Overall, the value of beauty cosmetics and skincare products imports rose by 62.5% for all importing countries since 2015 when international purchases of beauty cosmetics and skincare products cost a total $38.3 billion. Year over year, there was a 6.2% increase from 2018 to 2019.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries bought the highest dollar worth of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2019 with purchases costing $31.6 billion or 50.8% of the global total. In second place were European importers at 32% while 11.9% of beauty cosmetics and skincare products imported worldwide was delivered to buyers in North America. Smaller percentages went to Latin America (2.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (1.8%) led by Australia and New Zealand, then Africa (1.3%).
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 2019.
- China: US$13.2 billion (21.3% of total beauty/skincare imports)
- United States: $5.1 billion (8.2%)
- Hong Kong: $5 billion (8.1%)
- Singapore: $3.2 billion (5.2%)
- Germany: $2.6 billion (4.1%)
- United Kingdom: $2.4 billion (3.8%)
- France: $2 billion (3.2%)
- Canada: $1.7 billion (2.7%)
- Japan: $1.5 billion (2.5%)
- Belgium: $1.4 billion (2.2%)
- Russia: $1.25 billion (2%)
- Spain: $1.2 billion (1.9%)
- Italy: $1.18 billion (1.9%)
- Netherlands: $1.13 billion (1.8%)
- Thailand: $1.12 billion (1.8%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for beauty and skincare products since 2015 were: China (up 331.3%), Singapore (up 126.3%), Thailand (up 76.5%) and Hong Kong (up 74.7%).
The listed 15 countries purchased 70.8% of all beauty and skincare products imported in 2019.
China
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into China
China’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$13.2 billion in 2019. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of beauty cosmetics and skincare products during 2018. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2015.
- Japan: US$3.1 billion (up 542.2% from 2015)
- South Korea: $3 billion (up 332.6%)
- France: $2.9 billion (up 213.5%)
- United States: $1.3 billion (up 265.8%)
- United Kingdom: $741.9 million (up 346%)
- Spain: $281.7 million (up 5,145%)
- Italy: $258.3 million (up 517.9%)
- Switzerland: $250.6 million (up 477.5%)
- Belgium: $233 million (up 140.1%)
- Australia: $225.7 million (up 461.7%)
- Canada: $217.7 million (up 348.9%)
- Germany: $186.3 million (up 323.9%)
- Taiwan: $123.7 million (up 123.7%)
- Thailand: $111 million (up 1,840%)
- Poland: $58.9 million (up 1,181%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 98.2% of beauty and skincare products imported by China in 2019.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty and skincare goods to China since 2015 were: Spain (up 5,145%), Thailand (up 1,840%), Poland (up 1,181%) and Japan (up 542.2%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported goods related to beauty and skincare accelerated by an average 331.3% from all supplying countries since 2015 when international beauty and skincare purchases cost $3.1 billion.
US
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into United States
America’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$5.1 billion in 2019. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the US 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 since 2015.
- France: US$807.6 million (up 4.6% from 2015)
- Canada: $755.3 million (up 16.4%)
- China: $740.8 million (up 5.9%)
- Italy: $571.4 million (up 76.3%)
- South Korea: $516.9 million (up 132.8%)
- United Kingdom: $335.4 million (up 42%)
- Japan: $204.4 million (up 66.3%)
- Germany: $204.2 million (up 3.8%)
- Sweden: $152.4 million (up 72.3%)
- Mexico: $149 million (up 10.5%)
- Belgium: $110.5 million (down -9.8%)
- Hungary: $75.3 million (up 45%)
- Taiwan: $72.6 million (up 8.2%)
- Switzerland: $68.1 million (up 23.5%)
- Israel: $53.3 million (down -7.4%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 94.1% of beauty and skincare products imported by United States in 2019.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty and skincare goods to United States since 2015 were: South Korea (up 132.8%), Italy (up 76.3%), Sweden (up 72.3%) and Japan (up 66.3%).
Two countries experienced declines in the value of their beauty and skincare supplies to American importers namely Belgium (down -9.8%) and Israel (down -7.4%).
Overall, the value of US imported goods related to beauty and skincare rose by an average 27% from all supplying countries since 2015 international when beauty and skincare purchases cost $4 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$5 billion in 2019. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Hong Kong 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 since 2015.
