Where Chinese Cosmetics Exports Actually Go: UN Comtrade Data by Market (2026)

China exported US$4,051,029,826 of HS 3304 cosmetics and skincare in 2024 — up 64% compared with US$2,467,889,213 in 2018 — according to UN Comtrade. The United States is the largest single destination at US$863,087,587 (2023), followed by the United Kingdom at US$295,323,978 and Russia at US$122,882,000. This page breaks the official data down by market, explains why the same shipment year produces two different numbers depending on which country reports it, and shows how to check the figures yourself.

What HS 3304 actually covers

HS heading 3304 covers beauty or make-up preparations and preparations for the care of the skin — sheet masks, serums, creams, eye patches, foundations, lip products and sun protection. It does not include:

• Hair products (shampoo, conditioner, hair masks) → HS 3305
• Shaving, deodorant and bath preparations → HS 3307
• Soap → HS 3401

This matters when you read trade statistics: "Chinese cosmetics exports" in a news headline may mean 3304 only, or 3304 + 3305 + 3307, and the two give very different totals. Always check which code a figure is based on.

China's HS 3304 exports, 2018–2024

Two things stand out. First, the 2020 dip is a COVID-year effect, not a demand collapse — exports recovered the following year. Second, the largest single jump is 2023 (+32%), followed by further growth in 2024.

Which markets actually import

Comparing what China reports exporting to a market with what that market reports importing from China gives a data-quality signal as well as a size estimate.

Why the two columns never match

No pair of trade statistics matches exactly, and the mismatch is not evidence of smuggling. The normal causes are:

1. Valuation basis. Exporters record FOB (free on board) value; importers record CIF (cost, insurance, freight). The importer's figure is typically 5–15% higher for the same goods.
2. Timing. A shipment that leaves in December may be recorded as an import in January of the next year.
3. Transshipment. Goods routed through a hub are often recorded against the hub rather than the final destination.
4. Reporting capacity. Some customs administrations publish detailed data quickly; others do not publish at all.

In the 2023 data above, three cases are worth knowing about if you use trade statistics for sourcing decisions:

• The United Kingdom: China reports US$295,323,978 of exports, while the UK's own submission shows a trivial figure. The UK series in UN Comtrade is effectively unusable for this code — use UK Trade Info (HM Revenue & Customs) instead.
• Russia: China reports US$122,882,000, and Russia reports nothing at all. Russian customs statistics are not published through Comtrade, so absence of data is not absence of demand.
• Germany: China reports US$46,115,107, Germany reports US$14,677,727 — roughly a third. For any EU member state, cross-check with Eurostat, which publishes EU trade at CN8 detail.

When two sources disagree, the practical rule is: use the exporting country's figure for the overall market size, and the importing country's figure for the destination-specific picture — and treat neither as final.

What this means if you are sourcing private label

Three practical readings of the data:

• The United States is the volume market — roughly a quarter of China's HS 3304 exports in 2023. If you are planning a private label launch, US demand is deep enough to support small brands, which is why low-MOQ production matters there.
• Growth is real but uneven by market. The category grew +64% between 2018 and 2024. Fast-growing markets with immature local supply are where a new brand has the most room.
• Statistics are a screening tool, not a demand study. Use them to decide which markets deserve research, then validate demand with platform-level data before you commit to tooling and MOQs.

How to check these numbers yourself

All of the following are free to query:

UN Comtrade — the United Nations commodity trade database. A no-key preview endpoint is available, for example:

https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/A/HS?reporterCode=156&period=2023&cmdCode=3304&flowCode=X&partnerCode=0

reporterCode=156 is China, period is the year, cmdCode=3304 is the product, flowCode=X is exports (use M for imports), and partnerCode=0 means "world". Note that the preview endpoint returns a limited number of rows — for full datasets you need the official subscription API.

WITS — World Integrated Trade Solution (World Bank). Trade values plus applied tariff data, useful when you need duties alongside volumes.

Eurostat — EU member state trade at a more detailed product level than Comtrade's HS6. This is the source to use for Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

UK Trade Info — HM Revenue & Customs trade statistics, and the authoritative UK source given the gap noted above.

FAQ

What is the difference between HS 3304 and HS 3305? 3304 covers skin and beauty preparations — masks, serums, creams, make-up, sunscreen. 3305 covers hair preparations: shampoo, conditioner, hair lacquer, permanent waving products.

What is the biggest export market for Chinese skincare? By 2023 export value, the United States, at US$863,087,587 as reported by China. The United Kingdom and Russia follow, though both have data-quality caveats in UN Comtrade.

Why do China's export figures and the importing country's figures disagree? Valuation basis (FOB vs CIF), recording lag, transshipment through hubs, and differences in reporting capacity. The figures are designed for macro analysis, not shipment-level reconciliation.

How can I find import volumes for one specific product? Identify the HS code first, then query UN Comtrade by that code. For sheet masks and serums, HS 3304 is the starting point; confirm the exact code with your customs broker before you use it for duty or compliance planning.

Is Chinese cosmetics export still growing? HS 3304 exports grew from US$2,467,889,213 in 2018 to US$4,051,029,826 in 2024, a +64% increase, with the sharpest single-year rise in 2023.

Sourcing from China? Start with the numbers

If you are evaluating markets or building a private label range, our team can share production-side data — real MOQs, lead times and per-unit FOB ranges — so you can compare them against the market data above. See our OEM/ODM product catalogue and MOQ and pricing structure, or contact us with the product category you are planning.

Related reading: Hyaluronic Acid Serum Market 2026 · How Much Does Skincare OEM Cost? · Import Duty by HS Code: US, UK and EU