Italy forecasts slight improvement in C&T for 2010

Total consumption of cosmetic products in Italy in 2009 reached €9.1bn, according to provisional figures from Italian C&T association Unipro.

Cosmetics sales on the domestic market rose 0.5% to over €6bn but exports declined by 4.1% to just over €2.1bn. The slight domestic market growth was offset by lower exports and sales overall dipped 0.9%. Domestic market sales through traditional outlets (pharmacies and herbalists) rose 1.5% but those through professional outlets including beauty salons fell 5.8% with reduced visits by consumers, a lack of homogeneity in the market and some re-selling activity.

Forecasts for first half 2010 indicate a continuation of current trends in the professional outlets but with more marked growth in traditional outlets. The forecast for pharmacy sales in first half of next year is some 3.1%, 2.5% for major distribution outlets and 4% for herbalist outlets. Perfumeries are marked for a downturn of 1.5%.

The slowdown in exports in 2009 was due mainly to a stagnation in consumption in a number of countries together with fluctuating exchange rates and prices. Variable conditions were reported in the US and Europe and positive expectations are now focused on the Brazilian, Russian, Indian and Chinese markets together with the newly industrialised countries of Asia.