The value of beauty cosmetics and skincare products imports rose by 48.1% for all importing countries since 2017 when international purchases of beauty cosmetics and skincare products cost a total $48.9 billion.
There was an 11.4% year-over-year increase in value for globally imported beauty cosmetics and skincare goods, based on $65 billion in imports during 2020.
The 5 biggest buyers of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare from 2020 to 2021 were mainland China, Hong Kong, United States of America, Macao and Singapore. Collectively, those purchasing nations bought over half (52%) of total 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 2021 with purchases amounting to $40.5 billion or 56% of the global total. In second place were European importers at 28.6% while another 10.7% of beauty cosmetics and skincare products imported worldwide was delivered to buyers in North America.
Smaller percentages went to Latin America (2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (1.6%) 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 2021.
- China: US$18.5 billion (25.6% of total imported beauty and skincare)
- Hong Kong: $7.3 billion (10.1%)
- United States: $5.6 billion (7.7%)
- Macao: $3.2 billion (4.5%)
- Singapore: $3.1 billion (4.3%)
- Germany: $2.6 billion (3.6%)
- United Kingdom: $2.1 billion (2.9%)
- France: $1.9 billion (2.6%)
- Canada: $1.58 billion (2.2%)
- Japan: $1.47 billion (2%)
- Netherlands: $1.32 billion (1.8%)
- Russia: $1.29 billion (1.8%)
- Belgium: $1.23 billion (1.7%)
- Poland: $1.17 billion (1.6%)
- Italy: $1.16 billion (1.6%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for beauty and skincare since 2020 were: Macao (up 36.6%), Netherlands (up 32.8%), Russia (up 27.2%) and the United States of America (up 23.9%).
Belgium was the lone top importer to post a decline in its imported beauty and skincare purchases via a -5.3% reduction.
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 73.9% of all beauty and skincare imported in 2021.
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into China
China’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$18.52 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2020. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Japan: US$4.5 billion (up 4.6% from 2020)
- France: $4.2 billion (up 7.9%)
- South Korea: $3.7 billion (up 12%)
- United States of America: $1.8 billion (down -0.9%)
- United Kingdom: $1.7 billion (up 8.8%)
- Italy: $422.2 million (up 27.8%)
- Belgium: $402.5 million (up 13%)
- Switzerland: $247.2 million (down -0.0004%)
- Spain: $238.3 million (down -30.9%)
- Canada: $229.1 million (up 11.7%)
- Germany: $218.3 million (up 3.4%)
- Australia: $155.3 million (down -29%)
- Thailand: $136.3 million (up 54.6%)
- Poland: $123.9 million (up 92.6%)
- Taiwan: $97 million (up 10.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 98.2% of beauty and skincare goods imported by mainland China in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty and skincare goods to China since 2020 were: Poland (up 92.6%), Thailand (up 54.6%), Italy (up 27.8%) and Belgium (up 13%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beauty and skincare products supplied to Chinese importers were: Spain (down -30.9%), Australia (down -29%) and the United States of America (down -0.9%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported beauty and skincare goods went up by an average 6.8% from all supplying countries since 2020 when beauty and skincare purchased cost $17.3 billion.
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$7.28 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Hong Kong 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 2020 to 2021.
- South Korea: US$3.3 billion (up 3.8% from 2020)
- Singapore: $837.3 million (down -14.1%)
- Japan: $619.4 million (down -0.3%)
- China: $463.2 million (up 12.4%)
- Switzerland: $375 million (down -18%)
- United States of America: $310.8 million (down -21.6%)
- France: $284.3 million (up 0.6%)
- Italy: $146.9 million (up 26.3%)
- Thailand: $140.5 million (up 16.3%)
- Germany: $86 million (up 21.4%)
- Netherlands: $84.9 million (up 7.8%)
- Spain: $76.8 million (up 9.8%)
- Belgium: $74.1 million (up 84.2%)
- Taiwan: $63 million (up 16.2%)
- Australia: $44.6 million (up 4.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 95.5% of beauty and skincare goods imported by Hong Kong in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty and skincare goods to Hong Kong since 2020 were: Belgium (up 84.2%), Italy (up 26.3%), Germany (up 21.4%) and Thailand (up 16.3%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beauty and skincare products supplied to Hong Kong importers were: United States of America (down -21.6%), Switzerland (down -18%), Singapore (down -14.1%) and Japan (down -0.3%).
Overall, the value of Hong Kong’s imported beauty and skincare goods flatlined via an average 0.6% increase from all supplying countries since 2020 when beauty and skincare purchased cost $7.2 billion.
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into the United States
America’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$5.56 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the US 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 2020 to 2021.
