Cosmetics and hair care businesses from China will feature in two special pavilions at Beauty West Africa fair opening on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at the Landmark Centre in Lagos.
The delegation of over 50 Chinese businesses represents thousands of beauty and personal care products, many of them being seen in Africa for the first time. Having a central presence at Africa’s largest trade show for the beauty industry will help boost the $57 million beauty trade between China and Nigeria.
A returning Chinese exhibitor and Operations Manager, Shanghai Maotong International Exhibition Company Limited, Michelle said: “We are delighted to be back at BWA 2024, for what is going to be the biggest event yet! We are excited to meet and network with the key decision makers across the thriving African beauty industry! Exhibiting at the show is always amazing and we have no doubt that this year will exceed our expectations yet again!.
China is not the only country sending a sizable trade delegation for the exhibition. Other countries with pavilions are Turkey, Pakistan, Korea, Egypt, Malaysia, India, Korea, Europe, the United States, the Middle East and South America, among others.
The show will also spotlight Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from Nigeria and West Africa, making Beauty West Africa fair a must-attend event of the year for anyone working in the beauty and hair care sector.
Speaking on the event being organised by BtoB Events, Group Exhibition Manager, Ken Baber said the international exhibitors remain a hugely important element of the show, as they help to bring in an anticipated 5,500 visitors to meet over 300 local and international exhibitors in during the three-day event from November 26 to November 28, 2024.
“Nigeria imported about $287 million worth of cosmetics, perfumes, toiletries and essential oils from around the world in 2023, around $48.6 million or 16 percent of this was from China, with soaps accounting for $8.9 million.
“China also supplies what are described as mixtures of odoriferous substances worth $13.5 million as ingredients for use in manufacturing beauty and personal care products in Nigeria, so you can see how important a trade event like ours will help boost the Nigerian economy,” he stated.
Details of the beauty and personal care products imported from China into Nigeria in 2023 showed that beauty and make-up preparations, including skin care preparations was the largest value sub-category, accounting for $21.4 million of the imports from China.
Hair care products amounted to $5.4 million, while shaving products, depilatories and deodorants were worth $4.3 million just as perfumes contributed $735,000 and oral and dental hygiene products amounted to $2.8 million.
“We are delighted that China continues to show vital presence at the fair and like all our international exhibitors, China’s businesses are looking to build business relationships with local distributors and retailers and establish new partnerships across West Africa to the benefit of enterprises, beauty and hair professionals, and ultimately consumers,” Baber added.
Besides meeting with the vast array of exhibitors at Beauty West Africa, visitors attending the Beauty West Africa Conference running alongside the exhibition, will watch seminars and demonstrations on the latest styling techniques and have hands-on experience of using the products.