The value of beauty cosmetics and skincare products imports rose 25.9% for all importing countries since 2018 when international purchases of beauty cosmetics and skincare products cost a total $58.5 billion.
Year over year, the worldwide value for globally imported beauty cosmetics and skincare goods flatlined via a -1.4% decline from $74.7 billion worth of imports during 2021.
The 5 biggest buyers of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare in 2022 were mainland China, United States of America, Hong Kong, Singapore and Germany. Collectively, those purchasing nations bought almost half (49.2%) of global imports for these specialized personal care products.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries bought the highest dollar worth of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2022 with purchases amounting to $39.3 billion or 53.3% of the global total. In second place were European importers at 29.3% while another 12% of beauty cosmetics and skincare products imported worldwide was delivered to buyers in North America.
Smaller percentages went to Latin America (2.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (1.7%) led by Australia and New Zealand, then Africa (1.2%).
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 3304 for beauty or make-up preparations and skincare products including sunscreen.
Beauty Cosmetics and Skincare Imports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2022.
- China: US$18 billion (24.5% of total imported beauty/skincare)
- United States: $6.4 billion (8.6%)
- Hong Kong: $6.2 billion (8.4%)
- Singapore: $3.1 billion (4.2%)
- Germany: $2.6 billion (3.5%)
- Macao: $2.4 billion (3.3%)
- United Kingdom: $2.4 billion (3.2%)
- France: $2 billion (2.7%)
- Canada: $1.81 billion (2.5%)
- Netherlands: $1.8 billion (2.4%)
- Japan: $1.5 billion (2%)
- Spain: $1.36 billion (1.8%)
- Belgium: $1.33 billion (1.8%)
- Italy: $1.25 billion (1.7%)
- Poland: $1.22 billion (1.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 72.4% of all beauty and skincare imported in 2022.
Among the listed countries, the fastest-growing markets for beauty and skincare since 2021 were: Netherlands (up 35.1%), Spain (up 18.2%), United Kingdom (up 17.7%) and Canada (up 14.6%).
Five major buyers posted declines in their purchases of imported beauty and skincare, namely: Macao (down -25.5% from 2021), Hong Kong (down -14.6%), mainland China (down -11.2%) and Belgium (down -4.7%).
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into China
China’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$18 billion in 2022. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- France: US$4.6 billion (down -0.6% from 2021)
- Japan: $4.5 billion (down -9.8%)
- South Korea: $2.6 billion (down -34.1%)
- United States: $2 billion (down -0.2%)
- United Kingdom: $1.6 billion (down -14.5%)
- Belgium: $486.2 million (up 4%)
- Italy: $444.7 million (down -4.6%)
- Switzerland: $280.4 million (down -0.4%)
- Poland: $262.7 million (up 69.8%)
- Canada: $254 million (up 0.2%)
- Germany: $212 million (down -13.4%)
- Thailand: $158.6 million (up 9.7%)
- Spain: $152 million (down -41.1%)
- Australia: $125.9 million (down -25%)
- mainland China: $78.6 million (down -22.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 98.4% of beauty and skincare goods imported by mainland China in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty and skincare goods to mainland China since 2021 were: Poland (up 69.8%), Thailand (up 9.7%), Belgium (up 4%) and Canada (up 0.2%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beauty/skincare products supplied to Chinese importers included: Spain (down -41.1%), South Korea (down -34.1%) and Australia (down -25%) and the United Kingdom (down -14.5%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported beauty and skincare goods fell by an average -11.2% from all supplying countries since 2021 when beauty/skincare goods purchased cost $20.3 billion.
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into the United States
America’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$6.35 billion in 2022. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the US imported the highest dollar value worth of beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- France: US$1.1 billion (up 21.7% from 2021)
- Canada: $913 million (up 14.1%)
- South Korea: $865.9 million (up 16.9%)
- Italy: $733.8 million (up 33.1%)
- mainland China: $633.7 million (up 4.3%)
- United Kingdom: $254.4 million (down -6.5%)
- Japan: $238.5 million (up 25.9%)
- Sweden: $235.8 million (down -14.7%)
- Mexico: $224.7 million (up 30.8%)
- Germany: $211.6 million (up 13.6%)
- Taiwan: $121.3 million (up 8.9%)
- Switzerland: $105.5 million (up 28.6%)
- Hungary: $94.5 million (up 27.4%)
- Spain: $87.5 million (up 55.8%)
- Belgium: $68.2 million (up 5.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 92.4% of beauty and skincare goods imported by the United States of America in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty and skincare goods to the United States since 2021 were: Spain (up 55.8%), Italy (up 33.1%), Mexico (up 30.8%) and Switzerland (up 28.6%).
A pair of major providers experienced declines in the value of their beauty and skincare products supplied to American importers, namely Sweden (down -14.7%) and the United Kingdom (down -6.5%).
Overall, the value of America’s imported beauty and skincare goods expanded by an average 14.3% from all supplying countries since 2021 when beauty and skincare goods purchased cost $5.6 billion.
