Turkish Cosmetics Enter a Period of Growth on the International Stage

Turkey's cosmetics sector is set to close 2025 with exports exceeding USD 1.7 billion, driven by sustained strong demand throughout the year across hair care, skincare and personal hygiene categories.

Increasing capacity among domestic manufacturers, vibrant market dynamics in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkic republics, and progress in EU regulatory compliance are significantly strengthening the sector's global competitiveness by year-end. KUAD (Cosmetic Manufacturers and Researchers Association) emphasizes that this sector momentum directly aligns with the theme of the 9th International Cosmetics Congress to be held in Antalya on 15–17 December 2025—"Holistic Cosmetics"—and underscores that Turkey is becoming a regional hub not only in manufacturing but also in innovation and sustainability. The congress programme, spanning from holistic beauty concepts to sustainable production models and from digital labelling to ethical formulation processes, shapes the sector's transformation pathway in line with export growth.

Trade data from the sector shows that soaps, wet wipes and hair care products lead exports in both value and volume terms. Highest demand comes from markets such as the United States, Iraq, Iran and Russia, while makeup and skincare products show much broader geographical diversity. Rising scale investments by domestic manufacturers, R&D activities raising quality standards and advantages gained in global supply chains support declining import dependency while fuelling export momentum.

Turkey's Cosmetics in a Holistic Transformation Process
Assessing current sector data, KUAD Congress Chair Fuat Arslan notes that the holistic approach is no longer merely a trend but a necessary transformation: "Turkey's cosmetics sector is becoming a regional force not only through production capacity but through sustainability culture, innovation capability and holistic perspective. Surpassing USD 1.7 billion in exports is a valuable achievement; steady external trade performance growth over the past five years demonstrates this rise is sustainable. But what is truly critical is building a structure that embraces environmentally friendly models across all processes from production to consumption, builds trust through transparent content policies and advances in line with global regulations. This is why the 9th International Cosmetics Congress we will host in Antalya is not merely this year's academic and sectoral gathering but a strategic working platform shaping Turkey's cosmetics future. Over three days, knowledge shared by both the sector and academia—ranging from EU regulatory updates to green transition policies, digital labelling to innovative formulation techniques—will set the roadmap for the coming five years. This congress, addressing R&D, sustainable production, export strategies, consumer trends and global market positioning through a highly interdisciplinary lens, will be the most important platform where Turkey's cosmetics transformation is discussed with collective wisdom."

Regulation, Sustainability and Innovation at Congress Focus
Within the congress scope, current requirements of the EU Cosmetics Regulation, green transition impacts on production processes, digital labelling systems, sustainable packaging design, biotechnological active ingredients and rapid shifts in consumer behaviour will be addressed. Expanding university–industry partnerships, deepening R&D investments and the role of innovation in accessing global markets feature among the programme's core agenda items. The Innovation Zone & Upcycle Project Competition, to be held again this year, will showcase projects developed around environmentally friendly approaches and reinforce the sector's alignment with sustainable production vision. Workshop and experiential programmes at the congress—ranging from fragrance design to sensory perception, natural ingredient development to digital process management—will provide participants both technical and creative learning spaces. Applied activities such as "Discover Your Scent," "Signature Perfume Workshop" and "Holistic Perfume Workshop" will add an experiential dimension to the congress while fostering strong connections among sector professionals beyond information sharing.

KUAD Strengthens Turkey's Global Cosmetics Vision
Turkey's cosmetics sector is rapidly advancing as a regional innovation hub through production capacity, young R&D ecosystem, export capability, regulatory compliance commitment and innovative product diversity reaching consumers. KUAD, through the international congress it organizes, aims to strengthen Turkey's voice on the global cosmetics stage by bringing together all scientific, commercial and innovative components of the sector.

About KUAD
The Cosmetic Manufacturers and Researchers Association (KUAD), established in 2013, aims to advance scientific, ethical and sustainable production standards in Turkey's cosmetics sector. Through its annual International Cosmetics Congress, KUAD brings together the sector's academic, commercial and innovative components to increase Turkey's global visibility in cosmetics.