“This is the first time in at least twenty years — excluding the Covid period — that [French] cosmetics exports have not increased,” FEBEA’s general delegate, Emmanuel Guichard, told AFP. The trade organization notes, in fact, that the trend is now downward.
In the first ten months of 2025, France’s cosmetics exports reached EUR 18.75 billion (-1.16%), whereas until now growth had been around 6% per year, "except for the year of Covid when one quarter saw a decline," he said.
Increase in US tariffs
FEBEA attributes the decline in French cosmetics exports entirely to higher customs duties in the United States, their main market. Exports to the US have dropped by 18%, while sales “everywhere else” are up — including in China (+2%) and the European Union (+4%), according to Emmanuel Guichard.
Meanwhile, imports are up 6% to EUR 4.46 billion, driven in particular by purchases from China via online platforms and from Korea, following the “K-Beauty” trend, explains the FEBEA’s general delegate.
As a result, the trade balance stands at EUR 14.29 billion, down EUR 473 million compared with the first ten months of 2024, a decline of 3.2%.
“There is inevitably some uncertainty about the final two months of 2025, but we see no real signs that the year-end will reverse these preliminary figures,” FEBEA emphasized.
Rebound in 2026?
"We remain the second largest contributor to the [French] trade balance," asserted Mr. Guichard.
For 2026, FEBEA expects “a boost” from the EU-India free trade agreement, which opens up a potential market of 70 million consumers for cosmetics. At present, France exports EUR 58 million worth of cosmetics to India.
“We also need to boost our competitiveness and innovation to keep pace with South Korea,” Emmanuel Guichard added.