- South Korea: US$915.3 million (up 72.4% from 2015)
- Singapore: $783.9 million (up 98.4%)
- Japan: $755.4 million (up 129.9%)
- China: $615 million (up 120.6%)
- United States: $398.7 million (up 44.5%)
- France: $367.1 million (up 30.3%)
- Switzerland: $324.6 million (up 82%)
- Italy: $132 million (up 57.1%)
- Spain: $102.2 million (up 307.3%)
- Netherlands: $98.4 million (up 9.7%)
- Germany: $96.2 million (up 77.6%)
- Taiwan: $75.7 million (down -48%)
- Macao: $64.2 million (up 902%)
- United Kingdom: $57.4 million (up 101.3%)
- Australia: $42.3 million (up 6.5%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 96.1% of beauty and skincare products imported by Hong Kong in 2019.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty and skincare goods to Hong Kong since 2015 were: Macao (up 902%), Spain (up 307.3%), Japan (up 129.9%) and China (up 120.6%).
Taiwan was the sole top supplier that experienced a decline in the value of goods related to beauty and skincare supplied to Hong Kong importers via a -48% drop.
Overall, the value of Hong Kong’s imported beauty and skincare goods increased by an average 74.7% from all supplying countries since 2015 when international beauty and skincare purchases cost $2.9 billion.
Singapore
Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Products Imported into Singapore
Singapore’s global purchases of imported beauty cosmetics and skincare products totaled US$3.2 billion in 2019. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Singapore 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 since 2015.
- France: US$1.4 billion (up 144.1% from 2015)
- Japan: $453.5 million (up 213.1%)
- United States: $438.3 million (up 95.1%)
- South Korea: $199.5 million (up 254.8%)
- United Kingdom: $106.5 million (up 70.7%)
- Germany: $100 million (up 183.1%)
- Italy: $98.4 million (up 273.2%)
- China: $92.4 million (up 1.7%)
- Canada: $76.9 million (up 242.6%)
- Belgium: $41 million (up 81.9%)
- Switzerland: $38.8 million (up 209.2%)
- Malaysia: $38.3 million (up 38%)
- Thailand: $23.3 million (up 15.7%)
- India: $18.2 million (down -12.1%)
- Hong Kong: $16.3 million (up 1.6%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 97.4% of beauty and skincare products imported by Singapore in 2019.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of beauty and skincare goods to Singapore since 2015 were: Italy (up 273.2%), South Korea (up 254.8%), Canada (up 242.6%) and Japan (up 213.1%).
India was the sole top supplier that experienced a decline in the value of beauty and skincare supplies to Singaporean importers via a -12.1% drop.
Overall, the value of Singapore’s imports related to beauty and skincare appreciated by an average 126.3% from all supplying countries since 2015 when international beauty and skincare purchases cost $1.4 billion.
Searchable List of Importers for Beauty Cosmetics/Skincare Goods
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns below. The right-most column highlights the percentage change in the value of imported goods related to beauty and skincare from 2018 to 2019. A value of 0% in that column means no 2018 data was available.