- France: US$890.8 million (up 11.5% from 2020)
- Canada: $801.5 million (up 25.3%)
- South Korea: $738.6 million (up 33.6%)
- China: $609.1 million (up 16.4%)
- Italy: $549 million (up 31.7%)
- Sweden: $276.5 million (up 74.2%)
- United Kingdom: $273.6 million (up 4.8%)
- Japan: $189.3 million (up 28.1%)
- Germany: $186.3 million (up 26%)
- Mexico: $171.8 million (up 2.4%)
- Taiwan: $111.6 million (up 51%)
- Switzerland: $82 million (up 48.7%)
- Hungary: $74.2 million (up 13.5%)
- Belgium: $64.9 million (up 14.6%)
- India: $56.1 million (up 23.4%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 91.3% of beauty and skincare goods imported by the United States in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty and skincare goods to the US since 2020 were: Sweden (up 74.2%), Taiwan (up 51%), Switzerland (up 48.7%) and South Korea (up 33.6%).
None of the top supplier countries experienced declines in the value of their beauty and skincare products supplied to American importers.
Overall, the value of US imported beauty and skincare goods accelerated by an average 23.9% from all supplying countries since 2020 when beauty and skincare purchased cost $4.5 billion.
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into Macao
Macao’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$3.22 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Macao 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 2020 to 2021.
- France: US$1.4 billion (down -2.5% from 2020)
- Japan: $501.2 million (up 10.5%)
- United States: $334.6 million (down -23.6%)
- South Korea: $225 million (up 12.8%)
- Italy: $76.3 million (down -22.4%)
- China: $75.7 million (down -18%)
- United Kingdom: $62.3 million (down -41.5%)
- Thailand: $35.4 million (up 51.9%)
- Switzerland: $33.1 million (down -14.8%)
- Malaysia: $33 million (down -13.8%)
- Canada: $26 million (down -66.2%)
- Belgium: $23.7 million (down -42.2%)
- Hong Kong: $17.4 million (up 6.7%)
- Germany: $13.6 million (down -86.4%)
- Taiwan: $10.7 million (down -5.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.5% of beauty and skincare goods imported by Macao in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty and skincare goods to Macao since 2020 were: Thailand (up 200.7%), Taiwan (up 94.8%), Germany (up 70.6%) and Italy (up 68.1%).
Australia was the lone top provider to experience a decline in the value of beauty and skincare products supplied to Macanese importers, thanks to a -2.2% reduction.
Overall, the value of Macao’s imported beauty and skincare goods spiked by an average 36.6% from all supplying countries since 2020 when beauty and skincare goods purchased cost $2.4 billion.
Searchable List of Importers for Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Goods
The strongest 100 importers of beauty cosmetics and skincare products showcased in the database below accounted for 99.1% of related imports in 2021.
| Rank | Importer | Beauty/Skincare Imports (US$) | 2020-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | China | $18,520,856,000 | +6.8% |
| 2. | Hong Kong | $7,280,376,000 | +0.6% |
| 3. | United States | $5,557,871,000 | +23.9% |
| 4. | Macao | $3,221,960,000 | +36.6% |
| 5. | Singapore | $3,087,914,000 | +6.7% |
| 6. | Germany | $2,629,789,000 | +17% |
| 7. | United Kingdom | $2,081,862,000 | +2.6% |
| 8. | France | $1,906,145,000 | +11.4% |
| 9. | Canada | $1,575,771,000 | +11.9% |
| 10. | Japan | $1,466,193,000 | +5.6% |
| 11. | Netherlands | $1,320,572,000 | +32.8% |
| 12. | Russia | $1,291,515,000 | +27.2% |
| 13. | Belgium | $1,225,291,000 | -5.3% |
| 14. | Poland | $1,171,673,000 | +14.8% |
| 15. | Italy | $1,160,537,000 | +12.2% |
| 16. | Spain | $1,149,378,000 | +18.6% |
| 17. | South Korea | $910,848,000 | +3.1% |
| 18. | Czech Republic | $885,253,000 | +7.9% |
| 19. | Australia | $883,136,000 | +12% |
| 20. | Taiwan | $867,511,000 | +1.9% |
| 21. | United Arab Emirates | $745,831,000 | -6.5% |
