That dollar amount results from a 14.4% increase from $63.8 billion five years earlier in 2019.
Year over year, the total value of exported beauty, cosmetics and skincare goods grew by 4.2% compared to $70.1 billion starting from 2022.
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 generated almost half (48.8%) 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 2023 with shipments from Europe valued at $35.3 billion or 48.4% of the global total. In second place were exporters located in Asia at 37.1% while another 11.8% of related shipments originated from North America.
Smaller percentages came from product shippers located in Africa (1%), Latin America (0.9%) 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 2023.
- France: US$12 billion (16.4% of total beauty, cosmetics and skincare exports)
- South Korea: $7.2 billion (9.8%)
- United States of America: $6.2 billion (8.6%)
- Singapore: $5.5 billion (7.6%)
- Germany: $4.7 billion (6.4%)
- mainland China: $3.8 billion (5.1%)
- Japan: $3.6 billion (5%)
- Hong Kong: $3.5 billion (4.8%)
- Italy: $2.9 billion (4%)
- Poland: $2.6 billion (3.6%)
- United Kingdom: $2.2 billion (3%)
- Canada: $1.92 billion (2.6%)
- Netherlands: $1.88 billion (2.6%)
- Spain: $1.82 billion (2.5%)
- Belgium: $1.4 billion (2%)
- Switzerland: $1.3 billion (1.8%)
- Czech Republic: $1.1 billion (1.6%)
- Thailand: $824.2 million (1.1%)
- India: $767.9 million (1.1%)
- Australia: $516.9 million (0.7%)
- Denmark: $513.7 million (0.7%)
- Mexico: $450.4 million (0.6%)
- Sweden: $412 million (0.6%)
- Taiwan: $396.9 million (0.5%)
- Türkiye: $340.6 million (0.5%)
By value, the listed 25 countries shipped 93.1% of global beauty, cosmetics and skincare exports in 2023.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing exporters from 2022 to 2023 were: mainland China (up 32.7%), Denmark (up 32.5%), Türkiye (up 29%) and Canada (up 25.6%).
Those countries that posted declines in their export sales were led by: Japan (down -26.4% from 2022), Switzerland (down -19.4%), Singapore (down -11.7%), Australia (down -9%) and Hong Kong (down -8.9%).
Countries Generating Greatest Trade Surpluses from Specialized Personal Products
s
The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for beauty, cosmetics and skincare products during 2023. 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.
- France: US$9.4 billion (net export surplus up 7.9% since 2022)
- South Korea: $6.2 billion (up 8.4%)
- Singapore: $2.5 billion (down -20.4%)
- Japan: $2 billion (down -40.7%)
- Germany: $1.8 billion (up 11.8%)
- Italy: $1.4 billion (up 17.6%)
- Poland: $1.2 billion (up 19.8%)
- Switzerland: $635.2 million (down -34.9%)
- Spain: $231.8 million (up 106.3%)
- Ivory Coast: $213.8 million (up 15.5%)
- Czech Republic: $158.6 million (up 76.4%)
- Israel: $111.2 million (down -27%)
- Thailand: $100.1 million (up 26.5%)
- South Africa: $83.9 million (down -12.7%)
- Togo: $78 million (up 5.5%)
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 2023. 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.
- mainland China: -US$10.7 billion (net export deficit down -29.7% since 2022)
- Hong Kong: -$2.3 billion (down -2.6%)
- Macao: -$1.6 billion (down -33%)
- United Arab Emirates: -$1.3 billion (reversing a $90.3 million surplus)
- Russia: -$999.9 million (up 54.1%)
- Vietnam: -$708.1 million (up 256.6%)
- Australia: -$626.9 million (up 54%)
- United Kingdom: -$591 million (up 298.9%)
- United States of America: -$588.2 million (up 66.7%)
- Taiwan: -$551.5 million (up 13.3%)
- Saudi Arabia: -$501.3 million (down -36.9%)
- Mexico: -$429 million (up 65.6%)
- India: -$407.2 million (up 163.6%)
- Malaysia: -$401.1 million (up 4.7%)
- Ireland: -$378.6 million (up 15.1%)
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.
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.
- Beauty/makeup preparations and skincare: US$58.4 billion (up 2.7% from 2022)
- Lip makeup including lipstick: $5.1 billion (up 21.2%)
- Eye makeup: $5 billion (up 3.1%)
- Makeup or skincare powders: $2.8 billion (up 10.2%)
- Manicure or pedicure preparations: $1.6 billion (up 3.2%)
Just two of the above product categories recorded double-digit gains from 2022 to 2023: lip makeup including lipstick (up 21.2%) and makeup or skincare products (up 10.2%).
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 15 leading countries. They are ranked in descending order starting with exporters generating the highest dollar value in total international sales.
- France: US$37,707 per ton of beauty/cosmetics exports (up 14.6% from 2022)
- South Korea: $30,534 per ton (down -2.3%)
- United States of America: $35,333 per ton (up 6.2%)
- Singapore: $108,331 per ton (down -52.7%)
- Germany: $21,994 per ton (up 5.8%)
- mainland China: $13,159 per ton (up 4.2%)
- Japan: $53,826 per ton (down -9.8%)
- Italy: $27,698 per ton (up 15.9%)
- Poland: $14,897 per ton (up 25.4%)
- United Kingdom: $25,737 per ton (up 1.2%)
- Netherlands: $15,075 per ton (up 69.3%)
- Spain: $12,678 per ton (up 18%)
- Belgium: $24,920 per ton (up 6.9%)
- Switzerland: $74,101 per ton (down -4.1%)
- Czech Republic: $37,917 per ton (up 24.1%)
Globally, the average unit price charged by all countries was $26,499 per ton inflating by 18.5% from $22,371 per ton for 2022.
Eight of the above leading suppliers exceeded the worldwide average unit price.
In 2023, the lowest average unit prices for exported beauty, cosmetics and personal care products originate from Poland ($14,897 per ton), mainland China ($13,159 per ton) and Spain ($12,678 per ton).
The most expensive average prices are sourced from top suppliers in Singapore ($108,331 per ton), Switzerland ($74,101 per ton) then Japan ($53,826 per ton).
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 July 12, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 12, 2024
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 12, 2024
Wikipedia, Cosmetics. Accessed on July 12, 2024
Wikipedia, Category:Cosmetics companies. Accessed on July 12, 2024