| Rank | Importer | Beauty/Skincare Imports (US$) | 2018-19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | China | $13,231,829,000 | +33.5% |
| 2. | United States | $5,120,680,000 | -4.8% |
| 3. | Hong Kong | $5,023,259,000 | -5.6% |
| 4. | Singapore | $3,216,620,000 | +12.5% |
| 5. | Germany | $2,570,373,000 | -6.2% |
| 6. | United Kingdom | $2,387,257,000 | -4.1% |
| 7. | France | $1,994,145,000 | +0.8% |
| 8. | Canada | $1,663,919,000 | -1.1% |
| 9. | Japan | $1,529,974,000 | +10.4% |
| 10. | Belgium | $1,381,998,000 | +1.4% |
| 11. | Russia | $1,249,306,000 | +4.7% |
| 12. | Spain | $1,204,136,000 | +4.6% |
| 13. | Italy | $1,177,711,000 | -2.2% |
| 14. | Netherlands | $1,133,249,000 | -0.6% |
| 15. | Thailand | $1,123,141,000 | +13.2% |
| 16. | South Korea | $1,036,414,000 | -2.9% |
| 17. | Taiwan | $1,007,715,000 | -3.1% |
| 18. | Poland | $927,557,000 | +3.7% |
| 19. | Australia | $888,405,000 | +0.2% |
| 20. | Macao | $867,431,000 | 0% |
| 21. | Czech Republic | $752,414,000 | +31.7% |
| 22. | United Arab Emirates | $729,512,000 | -29.6% |
| 23. | Saudi Arabia | $675,360,000 | +16.1% |
| 24. | Mexico | $610,893,000 | +1% |
| 25. | Austria | $500,451,000 | +2.6% |
| 26. | Malaysia | $481,830,000 | +2.8% |
| 27. | Switzerland | $475,786,000 | +3.8% |
| 28. | Vietnam | $442,785,000 | +191.4% |
| 29. | Sweden | $410,060,000 | +1.4% |
| 30. | Indonesia | $395,908,000 | +16.3% |
| 31. | Ireland | $350,998,000 | -11.1% |
| 32. | Denmark | $340,274,000 | +5.1% |
| 33. | Portugal | $279,499,000 | +7.6% |
| 34. | Norway | $278,147,000 | -13.9% |
| 35. | Turkey | $254,493,000 | -10.9% |
| 36. | Ukraine | $254,291,000 | +26.5% |
| 37. | Greece | $236,678,000 | +4.1% |
| 38. | Romania | $227,959,000 | +3.7% |
| 39. | India | $227,836,000 | +18.9% |
| 40. | South Africa | $218,408,000 | -0.5% |
| 41. | Lithuania | $213,965,000 | +12% |
| 42. | New Zealand | $213,842,000 | +8.2% |
| 43. | Hungary | $212,245,000 | +5.6% |
| 44. | Brazil | $205,482,000 | +7.6% |
| 45. | Chile | $195,782,000 | +1.7% |
| 46. | Slovakia | $186,355,000 | +4.3% |
| 47. | Philippines | $181,340,000 | +26.1% |
| 48. | Croatia | $159,283,000 | +7.8% |
| 49. | Colombia | $137,313,000 | +13% |
| 50. | Israel | $133,934,000 | +0.1% |
| 51. | Finland | $133,255,000 | -3.1% |
| 52. | Peru | $123,717,000 | +19.4% |
| 53. | Kazakhstan | $115,426,000 | +14.3% |
| 54. | Argentina | $114,265,000 | -12.3% |
| 55. | Slovenia | $111,079,000 | +24.8% |
| 56. | Myanmar (Burma) | $110,666,000 | +64.9% |
| 57. | Kuwait | $107,892,000 | -58% |
| 58. | Morocco | $106,255,000 | +0.5% |
| 59. | Ecuador | $98,938,000 | +5.1% |
| 60. | Cambodia | $92,507,000 | +77.3% |
| 61. | Panama | $91,433,000 | +13% |
| 62. | Latvia | $88,399,000 | -5.9% |
| 63. | Bulgaria | $82,284,000 | -2.7% |
| 64. | Luxembourg | $82,214,000 | +8.1% |
| 65. | Belarus | $81,871,000 | +1.1% |
| 66. | Algeria | $79,163,000 | +88.3% |
| 67. | Estonia | $75,527,000 | +16.8% |
| 68. | Qatar | $72,678,000 | -57.3% |
| 69. | Guatemala | $66,683,000 | +0.5% |
| 70. | Serbia | $66,644,000 | +9% |
| 71. | Egypt | $64,402,000 | +49.3% |
| 72. | Costa Rica | $60,205,000 | +7.4% |
| 73. | Lebanon | $59,343,000 | -21.5% |
| 74. | Iraq | $57,823,000 | -33.9% |
| 75. | Cyprus | $55,764,000 | -9.8% |
| 76. | Tunisia | $46,858,000 | -7.3% |
