Opportunities for Personal Care Ingredients Amidst New Foreign Trade Trends in 2026

 

In March this year, the General Administration of Customs officially released the core foreign trade data for the first two months. The total value of our country's trade in goods and imports reached 7.73 trillion yuan, an increase of 18.3% year-on-year. This is also the first time since January 2024, it has returned to double-digit growth.Among them, exports were 4.62 trillion yuan, an increase of 19.2%.Imports were 3.11 trillion yuan, an increase of 17.1%. The official also said that this is good news for steady progress and full resilience.This eye-catching transcript not only shows that the macroeconomics are improving, but also directly affects the import and export rhythm, formula application and market layout of the cosmetics and personal care raw materials industry.From the demand for raw materials at the import end is slowly picking up, to the export end of domestic beauty products going to sea faster and faster, to the actual use of core raw materials in care, skin care, and makeup, the benefits of foreign trade are permeating every formula link of personal care and beauty, and it has also opened up a new space for development for practitioners in the industry.

 

 

Firstly, the core foreign trade data for the first two months has actually set a clear supply and demand direction for the cosmetic raw material industry.With an import growth rate of 17.1% in the first two months, it can be seen at a glance that the domestic personal care beauty market has a particularly high demand for high-end and distinctive raw materials.For core categories such as international chemical raw materials, active substances, emulsifiers, and conditioners, the import supply chain has always been very smooth, and the efficiency and scale of overseas high-quality raw materials entering the domestic market are also increasing.The export growth rate of 19.2% has also provided a particularly good environment and policy support for the sale of domestically produced cosmetic raw materials and finished products to emerging markets such as ASEAN and the “Belt and Road”.Now that customs clearance is becoming more and more convenient, the supporting policies of cross-border e-commerce are also being continuously optimized, which directly reduces the logistics costs and compliance thresholds for the import and export of raw materials. Whether it is importing overseas core raw materials for high-end formula research and development, or exporting domestic characteristic raw materials to explore overseas markets, it is much smoother than before.This two-way growth of import and export has allowed the cosmetic raw material industry to no longer be limited to China, but to be deeply integrated into the global supply chain, realizing the dual upgrading of technology and market in the two-way flow.

 

Secondly, cationic conditioners have become the core of care products, and the recovery of foreign trade has also driven its import and application, which are slowly heating up.In shampoo, conditioner, and hair mask care products, Behentrimonium chloride is a high-end conditioner recognized by everyone. Compared with traditional similar raw materials, it can make hair more delicate and soft, significantly improve the combing properties of dry and wet hair, reduce static electricity and frizz, and give hair a silk-like luster and smooth feel. The proportion of high-end conditioners is generally between 0.5% and 2.0%.When we usually wash our hair, many people will encounter the problem of dry and knotted hair and frizz flying after blowing. In fact, the root cause is the lack of high-quality cationic conditioners in the shampoo formula.As foreign trade import channels become more and more unobstructed, the supply of such high-quality cationic raw materials has become more stable, and domestic care brands are more willing to upgrade and use it in their formulas, slowly promoting the popularization of high-end care products.

 

Thirdly, the upgrading of the emulsifying system is the key to adapting the beauty formula to the needs of the foreign trade market, and the application scenarios of the core emulsified raw materials are also constantly expanding.As a classic cationic Emulsifier, it not only has an emulsifying effect, but also antistatic and softens the skin and hair. It is not only the core ingredient of conditioner, but also widely used in skin care lotion, body lotion, and hair styling products. It can make the oil phase and the water phase stably blend, avoid product stratification and deterioration, and at the same time make the skin and hair have a soft and smooth feeling of use.Whether it is a moisturizing body lotion sold to the domestic market or a care set exported to the ASEAN and Middle East markets, this kind of classic emulsified raw materials can adapt to the needs of different skin types and hair types, and improve the stability and experience of the product.Moreover, the foreign trade market has high requirements for product quality and stability, which also forces domestic brands to continuously optimize the emulsification system, and the amount and application scenarios of such classic emulsified raw materials have also increased.

