French beauty consumers top tables

The Federation of Perfume Industries announced global sales of €13.6 billion, up 2.8 per cent on the domestic market and up 0.5 per cent in exports. Average yearly growth in the decade - spanning 1994-2003 - was a steady 5.2 per cent.

French cosmetic products were sold to 202 countries, making the sector the country's fourth biggest exporter - excluding arms - after aeronautics and the space industry, drinks and automobiles.

Europe remained the strongest buyer of French-made perfumes, cosmetics, shampoos and general bathroom toiletries. Non-EU countries sales fell however by 5.2 per cent - with Poland and Russia down 9.6 and 5.6 percent respectively - though sales to Turkey increased 5.3 percent.

The Far East - the second biggest market for the French industry - saw a suprising 6.2 percent drop in 2003. South Korea was down 23 per cent and Hong Kong dropped 11 per cent, but new markets China and India grew 62 and 34 per cent respectively.

In terms of countries, Germany was the top client for the French perfume and cosmetics industry, followed by Britain, Spain, the US and Italy.

In France 172,000 bottles of perfume are sold everyday - 48,000 of which are for men, not including after-shaves - as well as 222,000 hair colour products and 325,000 face-care items.

The Federation of Perfume Industries said the sector sold 27 products per person per year in France, with men's products accounting for 10.5 per cent of the domestic market.