Emerging Markets To Account for 75 Percent Of Unilever's Revenue By 2020, CEO Says

Unilever PLC chief executive officer Paul Polman said emerging markets will account for 75 percent of the company’s revenue by 2020, up from the 55 percent in 2012. Polman, who visited India to open the company’s global enterprise support and information technology innovation center in the country, also said about 85 percent of Unilever’s growth comes from emerging markets. Unilever is constructing 27 or 28 factories worldwide, with most of them in emerging markets.

"Emerging markets to generate 75% of Unilever sales by 2020", Livemint, November 22, 2012

China's Animal Testing Requirement Keeps Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Firms Away

China’s policy requiring cosmetics to be tested on animals before they are allowed to be sold in the country prevents some cosmetics companies, which are against animal testing, from entering the market. The Body Shop, for example, has refrained from expanding in to China to avoid violating the company’s cruelty-free policies. In the Philippines, The Body Shop launched its Christmas line of skincare products for 2012.

"Chinese dilemma", Business World, November 11, 2012

Growth In Domestic Sales Shows China's Cosmetics Market Strong Despite Drop In Imports

Retail sales of cosmetics in China grew 16.5 percent to reach 107.7 billion yuan ($17.3 billion) in the first 10 months of 2012, according to data from the country’s National Bureau of Statistics. This shows that China’s cosmetics market is still growing despite the decline in cosmetics imports revealed by the China Luxury Report 2012. Also, the market’s leading international companies, such as Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Mary Kay Inc., and Shiseido Group, have announced significant expansion plans in the country. Euromonitor International Ltd.’s Beauty and Personal Care in China 2012 report, which looks at multinationals operating in the China cosmetics market, showed Estee Lauder has launched Osiao, a brand designed for Chinese consumers.

"Cosmetics giants brush off any talk of slump in China", China Daily, November 24, 2012

Slower Economy Means Lower Cosmetics Imports In China, Study Says

Cosmetics imports in China dropped 13 percent, pushed down by the economic slowdown in the country, according to the China Luxury Report 2012. Data from the General Administration of Customs of China revealed import value of cosmetics also declined 14 percent. While other luxury categories, such as yachts and high-end leather bags, posted impressive growth rates, imported cosmetics and fragrances posted compound annual growth rates of -19 percent and -28 percent, respectively, since 2006. Clinique announced price cuts for its skincare products, including Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, its most popular product in China, to help drive sales.

"Tighter purses mean cosmetics market losing its gloss", China Daily European Edition, November 09, 2012