CHINA is becoming the leading market for French cosmetics which experienced a “contrasted 2020” at international level but remains the second largest contributor to France’s positive foreign trade balance, said the French Federation for Beauty Companies in its report on exports in 2020.

“In the midst of the health and economic crisis, French cosmetics exported more than 15.7 billion euros (US$19 billion) of products, a drop of 11.8 percent compared to 2019,” said the federation in a  statement.

It added, however, the drop was more moderate than in other sectors, and the sector contributed a positive balance of 10.6 billion euros to the French economy.

“These results rank cosmetics the second among exporting sectors in France, behind aeronautics,” said the federation. “France remains the world leader in cosmetics.”

Impacted by the health and economic crisis that hit the whole world in 2020, the sector saw its exports to Asia remain encouraging and grow strongly in China — close to 20.7 percent in one year, said the federation.

“China is by far the first buyer of French lipsticks, with more than one in four exported lipsticks going to China. Likewise, all categories relating to skin care, creams and skin care products, but also makeup for the complexion, remain very popular with Chinese consumers,” it added.(Xinhua)