion (3.1%)
- Switzerland: $1.6 billion (2.3%)
- Netherlands: $1.39 billion (2%)
- Spain: $1.37 billion (2%)
- Canada: $1.34 billion (1.9%)
- Belgium: $1.3 billion (1.9%)
- Czech Republic: $929.8 million (1.3%)
- Thailand: $617 million (0.9%)
- Australia: $539.9 million (0.8%)
- Taiwan: $427.6 million (0.6%)
- Sweden: $390.9 million (0.6%)
- Mexico: $380 million (0.5%)
- Denmark: $365.9 million (0.5%)
- South Africa: $324.1 million (0.5%)
By value, the listed 25 countries shipped 93.5% of global beauty, cosmetics and skincare exports in 2021.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing beauty, cosmetics and skincare exporters from 2020 to 2021 were: Sweden (up 43%), Netherlands (up 30.8%), Denmark (up 29.1%) and Canada (up 25.8%).
Two top suppliers posted declines in their exported beauty, cosmetics and skincare sales, namely Switzerland (down -3.8%) and Belgium (down -3.3%).
Countries Generating Greatest Trade Surpluses from Specialized Personal Products
The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for beauty, cosmetics and skincare products during 2021. 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$8.9 billion (net export surplus up 22.3% since 2020)
- South Korea: $6.8 billion (up 29.1%)
- Japan: $4.8 billion (up 23.1%)
- Singapore: $3.5 billion (up 5.2%)
- Germany: $1.3 billion (up 12.7%)
- Italy: $1.1 billion (up 30.7%)
- Poland: $988.6 million (up 5.9%)
- Switzerland: $962.9 million (down -13%)
- United Kingdom: $272.9 million (up 1318.2%)
- Spain: $220 million (up 63%)
- Israel: $135.3 million (up 8.3%)
- South Africa: $130.2 million (up 12.6%)
- Thailand: $90.5 million (reversing a -$28.8 million deficit)
- Belgium: $74 million (up 49.2%)
- Netherlands: $72.2 million (up 2.6%)
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 2021. 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.
- China: -US$16.2 billion (net export deficit up 7.2% since 2020)
- Macao: -$3.2 billion (up 37.3%)
- Hong Kong: -$2.7 billion (down -13.6%)
- Russia: -$1 billion (up 36%)
- Saudi Arabia: -$619 million (up 4.1%)
- United Arab Emirates: -$581.1 million (reversing a $266.2 million surplus)
- Vietnam: -$543 million (up 555.4%)
- Taiwan: -$439.9 million (up 0.1%)
- Australia: -$343.3 million (up 24.7%)
- Norway: -$341.2 million (up 28.4%)
- Chile: -$280.6 million (up 94%)
- Ireland: -$277.2 million (up 69.3%)
- Malaysia: -$253.7 million (up 10.6%)
- Kazakhstan: -$250.9 million (up 128%)
- Mexico: -$242.2 million (up 59.9%)
Mainland China and its political territory incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of beauty cosmetics and skincare products. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights the Asian entities’ 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$57.4 billion (up 12.5% from 2020)
- Eye makeup: $4.7 billion (up 16%)
- Lip makeup including lipstick: $3.8 billion (up 2.3%)
- Makeup or skincare powders: $2.3 billion (up 16%)
- Manicure or pedicure preparations: $1.5 billion (up 14.7%)
All of the above product categories gained from 2020 to 2021.
The greatest percentage increase of 16% was shared by exports of eye makeup and makeup or skincare powders.
Average Prices for Main Beauty, Cosmetics & Skincare Exporters
Based on an analysis of the main 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$31,417 per ton of beauty/cosmetics exports (up 12.2% from 2020)
- South Korea: $30,157 per ton (up 13.4%)
- Japan: $64,397 per ton (up 3.6%)
- United States: $31,095 per ton (down -2.5%)
- Hong Kong: $24,504 per ton (up 5.8%)
- Germany: $19,983 per ton (up 18.4%)
- United Kingdom: $24,018 per ton (down -1.2%)
- China: $12,379 per ton (down -0.6%)
- Italy: $24,468 per ton (up 0.6%)
- Poland: $11,432 per ton (up 1.4%)
- Switzerland: $75,092 per ton (down -10.2%)
- Netherlands: $16,805 per ton (up 16.9%)
- Spain: $11,439 per ton (up 25.2%)
- Belgium: $23,810 per ton (down -1.6%)
- Czech Republic: $30,196 per ton (up 5.6%)
The lowest average unit prices for exported beauty, cosmetics and personal care products originate from Poland ($11,432 per ton), Spain ($11,439 per ton) and mainland China ($12,379 per ton).
The most expensive average prices are sourced from suppliers in Switzerland ($75,092 per ton), Japan ($64,397 per ton) and fashion world leader France ($31,417 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 June 13, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 13, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on June 13, 2022
Wikipedia, Cosmetics. Accessed on June 13, 2022
Wikipedia, Category:Cosmetics companies. Accessed on June 13, 2022
