Italian cosmetics exports booming in spite of crisis

'Safe, effective, and fashionable' says industry association

(ANSA) - Rome, June 25 - Italian cosmetics exports are thriving in spite of the economic downturn, Cosmetica Italia national makeup association said Wednesday.

The industry posted 3.176 million euros in exports in 2013, up by 11% over the previous year and equal to 34.2% of total turnover. This is because Italian cosmetics have a reputation as being safe, effective, and fashionable, according to Cosmetica. ''The most-loved product was eau de Cologne, with total sales of 558 million euros, up 14% in 2013'', said Cosmetica President Fabio Rossello.

Among these is Acqua di Parma, which launched its product in Indonesia in April and is being used by exclusive seven-star hotels and boutiques, according to Italian foreign trade commission ICE.

Cologne was followed by beauty creams with 565 million euros in sales and growth of 4.7%, while makeup exports went from 183 million euros in 2010 to 286 million in 2013, up 8.9%. "The export growth doesn't just depend on a global consumer recovery but also on quality, the safety of our formulas, constant investment in research and innovation, and our capacity to satisfy consumers in different continents'', Rossello explained. The Italian cosmetics industry is made up of 1,500 firms, 1,000 of them exporters, according to ICE.