Beauty, cosmetics and skincare exports from all countries generated a total US$74.2 billion in 2024.

That dollar amount results from a 19.3% increase from $62.2 billion five years earlier in 2020.

Year over year, the total value of exported beauty, cosmetics and skincare goods flatlined via a -0.6% slowdown compared to $74.7 billion starting from 2023.

By value, the biggest 5 exporters of these specialized personal care commodities are France, South Korea, United States of America, Singapore and Germany. Collectively, that leading quintet of suppliers provided nearly half (49.4%) 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 2024 with shipments from Europe valued at $36.8 billion or 49.5% of the global total. In second place were exporters located in Asia at 36.5% while another 11.2% of related shipments originated from North America.

Smaller percentages came from product shippers located in Africa (0.96%), Latin America (0.95%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.8%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

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 2024.

1. France: US$12.2 billion (16.4% of total beauty, cosmetics and skincare exports)
2. South Korea: $8.6 billion (11.6%)
3. United States: $6.2 billion (8.3%)
4. Singapore: $4.9 billion (6.6%)
5. Germany: $4.8 billion (6.4%)
6. mainland China: $4.1 billion (5.5%)
7. Hong Kong: $3.4 billion (4.5%)
8. Italy: $3.1 billion (4.2%)
9. Japan: $2.8 billion (3.8%)
10. Poland: $2.7 billion (3.7%)
11. United Kingdom: $2.1 billion (2.9%)
12. Netherlands: $2 billion (2.7%)
13. Spain: $1.9 billion (2.5%)
14. Canada: $1.6 billion (2.2%)
15. Belgium: $1.5 billion (2%)
16. Switzerland: $1.4 billion (1.9%)
17. Czech Republic: $1.2 billion (1.7%)
18. Thailand: $980.4 million (1.3%)
19. Denmark: $571.4 million (0.8%)
20. Sweden: $532.5 million (0.7%)
21. Australia: $527.5 million (0.7%)
22. Mexico: $506.7 million (0.7%)
23. India: $501.2 million (0.7%)
24. Austria: $396.4 million (0.5%)
25. Taiwan: $383.1 million (0.5%)

By value, the listed 25 countries shipped 92.9% of global beauty, cosmetics and skincare exports in 2024.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing suppliers from 2023 to 2024 were: South Korea (up 19.4%), Thailand (up 19%), Austria (up 14.8%) and Mexico (up 12.5%).

Those countries that posted declines in their export sales were led by: India (down -34.7%), Japan (down -23.2%), Canada (down -14.7%), Singapore (down -10.7%) and Taiwan (down -3.5%).

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.

1. Beauty/makeup preparations and skincare: US$59 billion (down -1.1% from 2023)
2. Lip makeup including lipstick: $5.7 billion (up 9%)
3. Eye makeup: $4.9 billion (down -5%)
4. Makeup or skincare powders: $2.9 billion (down -0.1%)
5. Manicure or pedicure preparations: $1.6 billion (up 0.9%)

Just two among the above product categories recorded gains from 2023 to 2024: lip makeup including lipstick (up 9%) and manicure or pedicure preparations (up 0.9%).

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 average prices charged by 15 leading countries. They are ranked in descending order starting with exporters attracting the greatest total international sales.

1. France: US$39,165 per ton of beauty/cosmetics exports (up 3.9% from 2023)
2. South Korea: $32,580 per ton (up 6.7%)
3. United States: $36,064 per ton (up 2%)
4. Singapore: $93,605 per ton (down -13.6%)
5. Germany: $22,940 per ton (up 4%)
6. mainland China: $11,409 per ton (down -16.5%)
7. Italy: $30,080 per ton (up 8.6%)
8. Japan: $53,990 per ton (up 0.3%)
9. Poland: $18,082 per ton (up 20.7%)
10. United Kingdom: $28,421 per ton (up 10.4%)
11. Netherlands: $9,541 per ton (up 5.8%)
12. Spain: $13,199 per ton (up 4.1%)
13. Belgium: $25,840 per ton (up 3.7%)
14. Switzerland: $85,256 per ton (up 15.1%)
15. Czech Republic: $41,999 per ton (up 10.8%)

Globally, the average unit price charged by all countries was $27,665 per ton inflating by 4.4% from $26,499 per ton for 2023.

Nine of the above leading suppliers exceeded the worldwide average unit price.

In 2024, the lowest average unit prices for exported beauty, cosmetics and personal care products originate from the Netherlands ($9,541 per ton), mainland China ($11,409 per ton) and Spain ($13,199 per ton).

The most expensive average prices are sourced from top suppliers in Singapore ($93,605 per ton), Switzerland ($85,256 per ton) then Japan ($53,990 per ton).

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 2024. 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.

1. France: US$9.5 billion (net export surplus up 1% since 2023)
2. South Korea: $7.7 billion (up 22.5%)
3. Singapore: $2.2 billion (down -11.3%)
4. Germany: $1.6 billion (down -7.5%)
5. Italy: $1.5 billion (up 8.6%)
6. Poland: $1.1 billion (down -6.7%)
7. Japan: $987.6 million (down -51.8%)
8. Switzerland: $702.8 million (up 10.7%)
9. Spain: $249.5 million (up 7.6%)
10. Czech Republic: $231.8 million (up 46.2%)
11. Ivory Coast: $193.9 million (down -9.3%)
12. Thailand: $149.3 million (up 49%)
13. Netherlands: $145.3 million (reversing a -$169.2 million deficit)
14. South Africa: $104 million (up 24%)
15. Belgium: $89.4 million (up 274.8%)

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 2024. 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.

1. mainland China: -US$8.9 billion (net export deficit down -16.3% since 2023)
2. United States: -$1.6 billion (up 171.9%)
3. United Arab Emirates: -$1.2 billion (reversing a $68 million surplus)
4. Saudi Arabia: -$1 billion (up 8.8%)
5. Russia: -$966.1 million (down -4.7%)
6. United Kingdom: -$928.4 million (up 57.1%)
7. Vietnam: -$750.3 million (up 235.5%)
8. Hong Kong: -$664.7 million (down -71.4%)
9. Australia: -$620.2 million (down -1.1%)
10. Macao: -$606.6 million (down -61.6%)
11. Taiwan: -$567.9 million (up 2.8%)
12. Malaysia: -$452 million (up 12.7%)
13. Mexico: -$451.5 million (up 5.2%)
14. Norway: -$444 million (up 18.6%)
15. Ireland: -$366.3 million (down -3.3%)

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.

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 May 24, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 24, 2025

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 24, 2025

Wikipedia, Cosmetics. Accessed on May 24, 2025

Wikipedia, Category:Cosmetics companies. Accessed on May 24, 2025