in-cosmetics Asia 2015: A Natural Place to Grow Your Business

The global natural and organic market has grown steadily over the last decade, doubling in value, to achieve sales revenue close to US$12 billion. While the western markets have thrived, up until now there has been relatively low demand from Asian consumers for products in this sector. However, that is set to change, with Organic Monitor predicting that the market will show double-digit growth and revenues expected to break the US$1 billion mark[1] in the coming years.
With most consumers in Asia unaware of the differences between natural and conventional cosmetics, brands have their work cut out in the short term, but with rising prosperity in the region, there is certainly cause for long term optimism. What’s more, with concerns about synthetic chemicals becoming increasingly important to Asian consumers, there are signs that the natural and organic market will soon be thriving.
Sarah Gibson, Exhibition Director of in-cosmetics Asia, the leading all-Asia personal care ingredient event, which returns to Bangkok from November 3-5, 2015, commented: “Historically, demand for natural and organic products in the Asia region has been poor, compared to the rest of the world. The major barrier for brands is low consumer awareness of what these products are and how they differ from traditional cosmetics.”
“The personal care industry has a lot of work to do in order to educate the market, but the recent adoption of western brands and new industry standards in the region are signs that consumers are beginning to demand natural and organic products. We believe that this is a huge growth area and that’s why we have decided to make it the focus of this year’s in-cosmetics Asia event,” added Gibson.
Elsewhere in Asia, the Chinese cosmetics market remains the second largest globally, behind only the USA. Despite the recent economic slowdown in the country, higher personal hygiene standards and rising awareness of personal grooming have resulted in increased sales, with double-digit value growth seen in baby and child-specific products, and strong value growth in men’s grooming, color cosmetics and skin care in 2014[2].
Even with this growth, the average number of cosmetics products bought per household remains fairly low at 3.63 – almost half that of neighboring Korea[3]. This means that there is a huge opportunity for brands, both international and domestic, to increase sales in the country, by educating consumers, tapping into the latest trends and developing unique new products.
As the world’s second largest cosmetics market, China represents a huge opportunity for personal care ingredient and raw material manufacturers, distributors and testing businesses. in-cosmetics Asia’s China Country Focus program will help visitors gain a better understanding of the market, through a series of seminars and product displays.
With the Chinese personal grooming market flourishing, thanks to increasing demand from consumers born in the 80s and 90s, who are willing to spend their income on facial care products, now is the time to explore opportunities in the country. With more than 40 exhibitors from China already signed up to showcase their personal care ingredients, the in-cosmetics Asia China Product Trail and Chinese Pavilion are the perfect places to identify new ingredients that will act as inspiration for the next generation of products.
Additionally, in the Marketing Trends theatre, sessions will explore the key growth drivers in China, while Florence Bernadin, from leading consultancy Information et Inspiration, will offer visitors a unique overview of the Chinese beauty market.
As cosmetics continue to make inroads into department stores, pharmacies and beauty retailers across Asia, there is clearly positive news on the horizon. Nonetheless, with hundreds of brands, from across the globe, fighting for shelf space in stores, brands and manufacturers must ensure that they have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to the latest ingredients, trends, threats and regulations influencing the Asian market.
in-cosmetics Asia provides the perfect opportunity for buyers to see all the major players, as well as the most innovative start-up businesses, in one place and at one time. The 2015 instalment of the industry-leading event will be a veritable melting pot of ingredients, raw materials, ideas and inspiration for buyers all looking to add that crucial point of difference to their product ranges. More than 400 exhibitors will be on show, displaying innovative, new ingredients that can help cosmetic businesses take advantage of the latest trends, when the show kicks off on November 3, 2015 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC).

[1] Organic Monitor, Natural and Organic Cosmetics Market Briefing Report 2015
[2] Euromonitor International, Beauty and Personal Care in China, Country Report, May 2015
[3] Kantar Worldpanel research