| 22. | Mexico | $622,153,000 | +28.3% |
| 23. | Saudi Arabia | $620,513,000 | +4% |
| 24. | Switzerland | $613,775,000 | +15.5% |
| 25. | Vietnam | $610,239,000 | +247.5% |
| 26. | Thailand | $526,418,000 | -14.4% |
| 27. | Sweden | $522,930,000 | +19.6% |
| 28. | Austria | $508,206,000 | +11.3% |
| 29. | Ireland | $450,083,000 | +49.6% |
| 30. | Denmark | $409,357,000 | +24.8% |
| 31. | Norway | $393,447,000 | +30.6% |
| 32. | Malaysia | $384,600,000 | +10.1% |
| 33. | Indonesia | $309,480,000 | +20.4% |
| 34. | Chile | $304,934,000 | +74.3% |
| 35. | Turkey | $292,394,000 | +14.4% |
| 36. | Romania | $269,475,000 | +17.2% |
| 37. | Ukraine | $265,571,000 | +25.6% |
| 38. | Portugal | $262,957,000 | +16% |
| 39. | India | $262,646,000 | +90% |
| 40. | Kazakhstan | $255,608,000 | +127.6% |
| 41. | Hungary | $244,499,000 | +6.2% |
| 42. | New Zealand | $231,220,000 | +18.9% |
| 43. | Slovakia | $228,795,000 | +26.2% |
| 44. | Lithuania | $225,569,000 | +15.3% |
| 45. | Greece | $222,997,000 | +4.2% |
| 46. | South Africa | $193,885,000 | +25.3% |
| 47. | Croatia | $177,130,000 | +16% |
| 48. | Brazil | $172,449,000 | +5.7% |
| 49. | Israel | $163,768,000 | +31.5% |
| 50. | Colombia | $156,756,000 | +26.4% |
| 51. | Finland | $150,173,000 | +9.5% |
| 52. | Philippines | $139,259,000 | +7.2% |
| 53. | Peru | $131,957,000 | +40.9% |
| 54. | Kuwait | $113,275,000 | -55.6% |
| 55. | Argentina | $113,013,000 | +15.2% |
| 56. | Slovenia | $109,651,000 | +18.2% |
| 57. | Morocco | $108,699,000 | +24.3% |
| 58. | Bulgaria | $105,585,000 | +31.5% |
| 59. | Ecuador | $88,525,000 | +28.3% |
| 60. | Belarus | $88,364,000 | +10.1% |
| 61. | Panama | $82,854,000 | -8.5% |
| 62. | Luxembourg | $81,925,000 | +6.7% |
| 63. | Iraq | $79,241,000 | -35% |
| 64. | Myanmar | $75,399,000 | +86.5% |
| 65. | Serbia | $74,901,000 | +10.5% |
| 66. | Estonia | $70,678,000 | -1% |
| 67. | Latvia | $68,950,000 | +0.2% |
| 68. | Qatar | $68,013,000 | -42.2% |
| 69. | Guatemala | $64,953,000 | +19% |
| 70. | Cyprus | $61,739,000 | +23.3% |
| 71. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $50,201,000 | +26.2% |
| 72. | Egypt | $48,275,000 | +30.9% |
| 73. | Algeria | $48,000,000 | -19.9% |
| 74. | Dominican Republic | $47,039,000 | +14.1% |
| 75. | El Salvador | $44,416,000 | +42.6% |
| 76. | Uganda | $41,183,000 | +258.9% |
| 77. | Bangladesh | $41,052,000 | +32% |
| 78. | Georgia | $40,256,000 | +27% |
| 79. | Jordan | $39,063,000 | -20.2% |
| 80. | Uruguay | $37,494,000 | +121.2% |
| 81. | Azerbaijan | $36,028,000 | +37.2% |
| 82. | Andorra | $35,707,000 | +48% |
| 83. | Costa Rica | $35,128,000 | -32.3% |
| 84. | Nepal | $33,356,000 | +28.9% |
| 85. | Mongolia | $33,017,000 | +94.2% |
| 86. | Libya | $31,537,000 | +9.2% |
| 87. | Pakistan | $31,191,000 | +60.3% |
| 88. | Namibia | $31,165,000 | +6.3% |
| 89. | Iceland | $29,730,000 | +26% |
| 90. | Iran | $29,636,000 | +107.3% |
| 91. | Botswana | $29,049,000 | +4.7% |
| 92. | Moldova | $28,335,000 | +36.5% |
| 93. | Lebanon | $28,138,000 | +7% |
| 94. | Tunisia | $28,070,000 | -14.1% |
| 95. | Bolivia | $27,549,000 | +16% |
| 96. | Zimbabwe | $26,590,000 | +350.1% |
| 97. | Malta | $25,571,000 | +93% |
| 98. | Honduras | $23,818,000 | +37% |
| 99. | Albania | $23,588,000 | +24.5% |
| 100. | North Macedonia | $22,199,000 | +30.8% |
Expanding our focus to the top 100 buyers of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products, triple-digit growers from 2020 to 2021 were Zimbabwe (up 350.1%), Uganda (up 258.9%), Vietnam (up 247.5%), Kazakhstan (up 127.6%), Uruguay (up 121.2%) and Iran (107.3%).
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 2020 to 2021. A value of 0% in that column means no 2020 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 7, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 7, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 7, 2022
Wikipedia, Cosmetics. Accessed on July 7, 2022
