Overall, the value of beauty cosmetics and skincare products imports rose by 50.9% for all importing countries since 2016 when international purchases of beauty cosmetics and skincare products cost a total $42.6 billion.
From 2019 to 2020, there was a more modest 2.5% increase in value for globally imported beauty cosmetics and skincare goods.
The 5 biggest buyers of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare from 2019 to 2020 were China, Hong Kong, United States, Singapore and Macao. Collectively, those purchasing nations bought 53.4% of total imports of those personal care products.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries bought the highest dollar worth of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2020 with purchases costing $37.2 billion or 57.9% of the global total. In second place were European importers at 27.8% while 9.9% of beauty cosmetics and skincare products imported worldwide was delivered to buyers in North America.
Smaller percentages went to Latin America (1.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (1.6%) led by Australia and New Zealand, then Africa (1.1%).
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
Top 15
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2020.
- China: US$17.3 billion (27% of total imported beauty/skincare)
- Hong Kong: $7.2 billion (11.3%)
- United States: $4.5 billion (7%)
- Singapore: $2.9 billion (4.5%)
- Macao: $2.4 billion (3.7%)
- Germany: $2.2 billion (3.4%)
- United Kingdom: $2 billion (3.1%)
- France: $1.7 billion (2.6%)
- Canada: $1.41 billion (2.2%)
- Japan: $1.39 billion (2.2%)
- Belgium: $1.29 billion (2%)
- Poland: $1.021 billion (1.6%)
- Russia: $1.016 billion (1.6%)
- Netherlands: $1.008 billion (1.6%)
- Italy: $1 billion (1.6%)
Among the above countries, there were 4 growth markets for beauty/skincare products since 2019 namely: Macao (up 171.9%), Hong Kong (up 44%), China (up 31%) and Poland (up 10%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imports of beauty/skincare products were led by: Russia (down -18.7%), Germany (down -16%), United Kingdom (down -15.8%) and Canada (down -15.4%).
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 75.3% of all beauty/skincare goods imported in 2020.
China
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into China
China’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$17.3 billion in 2020. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2019. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2019 to 2020.
- Japan: US$4.3 billion (up 37% from 2019)
- France: $3.9 billion (up 36.1%)
- South Korea: $3.3 billion (up 7.2%)
- United States: $1.9 billion (up 48%)
- United Kingdom: $1.6 billion (up 113.7%)
- Belgium: $356.1 million (up 52.8%)
- Spain: $344.7 million (up 22.4%)
- Italy: $330.3 million (up 27.9%)
- Switzerland: $247.2 million (down -1.3%)
- Australia: $218.7 million (down -3.1%)
- Germany: $211.2 million (up 13.4%)
- Canada: $205.1 million (down -5.8%)
- Thailand: $88.1 million (down -20.6%)
- Taiwan: $87.4 million (down -29.3%)
- Poland: $64.4 million (up 9.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 98.4% of beauty/skincare goods imported by China in 2020.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty/skincare goods to China since 2019 were: United Kingdom (up 113.7%), Belgium (up 52.8%), United States (up 48%) and Japan (up 37%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beauty/skincare products supplied to Chinese importers included: Taiwan (down -29.3%), Thailand (down -20.6%), Canada (down -5.8%) and Australia (down -3.1%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported beauty/skincare goods rose by an average 31% from all supplying countries since 2019 when beauty/skincare goods purchased cost $13.2 billion.
Hong Kong
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$7.2 billion in 2020. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Hong Kong 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 2019 to 2020.
- South Korea: US$3.2 billion (up 251.9% from 2019)
- Singapore: $974.7 million (up 24.3%)
- Japan: $621.3 million (down -17.7%)
- Switzerland: $457.2 million (up 40.9%)
- China: $412.2 million (down -33%)
- United States: $396.7 million (down -0.5%)
- France: $282.5 million (down -23%)
- Thailand: $120.9 million (up 365.2%)
- Italy: $116.4 million (down -11.8%)
- Netherlands: $78.7 million (down -20%)
- Germany: $70.9 million (down -26.3%)
- Spain: $70 million (down -31.5%)
- United Kingdom: $54.5 million (down -5%)
- Taiwan: $54.2 million (down -28.4%)
- Australia: $42.7 million (up 1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 96.4% of beauty/skincare goods imported by Hong Kong in 2020.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty/skincare goods to Hong Kong since 2019 were: Thailand (up 365.2%), South Korea (up 251.9%), Switzerland (up 40.9%) and Singapore (up 24.3%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beauty/skincare products supplied to Hong Kong importers included: China (down -33%), Spain (down -31.5%), Taiwan (down -28.4%) and Germany (down -26.3%).