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$6.24 billion in 2022. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Hong Kong imported the highest dollar value worth of beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- South Korea: US$3.1 billion (down -5.8% from 2021)
- Singapore: $613.3 million (down -26.8%)
- Japan: $548.4 million (down -11.5%)
- Switzerland: $423.6 million (up 13%)
- mainland China: $349.2 million (down -24.6%)
- United States: $216.1 million (down -30.5%)
- France: $194.1 million (down -31.7%)
- Italy: $106.4 million (down -27.6%)
- Germany: $78.5 million (down -8.7%)
- Thailand: $67 million (down -52.3%)
- Netherlands: $63.8 million (down -24.8%)
- Belgium: $60 million (down -19%)
- Taiwan: $46.8 million (down -25.7%)
- Spain: $38.8 million (down -49.5%)
- Australia: $34.1 million (down -23.4%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 96.4% of beauty and skincare goods imported by Hong Kong in 2022.
Among the above countries, there was one growth supplier of beauty and skincare goods to Hong Kong, namely providers in Switzerland (up 13% from 2021).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beauty and skincare products supplied to Hong Kong importers included: Thailand (down -52.3%), Spain (down -49.5%), France (down -31.7%) and the United States of (down -30.5%).
Overall, the value of Hong Kong’s imported beauty and skincare goods fell by an average -14.6% from all supplying countries since 2021 when beauty and skincare goods purchased cost $7.3 billion.
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into Singapore
Singapore’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$3.08 billion in 2022. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Singapore imported the highest dollar value worth of beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- France: US$1.3 billion (down -6.1% from 2021)
- Japan: $750.9 million (up 6.6%)
- United States: $293.5 million (down -0.9%)
- South Korea: $193.4 million (down -3.1%)
- Italy: $91.6 million (up 43%)
- United Kingdom: $52.2 million (down -16%)
- mainland China: $51.3 million (up 9.7%)
- Thailand: $45.9 million (down -6.2%)
- Canada: $43.5 million (up 36.6%)
- Switzerland: $42.9 million (up 9.4%)
- Malaysia: $36.6 million (up 3.5%)
- Belgium: $26.3 million (down -5.1%)
- Germany: $20.3 million (up 5.5%)
- Spain: $15.5 million (up 51.2%)
- India: $13.5 million (down -3.1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 96.9% of beauty and skincare goods imported by Singapore in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty and skincare goods to Singapore since 2021 were: Spain (up 51.2%), Italy (up 43%), Canada (up 36.6%) and mainland China (up 9.7%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beauty and skincare products supplied to Singaporean importers included: United Kingdom (down -16%), Thailand (down -6.2%), France (down -6.1%) and Belgium (down -5.1%).
Overall, the value of Singapore’s imported beauty and skincare goods flatlined via an average -0.3% reduction from all supplying countries since 2021 when beauty and skincare goods purchased cost $3.09 billion.
Searchable List of Importers for Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Goods
The strongest 100 importers of beauty cosmetics and skincare products showcased in the database below accounted for 99.1% of related imports in 2022.
| Rank | Importer | Beauty/Skincare Imports | 2021-2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | China | $18,014,517,000 | -11.2% |
| 2. | United States | $6,351,334,000 | +14.3% |
| 3. | Hong Kong | $6,214,792,000 | -14.6% |
| 4. | Singapore | $3,078,752,000 | -0.3% |
| 5. | Germany | $2,602,545,000 | -2.8% |
| 6. | Macao | $2,399,655,000 | -25.5% |
| 7. | United Kingdom | $2,378,888,000 | +17.7% |
| 8. | France | $2,012,749,000 | +5.4% |
| 9. | Canada | $1,806,822,000 | +14.6% |
| 10. | Netherlands | $1,798,867,000 | +35.1% |
| 11. | Japan | $1,497,890,000 | +1.6% |
| 12. | Spain | $1,358,295,000 | +18.2% |
| 13. | Belgium | $1,330,302,000 | -4.7% |
| 14. | Italy | $1,245,218,000 | +5.0% |
| 15. | Poland | $1,220,058,000 | +4.1% |
| 16. | United Arab Emirates | $1,095,765,000 | +13.4% |
| 17. | Australia | $974,978,000 | +10.4% |
| 18. | Czech Republic | $941,667,000 | +3.4% |
| 19. | South Korea | $922,679,000 | +1.3% |
