Emmanuel Guichard, FEBEA
“That is the primary time in at the least twenty years — excluding the Covid interval — that [French] cosmetics exports haven’t elevated,” FEBEA’s normal delegate, Emmanuel Guichard, advised AFP. The commerce group notes, the truth is, that the development is now downward.
Within the first ten months of 2025, France’s cosmetics exports reached EUR 18.75 billion (-1.16%), whereas till now development had been round 6% per yr, “apart from the yr of Covid when one quarter noticed a decline,” he stated.
Improve in US tariffs
FEBEA attributes the decline in French cosmetics exports totally to larger customs duties in the US, their essential market. Exports to the US have dropped by 18%, whereas gross sales “in every single place else” are up — together with in China (+2%) and the European Union (+4%), in response to Emmanuel Guichard.
In the meantime, imports are up 6% to EUR 4.46 billion, pushed specifically by purchases from China by way of on-line platforms and from Korea, following the “Okay-Magnificence” development, explains the FEBEA’s normal delegate.
In consequence, the commerce steadiness stands at EUR 14.29 billion, down EUR 473 million in contrast with the primary ten months of 2024, a decline of three.2%.
“There may be inevitably some uncertainty concerning the ultimate two months of 2025, however we see no actual indicators that the year-end will reverse these preliminary figures,” FEBEA emphasised.
Rebound in 2026?
“We stay the second largest contributor to the [French] commerce steadiness,” asserted Mr. Guichard.
For 2026, FEBEA expects “a lift” from the EU-India free commerce settlement, which opens up a possible market of 70 million shoppers for cosmetics. At current, France exports EUR 58 million value of cosmetics to India.
“We additionally want to spice up our competitiveness and innovation to maintain tempo with South Korea,” Emmanuel Guichard added.