Overall, the value of Hong Kong’s imported beauty/skincare goods increased by an average 44% from all supplying countries since 2019 when beauty/skincare goods purchased cost $5 billion.
US
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into United States
America’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$4.5 billion in 2020. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the US 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 2019 to 2020.
- France: US$799.5 million (down -1% from 2019)
- Canada: $640 million (down -15.3%)
- South Korea: $553.2 million (up 7%)
- China: $523.8 million (down -29.3%)
- Italy: $416.3 million (down -27.1%)
- United Kingdom: $261.2 million (down -22.1%)
- Mexico: $167.8 million (up 12.6%)
- Sweden: $158.8 million (up 4.2%)
- Japan: $150 million (down -26.6%)
- Germany: $147.7 million (down -27.7%)
- Taiwan: $74 million (up 1.9%)
- Hungary: $65.4 million (down -13.1%)
- Belgium: $56.6 million (down -48.8%)
- Switzerland: $55.1 million (down -19%)
- India: $45.5 million (up 29.1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 91.7% of beauty/skincare goods imported by United States in 2020.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty/skincare goods to United States since 2019 were: India (up 29.1%), Mexico (up 12.6%), South Korea (up 7%) and Sweden (up 4.2%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beauty/skincare products supplied to American importers included: Belgium (down -48.8%), China (down -29.3%), Germany (down -27.7%) and Italy (down -27.1%).
Overall, the value of America’s imported beauty/skincare goods fell by an average -12.3% from all supplying countries since 2019 when beauty/skincare goods purchased cost $5.1 billion.
Singapore
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into Singapore
Singapore’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$2.9 billion in 2020. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Singapore 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 2019 to 2020.
- France: US$1.4 billion (down -2.5% from 2019)
- 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 97.7% of beauty/skincare goods imported by Singapore in 2020.
Among the above countries, the growth suppliers of beauty/skincare goods to Singapore since 2019 were: Thailand (up 51.9%), South Korea (up 12.8%), Japan (up 10.5%) and Hong Kong (up 6.7%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their beauty/skincare products supplied to Singaporean importers included: Germany (down -86.4%), Canada (down -66.2%), Belgium (down -42.2%) and United Kingdom (down -41.5%).
Overall, the value of Singapore’s imported beauty/skincare goods dropped by an average 10% from all supplying countries since 2019 when beauty/skincare goods purchased cost $3.2 billion.
Searchable List of Importers for Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Goods
The strongest 100 importers of beauty cosmetics and skincare products showcased in the database below accounted for 99.3% of related imports in 2020.
| Rank | Importer | Beauty/Skincare Imports (US$) | 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | China | $17,335,751,000 | +31% |
| 2. | Hong Kong | $7,234,182,000 | +44% |
| 3. | United States | $4,488,306,000 | -12.3% |
| 4. | Singapore | $2,894,321,000 | -10% |
| 5. | Macao | $2,358,495,000 | +171.9% |
| 6. | Germany | $2,186,539,000 | -16% |
| 7. | United Kingdom | $2,007,047,000 | -15.8% |
| 8. | France | $1,700,858,000 | -14.7% |
| 9. | Canada | $1,408,225,000 | -15.4% |
| 10. | Japan | $1,388,820,000 | -9.2% |
| 11. | Belgium | $1,294,071,000 | -7.6% |
| 12. | Poland | $1,020,515,000 | +10% |
| 13. | Russia | $1,015,589,000 | -18.7% |
| 14. | Netherlands | $1,007,904,000 | -0.5% |
| 15. | Italy | $1,004,423,000 | -14.2% |
| 16. | Spain | $969,456,000 | -17.8% |
| 17. | South Korea | $883,261,000 | -14.8% |
| 18. | Taiwan | $851,244,000 | -15.5% |