| 20. | Taiwan | $856,907,000 | -1.2% |
| 21. | Russia | $813,877,000 | -37.0% |
| 22. | Mexico | $712,276,000 | +14.5% |
| 23. | Vietnam | $697,670,000 | +195.2% |
| 24. | Switzerland | $621,047,000 | +1.2% |
| 25. | Thailand | $596,996,000 | +13.4% |
| 26. | Saudi Arabia | $591,351,000 | -4.7% |
| 27. | Malaysia | $523,895,000 | +36.2% |
| 28. | Sweden | $520,056,000 | -1.1% |
| 29. | Ireland | $516,700,000 | +14.6% |
| 30. | Austria | $487,947,000 | +0.9% |
| 31. | India | $463,379,000 | +76.4% |
| 32. | Türkiye | $396,024,000 | +35.4% |
| 33. | Denmark | $392,243,000 | -4.2% |
| 34. | Norway | $369,743,000 | -6.0% |
| 35. | Indonesia | $329,498,000 | +6.5% |
| 36. | Portugal | $312,650,000 | +19.3% |
| 37. | Romania | $288,863,000 | +7.3% |
| 38. | Chile | $287,649,000 | -6.5% |
| 39. | Hungary | $279,242,000 | +11.9% |
| 40. | New Zealand | $245,633,000 | +6.2% |
| 41. | Greece | $243,038,000 | +5.5% |
| 42. | South Africa | $219,037,000 | +13.0% |
| 43. | Slovakia | $216,865,000 | -6.7% |
| 44. | Lithuania | $211,134,000 | -7.7% |
| 45. | Colombia | $206,786,000 | +31.9% |
| 46. | Brazil | $196,986,000 | +14.2% |
| 47. | Croatia | $195,661,000 | +10.4% |
| 48. | Kazakhstan | $192,719,000 | +29.2% |
| 49. | Philippines | $187,273,000 | +34.5% |
| 50. | Israel | $175,078,000 | +6.7% |
| 51. | Qatar | $164,923,000 | +18.5% |
| 52. | Peru | $158,671,000 | +20.2% |
| 53. | Finland | $154,082,000 | +1.9% |
| 54. | Ukraine | $153,726,000 | -41.7% |
| 55. | Panama | $140,587,000 | +39.1% |
| 56. | Kuwait | $130,325,000 | -57.0% |
| 57. | Ecuador | $123,267,000 | +39.2% |
| 58. | Argentina | $121,398,000 | +7.4% |
| 59. | Morocco | $119,092,000 | +9.6% |
| 60. | Bulgaria | $112,624,000 | +9.1% |
| 61. | Slovenia | $104,092,000 | -4.8% |
| 62. | Iraq | $101,513,000 | -31.7% |
| 63. | Luxembourg | $79,413,000 | -3.1% |
| 64. | Serbia | $77,975,000 | +4.1% |
| 65. | Estonia | $77,485,000 | +9.5% |
| 66. | Guatemala | $76,317,000 | +17.5% |
| 67. | Latvia | $75,415,000 | +6.1% |
| 68. | Dominican Republic | $74,557,000 | +58.5% |
| 69. | Costa Rica | $67,025,000 | +14.6% |
| 70. | Ghana | $66,744,000 | -5.0% |
| 71. | Cyprus | $65,254,000 | +2.3% |
| 72. | Jordan | $57,371,000 | +1.9% |
| 73. | Bahrain | $55,962,000 | +25.5% |
| 74. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $53,268,000 | +6.1% |
| 75. | Georgia | $50,283,000 | +24.9% |
| 76. | El Salvador | $48,952,000 | +10.2% |
| 77. | Andorra | $42,654,000 | +17.4% |
| 78. | Nepal | $41,429,000 | -4.4% |
| 79. | Bangladesh | $40,728,000 | -8.7% |
| 80. | Azerbaijan | $40,452,000 | +12.3% |
| 81. | Egypt | $38,650,000 | -19.9% |
| 82. | Bolivia | $36,659,000 | +33.1% |
| 83. | Moldova | $36,105,000 | +27.4% |
| 84. | Belarus | $36,096,000 | -59.2% |
| 85. | Namibia | $35,031,000 | +4.2% |
| 86. | Tunisia | $33,425,000 | +19.1% |
| 87. | Zimbabwe | $33,173,000 | +241.2% |
| 88. | Libya | $32,534,000 | -22.1% |
| 89. | Kyrgyzstan | $32,187,000 | +68.4% |
| 90. | Lebanon | $31,989,000 | +4.6% |
| 91. | Laos | $31,927,000 | +537.3% |
| 92. | Mongolia | $31,264,000 | +25.8% |
| 93. | Botswana | $30,847,000 | -0.3% |
| 94. | Iceland | $30,624,000 | +3.0% |
| 95. | Paraguay | $30,506,000 | +46.2% |
| 96. | Honduras | $29,730,000 | +24.8% |
| 97. | Iran | $29,555,000 | -27.1% |
| 98. | Oman | $28,770,000 | -69.0% |
| 99. | Malta | $27,327,000 | +5.4% |
| 100. | Guinea | $25,798,000 | -1.8% |
Expanding our focus to the top 100 buyers of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products, the strongest growers were Laos (up 537.3% from 2021), Zimbabwe (up 241.2%), Vietnam (up 195.2%), India (up 76.4%), Kyrgyzstan (up 68.4%) and the Dominican Republic (58.5%).
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns above. The right-most column highlights the percentage change in the value of imported goods related to beauty and skincare from 2021 to 2022.
A value of 0% in that column means no 2021 data was available.
See also Beauty Cosmetics and Skincare Exports by Country, Perfumes Exporters by Country, Top Human Hair Exporters by Country, China’s Top Trading Partners and Hong Kong’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on July 27, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 27, 2023
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 27, 2023
Wikipedia, Cosmetics. Accessed on July 27, 2023
