With a turnover up by 10.4% for a value of 11.7 billion driven by foreign demand which rises by 14% compared to 2020 to 4.7 billion and by the domestic market which stands at 10.6 billion (+ 8.5%): these are the numbers of the restart of made in Italy cosmetics according to the year-end forecasts of the Centro Studi di Cosmetica Italia, the national association of companies in the sector. To reach pre-Covid levels, we will have to wait until 2022, but the trend that the sector is registering bodes well.
«Our projections – comments Renato Ancorotti, president of Cosmetica Italia – take into account the return to a new normality and the spirit of newfound confidence with which we look forward. The cosmetics sector has always stood out for its acyclical nature and, even in this still uncertain macroeconomic scenario, held up better than most of the manufacturing sectors, demonstrating a strong capacity to react. This cautious optimism is corroborated by the gradual recovery of the production trend of cosmetic companies, supported in turn by international business. The return in the presence of fairs and events represents an irreplaceable piece to support exports ».
The recovery of European and international trade and movements on a global scale has in fact had a positive impact on exports which will jump at the end of the year to 4.7 billion (+ 14%), gaining ground compared to 4.2 billion in 2020 and almost 5 billion. billions of pre-crisis 2019 – after the five-year jump back in 2020 -, with a trade balance that will exceed 2 billion euros.
The top ten destinations by value of Italian cosmetics exports recorded sustained growth rates, with the exception of the United Kingdom which is suffering from the commercial effects of Brexit. In the first half of 2021, France ranks first (262 million euros and + 6.6%) followed by Germany (232 million euros and + 11.4%), the United States, the first non-European destination (229 million euros and + 15.9%) and the United Kingdom (121 million euros and -0.1%). Of relevance in sixth place Hong Kong which, with a growth of over 44% reaches 155 million euros, and the United Arab Emirates, ninth destination with + 62.1% and 73 million euros.
The internal market was also positive thanks to the safety measures to protect the health of the population and the vaccination campaigns that accelerated the gradual return to the usual habits of life and consumption with positive repercussions on all sales channels. E-commerce, the absolute protagonist of purchases during the pandemic with a growth rate of 42% in 2020 which led it to become the fourth sales channel, confirms its position also for this year with a further increase expected 29 , 7% for a value of 900 million euros.