| 77. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $46,235,000 | +0.8% |
| 78. | El Salvador | $44,764,000 | +2.2% |
| 79. | Pakistan | $38,437,000 | +41.3% |
| 80. | Dominican Republic | $38,023,000 | -36.3% |
| 81. | Georgia | $36,405,000 | +52.5% |
| 82. | Namibia | $35,355,000 | -5.1% |
| 83. | Iran | $34,352,000 | -60.3% |
| 84. | Bangladesh | $34,250,000 | +9.1% |
| 85. | Jordan | $33,546,000 | -23.2% |
| 86. | Nepal | $30,989,000 | +1.6% |
| 87. | Azerbaijan | $29,502,000 | +8% |
| 88. | Andorra | $28,498,000 | +7.7% |
| 89. | Laos | $28,421,000 | +1,373% |
| 90. | Mongolia | $27,571,000 | +43.2% |
| 91. | Botswana | $26,744,000 | +6.4% |
| 92. | Libya | $26,233,000 | -10.3% |
| 93. | Paraguay | $25,864,000 | -8.8% |
| 94. | Mauritius | $24,096,000 | -14.8% |
| 95. | Moldova | $22,631,000 | +4.4% |
| 96. | Honduras | $21,469,000 | -15.2% |
| 97. | Iceland | $20,433,000 | -0.9% |
| 98. | Oman | $20,326,000 | -79.2% |
| 99. | Bahrain | $19,732,000 | -65% |
| 100. | North Macedonia | $18,642,000 | +4.7% |
| 101. | Uruguay | $17,847,000 | -10.7% |
| 102. | Uzbekistan | $17,693,000 | +135.7% |
| 103. | Malta | $17,359,000 | +11.9% |
| 104. | Guinea | $17,045,000 | -27.5% |
| 105. | Armenia | $17,021,000 | +9.8% |
| 106. | Albania | $16,834,000 | +18.7% |
| 107. | Montenegro | $16,301,000 | +0.6% |
| 108. | US Minor Outlying Is | $15,931,000 | -13.6% |
| 109. | Kyrgyzstan | $15,149,000 | -29.3% |
| 110. | Trinidad/Tobago | $15,111,000 | -0.4% |
| 111. | Bolivia | $14,780,000 | -54.8% |
| 112. | Angola | $13,617,000 | -4.1% |
| 113. | Nicaragua | $12,295,000 | -37.7% |
| 114. | Sri Lanka | $11,431,000 | -7.7% |
| 115. | Ghana | $10,779,000 | -11.8% |
| 116. | Maldives | $10,420,000 | +18.1% |
| 117. | Nigeria | $10,081,000 | -10.2% |
| 118. | Mauritania | $9,840,000 | +724.1% |
| 119. | Mali | $9,789,000 | -52.8% |
| 120. | Curaçao | $9,115,000 | -19.4% |
| 121. | Tanzania | $8,893,000 | +39.3% |
| 122. | Ivory Coast | $8,478,000 | -6.7% |
| 123. | Democratic Rep. Congo | $8,441,000 | -40.4% |
| 124. | Kenya | $8,254,000 | -5.7% |
| 125. | Zambia | $7,656,000 | -3% |
| 126. | Senegal | $7,312,000 | +2% |
| 127. | Jamaica | $7,304,000 | -2.1% |
| 128. | Aruba | $7,058,000 | -27.8% |
| 129. | New Caledonia | $6,719,000 | -9.2% |
| 130. | Yemen | $6,709,000 | -58.3% |
| 131. | Eswatini | $6,555,000 | -12% |
| 132. | Brunei Darussalam | $6,520,000 | -2.8% |
| 133. | Fiji | $6,098,000 | -13.4% |
| 134. | Gibraltar | $5,378,000 | +17.6% |
| 135. | Gambia | $4,982,000 | +2,938% |
| 136. | Cameroon | $4,929,000 | -10.7% |
| 137. | Bahamas | $4,737,000 | -55.7% |
| 138. | Barbados | $4,658,000 | -19.4% |
| 139. | French Polynesia | $4,390,000 | +1.7% |
| 140. | Lesotho | $4,142,000 | -15.8% |
| 141. | Bermuda | $4,101,000 | -0.7% |
| 142. | Turkmenistan | $3,900,000 | -13% |
| 143. | Benin | $3,807,000 | +13.1% |
| 144. | Sudan | $3,783,000 | -41.5% |
| 145. | Afghanistan | $3,717,000 | +8.9% |
| 146. | North Korea | $3,669,000 | +3.2% |
| 147. | Ethiopia | $3,551,000 | -38.2% |
| 148. | Haiti | $3,512,000 | -57.9% |
| 149. | Malawi | $3,066,000 | -31% |
| 150. | Mozambique | $3,030,000 | +5.6% |
| 151. | Gabon | $2,988,000 | -43.5% |
