The French cosmetics industry’s export sales in 2021 exceeded the level reached in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic broke out, primarily thanks to the makeup, facial care and perfumery categories, plus a robust business in China. French cosmetics sales abroad generated 12.9 billion euros, comprising France’s third largest export business after aeronautics, at 30.8 billion euros, and wines and spirits, at 14.6 billion euros, according to France’s beauty association, the Fédération des Entreprises de la Beauté, or FEBEA.
France-wide, more than 160,000 people worked directly in the sector last year. Combined, the European Union and Asia represented almost two-thirds of French cosmetics product exports. For the second year running, China came in first place country-wise, with 11.7 percent, or 1.9 billion euros-worth of exports purchased. That business posted 56 percent growth since 2019, particularly thanks to sales of color cosmetics. France now exports more than one in three lipsticks to China.