| 19. | Czech Republic | $822,155,000 | +8.6% |
| 20. | Australia | $788,231,000 | -11.3% |
| 21. | Thailand | $615,330,000 | -45.2% |
| 22. | Saudi Arabia | $596,594,000 | -11.7% |
| 23. | United Arab Emirates | $536,719,000 | -49.2% |
| 24. | Switzerland | $531,540,000 | +11.7% |
| 25. | Mexico | $479,306,000 | -22.3% |
| 26. | Vietnam | $472,574,000 | +163.9% |
| 27. | Austria | $445,033,000 | -9.1% |
| 28. | Sweden | $426,869,000 | +2.5% |
| 29. | Malaysia | $349,168,000 | -27.5% |
| 30. | Denmark | $316,621,000 | -7.8% |
| 31. | Norway | $301,231,000 | +8.3% |
| 32. | Ireland | $285,384,000 | -19.8% |
| 33. | Indonesia | $257,134,000 | -28.2% |
| 34. | Turkey | $255,681,000 | -19.1% |
| 35. | Portugal | $238,295,000 | -16.2% |
| 36. | Hungary | $230,789,000 | +1.3% |
| 37. | Romania | $230,596,000 | +2.8% |
| 38. | Greece | $213,928,000 | -9.6% |
| 39. | Ukraine | $211,412,000 | -7.4% |
| 40. | Lithuania | $195,553,000 | -9.5% |
| 41. | New Zealand | $194,539,000 | -9% |
| 42. | Slovakia | $178,809,000 | +0.2% |
| 43. | Chile | $174,963,000 | -10.6% |
| 44. | Brazil | $163,158,000 | -20.6% |
| 45. | South Africa | $154,696,000 | -29.2% |
| 46. | Croatia | $152,348,000 | -3% |
| 47. | India | $138,216,000 | -40.1% |
| 48. | Finland | $136,710,000 | +1.6% |
| 49. | Philippines | $129,942,000 | -28.3% |
| 50. | Israel | $124,327,000 | -7.2% |
| 51. | Colombia | $123,991,000 | -11.4% |
| 52. | Kazakhstan | $112,283,000 | -2.7% |
| 53. | Kuwait | $102,789,000 | -62.4% |
| 54. | Argentina | $98,064,000 | -14.2% |
| 55. | Peru | $93,625,000 | -24.3% |
| 56. | Slovenia | $92,732,000 | -11.1% |
| 57. | Morocco | $87,477,000 | -17.6% |
| 58. | Panama | $86,274,000 | -12.3% |
| 59. | Bulgaria | $80,304,000 | -0.9% |
| 60. | Belarus | $77,810,000 | -13.6% |
| 61. | Luxembourg | $76,453,000 | -8.4% |
| 62. | Estonia | $69,534,000 | +1.7% |
| 63. | Serbia | $67,806,000 | +1.7% |
| 64. | Latvia | $66,329,000 | -9.2% |
| 65. | Iraq | $61,848,000 | -45.6% |
| 66. | Algeria | $56,839,000 | -32.2% |
| 67. | Qatar | $55,726,000 | -64.5% |
| 68. | Guatemala | $54,563,000 | -18.2% |
| 69. | Costa Rica | $51,866,000 | -13.9% |
| 70. | Ecuador | $49,162,000 | -50.3% |
| 71. | Cyprus | $42,657,000 | -20.4% |
| 72. | Myanmar | $40,439,000 | -39.7% |
| 73. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $39,778,000 | -14% |
| 74. | Egypt | $36,890,000 | -43.6% |
| 75. | Nigeria | $36,806,000 | +265.1% |
| 76. | Tunisia | $33,523,000 | -23.3% |
| 77. | Georgia | $31,695,000 | +0.7% |
| 78. | El Salvador | $31,137,000 | -30.4% |
| 79. | Laos | $30,234,000 | +669.1% |
| 80. | Namibia | $29,327,000 | -17% |
| 81. | Bangladesh | $28,705,000 | -27.9% |
| 82. | Botswana | $27,754,000 | -0.9% |
| 83. | Jordan | $26,393,000 | -47.3% |
| 84. | Azerbaijan | $26,254,000 | -11% |
| 85. | Dominican Republic | $25,878,000 | -54.7% |
| 86. | Lebanon | $25,344,000 | -59.5% |
| 87. | Andorra | $24,133,000 | -14.5% |
| 88. | Mongolia | $23,902,000 | +20.2% |
| 89. | Bolivia | $23,748,000 | -23.9% |
| 90. | Iceland | $23,602,000 | +15.5% |
| 91. | Libya | $23,208,000 | -34.1% |
| 92. | Nepal | $22,067,000 | -44.4% |
| 93. | Moldova | $20,756,000 | -15.1% |
| 94. | Armenia | $20,279,000 | +18.9% |
| 95. | Pakistan | $19,425,000 | -16.1% |
| 96. | Cambodia | $18,366,000 | -48.3% |
| 97. | Paraguay | $18,013,000 | -30.4% |
| 98. | Honduras | $17,717,000 | -34.4% |
| 99. | North Macedonia | $16,975,000 | -8.9% |
| 100. | Uruguay | $16,947,000 | -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 2019 to 2020. A value of 0% in that column means no 2019 data was available.
See also Beauty Cosmetics and Skincare Exports by Country, Perfumes Exporters by Country and Top Human Hair Exporters by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on July 2, 2021
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 2, 2021
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 2, 2021
Wikipedia, Cosmetics. Accessed on July 2, 2021
