Demand For Cosmetics Grows In Africa

Africa is fast emerging as an attractive market for cosmetics and toiletries...

Africa presents one of the fastest developing markets in the world and the demand for cosmetics is growing at a frantic pace. Not only is there a huge pent-up demand for upmarket products from Europe and North America but also for the entire range of beauty and personal care products from major manufacturers around the world.

When it comes to looking their best at all times, Africans are second to none. As such, there is a huge demand for products such as beauty soaps, face washes, shampoos, conditioners, body and skin lotions, toners, astringents, cold creams and other moiturising formulations, perfumes, hair colours, dyes, powders, eye and face packs, to mention just a few.
While there is now a considerable level of manufacturing activity taking place within Africa cosmetics in africa itself, there is an ever assertive and growing segment of consumers who are demanding the best products available in the world. Enterprising traders are keen to source such goods from all the reputed manufacturers but are often hamstrung by the volumes of purchases required.

Most manufacturers are not interested in supplying quantities that do not run into several container loads at least. Often it is not viable for buyers to go in for such large volumes.

Secondly, there is also the question of sourcing products from different countries and even continents.

For instance, an African importer may be interested in facial products from Europe, toiletry from the Far East and herbal cosmetics from the USA. But this would place immense logistics constraints and would involve travelling around the world and opening of letters of Credit with a host of banks. Often, all these obstacles would prove insurmountabe and many exporters would be put off by the sheer magnitude and complications of the whole exercise.

The global market for fragrances and perfumes is forecast to reach over US$40 billion by the year 2025, driven by growing trend towards consumer urbanization, higher spending propensity and heightened importance of personal appearance and grooming.

International suppliers of cosmetics are eager to find buyers of cosmetics in Africa and increase their exports to Africa. However, finding the right business partners, agents and distributors in Africa is not as easy as it seems. Lack of proper information and business facilitation services means that most international suppliers do not understand the nuances of the African markets as well as they should. As a result, most international suppliers prefer to export directly to importers of cosmetics and beauty products in Africa.

In order to facilitate direct B2B contact between African buyers and international suppliers, the Africa Business Pages has compiled a special Africa Cosmetics Directory that lists major importers of cosmetics in Africa. The directory lists major importers of cosmetics and beauty products in over 22 African countries. The Africa Cosmetics Directory has proved to be a useful database for companies seeking buyers of cosmetics and beauty products in Africa. By providing a useful database of importers in Africa and a list of retailers, wholesalers and distributors in Africa, the Africa Cosmetics Directory has helped international suppliers find their business partners in African countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Zambia, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe – to name a few.

The Africa Cosmetics Directory is now available in Excel format and can be downloaded instantly. [Download here]

In addition, increased demand for youth-oriented, floral and exotic fragrances and celebrity perfumes will see rapid market expansion. Although women’s perfumes continue to remain the mainstay, the men’s perfumes category is projected to plod ahead at a rapid pace.