After a year 2020 marked by a decline of 11.8%, the first since 2009, exports of perfumes, cosmetics and toilet products made in France have started to rise once more in 2021, according to Customs figures. With a increase of 22.5% compared to 2020, the French cosmetics industry has the best performance in all sectors combined. Not only has the pre-pandemic level been caught up, but exports have increased by 2.5% compared to 2019, to establish itself at 16.2 billion euros.
If imports also increased in 2021 (+24%), however, the trade balance exceeds its exceptional level reached in 2019 and the cosmetics industry ranks in the top 3 of the top contributors to the positive balance of France’s foreign trade, with a balance of 12.9 billion euros, behind aeronautics (30.8 billion euros) and wines and spirits, (14.6 billion euros).
Record growth rates in China and the United States
The European Union and Asia together account for almost 2/3 of French cosmetics exports.
With 1.9 billion euros or 11.7% of exports, China is the number one destination for French exports. After an increase already marked in 2020 (+20.4%), in particular due to the substitution of purchases previously made during trips to France, the acceleration of exports (+28.9%) in 2021 shows the attractiveness of French cosmetics, especially makeup, for Chinese consumers. France now exports more than one in three lipsticks to China.
The United States comes in second, with 1.8 billion euros or 11.2% of total exports. Here once more, growth proved robust in 2021, especially for the perfumery category, which grew by 66% compared to 2020.
In third place in the ranking is Germany with € 1.5 billion or 9.5% of total exports.
On the other hand, we observe a decrease in exports to Russia and Brazil, two countries in which the decline in sales has been around 22% since 2019, partly due to their economic situation. The Middle East is also declining (-5.7% compared to 2019), mainly due to the shutdown of air traffic and the travel retail.
Makeup, facials and perfumery
The makeup, facial care and perfumery categories are the most dynamic export. Together, they account for 86.2% of total international sales of French cosmetics.
Perfumery alone accounts for 30.6% of French cosmetics exports and is achieving the best growth in 2021: +35.4% compared to the previous year.
Makeup and facial care together account for 9 billion euros, or 55.6% of exports. Facial care is in first place (7.5 billion euros), followed by lipsticks and eye makeup products.
According to the Federation of Beauty Companies (FEBEA), these figures confirm France in its position as a world leader in cosmetics, whose know-how is recognized worldwide.
« Cosmetics proves its impressive ability to bounce back following the health crisis “, says Emmanuel Guichard, FEBEA General Delegate. « It has been able to take advantage, of course, of the return of economic growth, but also to innovate to meet the new expectations of consumers. Companies of all sizes contribute to these good export figures, large groups but also many small companies that by their dynamism are also ambassadors of Made in France. Since the crisis, the demand for more natural and environmentally friendly products has been increasing. It is because it meets these expectations, and invests heavily in R & D, that the sector achieves such performance, worldwide ».
According to the FEBEA, the cosmetics industry employs more than 160,000 people in France.