| 152. | Zimbabwe | $2,804,000 | -64.9% |
| 153. | Palestine | $2,753,000 | -85.5% |
| 154. | Congo | $2,751,000 | -50.1% |
| 155. | Madagascar | $2,681,000 | -1.8% |
| 156. | Burkina Faso | $2,624,000 | -4.8% |
| 157. | Uganda | $2,537,000 | -77.9% |
| 158. | Cayman Islands | $2,466,000 | +44.7% |
| 159. | Venezuela | $2,453,000 | +7.2% |
| 160. | Djibouti | $2,406,000 | -64.4% |
| 161. | Cuba | $2,396,000 | -34.4% |
| 162. | Togo | $2,351,000 | -86.8% |
| 163. | Tajikistan | $2,281,000 | -0.3% |
| 164. | Suriname | $2,187,000 | +15.5% |
| 165. | Syria | $2,178,000 | -60.8% |
| 166. | Faroe Islands | $1,973,000 | +25.7% |
| 167. | Greenland | $1,893,000 | +15% |
| 168. | Bhutan | $1,814,000 | +36.6% |
| 169. | Guyana | $1,764,000 | -37.5% |
| 170. | Antigua/Barbuda | $1,726,000 | -5% |
| 171. | Guinea-Bissau | $1,672,000 | +5.1% |
| 172. | Papua New Guinea | $1,406,000 | -40% |
| 173. | Seychelles | $1,339,000 | -16.9% |
| 174. | Equatorial Guinea | $1,315,000 | -36.3% |
| 175. | Cabo Verde | $1,263,000 | +2% |
| 176. | Saint Lucia | $1,251,000 | +15.2% |
| 177. | Rwanda | $1,180,000 | -88.4% |
| 178. | Belize | $1,140,000 | +70.7% |
| 179. | Somalia | $1,049,000 | -83.6% |
| 180. | British Virgin Islands | $939,000 | +11.1% |
| 181. | Sierra Leone | $777,000 | -37.6% |
| 182. | Samoa | $637,000 | +257.9% |
| 183. | Turks/Caicos Islands | $466,000 | +22.3% |
| 184. | Grenada | $456,000 | -22.4% |
| 185. | Bonaire/St Eustatius/Saba | $404,000 | -27.6% |
| 186. | Liberia | $403,000 | -85.1% |
| 187. | St Vincent/Grenadines | $398,000 | -43.9% |
| 188. | Timor-Leste | $385,000 | -74.4% |
| 189. | Niger | $372,000 | -56.6% |
| 190. | Saint Kitts/Nevis | $362,000 | +160.4% |
| 191. | Dominica | $310,000 | +140.3% |
| 192. | Chad | $299,000 | -83.1% |
| 193. | Anguilla | $229,000 | -29.8% |
| 194. | Wallis/Futuna Islands | $216,000 | +453.8% |
| 195. | Cook Islands | $210,000 | -45.7% |
| 196. | Vanuatu | $189,000 | -48.1% |
| 197. | Comoros | $167,000 | -21.2% |
| 198. | Burundi | $165,000 | -95.7% |
| 199. | Guam | $137,000 | -1.4% |
| 200. | Tonga | $133,000 | -15.3% |
| 201. | St. Pierre/Miquelon | $124,000 | -37.1% |
| 202. | St Maarten (Dutch) | $88,000 | -63.2% |
| 203. | Solomon Islands | $88,000 | -70.7% |
| 204. | French S./Antarctic Terr | $83,000 | -34.6% |
| 205. | Sao Tome/Principe | $82,000 | -36.4% |
| 206. | Northern Mariana Is | $60,000 | -87% |
| 207. | Christmas Island | $47,000 | +30.6% |
| 208. | Central African Rep | $44,000 | -48.8% |
| 209. | Micronesia | $40,000 | +60% |
| 210. | Marshall Islands | $30,000 | -43.4% |
| 211. | Palau | $24,000 | -92% |
| 212. | Norfolk Island | $24,000 | +41.2% |
| 213. | British Indian Ocean Terr | $19,000 | 0% |
| 214. | Nauru | $18,000 | -68.4% |
| 215. | Saint Helena | $8,000 | -61.9% |
| 216. | Tuvalu | $7,000 | -69.6% |
| 217. | Niue | $6,000 | -75% |
| 218. | Pitcairn | $5,000 | 0% |
| 219. | Montserrat | $1,000 | -98.6% |
| 220. | Kiribati | $1,000 | -99.4% |
| 221. | Eritrea | $1,000 | -98.7% |
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 May 5, 2020
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 5, 2020
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 5, 2020
Wikipedia, Cosmetics. Accessed on May 5, 2020
