ACCIÓ highlights the cosmetics, perfumery and fragrance care sector in Catalonia. The Agency for Business Competitiveness of the Departament d'Empresa y Treball has prepared a study with the collaboration of the Beauty Cluster, and some of its associated companies. ACCIÓ has carried out this study to update the current situation of the sector, since it had not been carried out since 2017.
One of the main conclusions and that highlights the Catalan territory is that it hosts up to 780 companies (90% of them are SMEs and more than 50% of the companies are located in the province of Barcelona) that contribute to the cosmetics sector and that invoice 12,078 million euros, which is equivalent to 4% of the total GDP of Catalonia. Compared to the previous year, the number of companies has increased by more than 35%, in terms of turnover by 32.5% and in terms of employment by more than 18%.
The study was officially presented at a conference with more than a hundred attendees belonging to the sector. Joan Romero i Circuns, executive director of ACCIÓ, opened the event and highlighted regarding the cosmetics sector that "it is an innovative sector by nature" and that "it knows how to anticipate, capture and transform the desires of consumers". Romero also underlined the role of the Beauty Cluster in creating this ecosystem: "it is the main reference cluster at the state level and is an engine of transformation and collaboration within the sector: it helps companies to grow, innovate, be more sustainable and internationalize".
By business segments, mass consumption and dermo-cosmetics and health care are the ones that concentrate the most companies, with 12% and 11% respectively. In terms of turnover, the category of fragrances, essences and perfumes is the one that concentrates the largest volume, with more than 5,336 million euros (44% of the total) with Puig at the forefront. In fact, the study highlights that 75% of the industry's turnover is concentrated in large companies such as this one. 5% of the companies in this area are startups.
In relation to sales, the largest volume of sales is in facial care, with sales exceeding 176.7 billion euros, and which in 2027 according to ACCIÓ forecasts, will exceed 241.8 billion euros. As for hair care, 83.7 billion euros invoiced in 2024, highlighting hair skinification and which is expected to reach 111.6 million euros in 2027. On the other hand, fragrances 65.1 billion euros, and which, as indicated by ACCIÓ, is expected to reach 93 billion in 2027. From ACCIÓ, they also point out that it is a dynamic sector and that it has generated an investment of more than 12 billion euros.
Internationalization of the sector
More than 50% of the companies are located in the sector of Catalonia and are regular exporters. In the past 2024, exports from the perfumery and cosmetics sector in Catalonia were consolidated with 5,189 million euros, a figure that represents a growth of 40% compared to the previous year and that marks the historical record for the sector. The beauty sector concentrates 4% of the total Catalan exports as a whole, while Catalonia concentrates 60% of the sales of all of Spain in this area.
Perfumery, with 68%, cosmetics, 19%, and personal hygiene, 9%, represent the bulk of the sales of this industry in Catalonia abroad. The main markets to which Catalan products are directed are the United States, with exports reaching almost 660 million euros, France, with 523 million, Italy and Germany with 343 and the United Kingdom with 319 million euros.
On the other hand, the study positions Catalonia as the third region of origin worldwide that invests the most in the beauty sector with 809 million euros.
Trends, challenges and opportunities
The study prepared by ACCIÓ detects six basic levers:
- Sustainability
- Compliance
- Competitiveness
- Certifications
- New consumption habits: Generation Z redefines consumption in the beauty sector and integrates their well-being into their rituals, prioritizing authentic and inclusive brands and making informed purchasing decisions based on reviews and virtual tests.
- Emergence of AI and new technologies
- Digitalization and power of new channels
- Innovation in formulations: biotechnology and new active ingredients
- Reorganization of the business fabric
Regarding the opportunities that these trends represent for the Catalan cosmetics, perfumery and personal care sector, they are divided according to the point in the value chain in which the company itself is located. In the first case, they have focused on exposing the opportunities for raw materials and manufacturing services, aromatic raw materials, non-aromatic raw materials and manufacturing services:
- Supply of natural and organic raw materials
- Contract manufacturing (Private Label): many brands wanted to launch their own beauty products but do not want to invest in the infrastructure necessary to produce them.
- Manufacture of personalized cosmetics.
Regarding business opportunities for packaging:
- Luxury and exclusive design packaging
- Technological packaging
- Adapted packaging
For final brands:
- Luxury and personalized cosmetics
- Professional aesthetics
- Innovation and technology
Business opportunities for devices and technology for the head:
- Facial care device
- Hair care devices
- Hair removal devices
- Technology for nail care
Business opportunities in the field of wholesalers, distributors and sales to the final consumer:
- International expansion
- Distribution in the change towards e-commerce
- Social Commerce and Influencer Marketing
Cross-cutting opportunities for the entire value chain:
- Sustainability: raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, distribution and sales and final consumer and consumer education.
- Clustering: raw materials, R&D and innovation, manufacturing, distribution and sales and marketing and digital marketing, sustainability.