Losses were heavy, with a 12.8% drop<\/strong> in turnover at the end of last year. However, the sector performed better than initially expected.<\/p>\n The latest economic survey by Cosmetica Italia<\/strong><\/a> takes a snapshot of market developments, providing interesting data and trends with which to look ahead to the recovery expected in the coming months.<\/p>\n The inevitable difficulties caused by the health emergency situation have conditioned domestic demand<\/strong>, with losses of over 500 million in the perfumery channel, 150 in direct sales and 200 in professional channels such as beauty centres<\/strong> and hairdressers. These figures were partially offset by the growth in online sales<\/strong>, reflecting a trend that is now consolidated in many sectors.<\/p>\n Also weighing on the negative figure for the end of 2020 was the drop in exports, with a contraction of over 4.1 billion euros<\/strong> for a highly competitive sector that in 2019 had recorded a trade surplus of over 3 billion euros<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The persistence of a state of uncertainty for the world economy still hinders a full relaunch of exports, to which the Italian cosmetics sector owes around 40% of its turnover<\/strong>: however, as highlighted by the study, the recovery expected for the second quarter of this year – favoured by the vaccination campaign – should ensure an improvement in the situation.<\/p>\n In spite of a complex scenario, the supply chain has nevertheless shown itself capable of reacting during the past few months: a spirit of adaptation that has made it possible to maintain high investment in R&D<\/strong> and, at the same time, to limit losses compared to other sectors of our manufacturing industry. One example is clothing and leather goods<\/a>, with losses of almost 30%.<\/p>\n Contributing to a less negative result than expected is undoubtedly the essential nature<\/strong> of many cosmetic products, such as skin and hair care products, combined with growing consumer awareness of organic<\/strong> and sustainable products<\/strong>. Last year was marked by a positive trend for these products, which in Italy are now worth over 1,654 million euros<\/a> in terms of sales.<\/p>\n As far as foreign markets<\/strong> are concerned, which are the most interesting ones?<\/p>\n Alongside a marked fall in exports to our historic partners<\/strong> (France, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom), there are positive figures for other countries: China<\/strong>, the Czech Republic<\/strong> and Ukraine<\/strong> are leading the list, with imports from our country up 6.1, 6.2 and 14.8% respectively.<\/p>\n Continuing to be present on foreign markets is certainly a key factor in the recovery of the supply chain: as emerges from the Cosmetica Italia survey, 60% of firms <\/strong>are convinced that the relaunch has already begun, demonstrating optimism for the future. The rescheduling of the main trade fairs<\/a> – both national and international – for the second half of the year is certainly helping to instil positive expectations in companies.<\/p>\n However, the current months will be crucial for rethinking existing strategies in order to make up for lost ground: a wish once again expressed by the companies interviewed in the survey, whose priorities include reorganising the supply chain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The goal is to optimise their presence in a difficult competitive context<\/strong>, where the coming years could be marked by an increasing number of mergers and acquisitions; to this is added the need to make distribution policies more efficient, focusing increasingly on digital<\/strong> and on new foreign markets characterised by growing demand<\/strong>.<\/p>\n This is the only way for the Italian cosmetics industry<\/strong> to continue to be successful, positioning itself among the industrial excellences of our country.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do you want to learn more about the benefits of AI for your business?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Request a free pre-analysis!<\/p>\n![\"il](\"https:\/\/www.matchplat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/COSMETICA-SITO-2.png\" "\\"Matchplat\\"")
<\/p>\n