2019 proved to be a good year for the French cosmetics industry in terms of export, with strong growth resulting in product exports of €15.7 billion for the year, an increase of more than 9% from 2018.
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Cosmetics are big business in France. As well as supporting over 130,000 jobs, he industry exports more than 50% of its production and currently accounts for a massive 23% of today’s world market. They are also hugely popular and attractive to the many tourists who visit the country, with one in five cosmetic products sold in France purchased by foreign visitors.
Leading the pack are skincare products, which account for more than €7.3 billion of exports, up more than 46% over the past five years. These are followed by perfumes and colognes, totalling more than €4.8 billion in exports, up 23% over the past five years; and lipstick, which totals more than €730 million and has increased by almost 80% in five years.
In terms of export, Europe remains the first region, followed by the United States, then by Asia, which is seeing a dramatic increase. French cosmetics exports to China grew by almost 50% in 2019, moving the country from seventh to fourth with regard to export destinations. South Korea saw a 26% increase and Singapore saw a 16% increase in 2019, leading to one in every five French cosmetic products being sold in Asia today.
French cosmetics have increased by 10% on average year-on-year since 2013. This is a result of the efficient ecosystem of the sector at all levels, mainly R&D and distribution – with four distinct networks being supermarkets, pharmacies, perfumeries and salons that allow brands to develop specific ranges in each format.
“This success is also based on the entrepreneurial dynamism of the sector,” comments FEBEA President Patrick O’Quin. “Each year, 170 new cosmetic companies are created in the sector, fuelled by the sector’s abundant innovation. Alongside major globally recognized groups, our sector brings together almost 85% of SMEs, spread throughout France. In particular, in the territories which knew how to develop their historical know-how in the field of perfumes – Provence for example–or even their natural wealth: Brittany in particular, thanks to the success of cosmetic ingredients from the sea.”