 

Fourth, the raw materials for Thickening suspension and skin texture regulation directly determine the experience of using personal care beauty products, and foreign trade demand is also driving the formula to become finer.Ammonia acetate copolymer is an easy-to-use rheological improver. Its core role is thickening suspension, which can maintain the appropriate viscosity of products such as shampoo, shower gel, and essence milk. It can also suspend silicone oil, pearlescent paste, and active particles to prevent product stratification and precipitation, so that the appearance of the product is uniform and stable. When used, the texture is delicate, easy to push away and not sticky.When we usually choose care and skin care products, we will first look at the texture. It is too thin and easy to leak, and it is too thick and difficult to push away. This kind of raw material can accurately adjust the rheological characteristics of the product, balance viscosity and fluidity, and adapt to the habits of different consumption scenarios.As more and more countries and regions are covered by beauty products exported from foreign trade, different markets have very different preferences for product skin texture and texture. The flexible use of such thickening suspension raw materials has become an important way for domestic brands to adapt to the global market and enhance product competitiveness.

 

Fifthly, the oil phase and silicon raw materials form the basis of the skin feeling of the product, and the two-way growth of foreign trade import and export has also driven the popularity of high-end skin feeling raw materials.In makeup, skin care, and hair care products, silicon raw materials, as well as oil raw materials such as C12 15 alkyl benzoate, are the core of creating a refreshing, silky, and non-sticky skin.For example, in liquid foundation and cream, adding an appropriate amount of silicon raw materials can make the product quickly form a film on the face, and it is not stuck in powder. In hair care essential oils, it can be combined with oil and silicon to smooth frizz without being heavy.At the import end of foreign trade, the supply of high-end silicon and characteristic oil raw materials is more adequate. At the export end, domestic beauty products rely on the delicate skin feeling and are more easily recognized by overseas consumers, forming a virtuous circle of importing high-quality raw materials to improve quality and exporting high-quality products to open up the market.It is worth mentioning that Stearalkonium chloride can also play an auxiliary role in the skin sensation regulation of such products, making the product experience better.

 

Overall, the good trend of foreign trade in the first two months of 2026 has built an all-round development platform for the cosmetics and personal care raw materials industry.From the supple hair experience brought by Behentrimonium chloride, to the thickening and suspension effect achieved by ammonia acetate copolymer, to the skin texture and stability assisted by Stearalkonium chloride, the application of each core raw material is inseparable from the supply chain convenience and market opportunities brought about by the optimization of the foreign trade environment.The 17.1% growth rate at the import end guarantees the stable supply of high-end and characteristic raw materials, supports domestic brands in research and development and innovation, and the 19.2% growth rate at the export end opens up a broader overseas market for domestic raw materials and finished products.Taking advantage of the advantages of foreign trade, the entire industry is constantly upgrading in the application of raw materials, formula research and development, and market layout.

 

The development trend under the foreign trade dividend

 

Standing at a new starting point for the good development of foreign trade, the development direction of the cosmetics and personal care raw material industry is becoming clearer and clearer.On the one hand, imported raw materials will be upgraded towards high-end, functional and green. With the increasing demand of domestic consumers for natural, mild and efficient raw materials, the proportion of imports of overseas plant actives, biological fermentation raw materials, and green surfactants will continue to increase.On the other hand, the export side will focus on differentiation, localization, and branding. Domestic companies rely on a complete supply chain and formulation technology to customize the development of raw materials and products according to the climate, skin type, and consumption habits of different markets.

 

The current good trend of foreign trade is not the end point, but a new starting point for the high-quality development of the cosmetic raw material industry.In the context of the double increase in imports and exports, we must seize the opportunity of raw material application innovation, deepen global market demand, optimize the layout of the supply chain, so that Chinese beauty raw materials and products, relying on quality and innovation, move towards a broader world stage.