Cosmetic imports in the DR Congo: data, top suppliers and prices
The DR Congo imported $38.0 million of cosmetic in 2024 (14.9 thousand tonnes). That is 4% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 31% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $38.0M | 14.9K t |
| 2023 | $39.6M | 13.2K t |
| 2022 | $30.3M | 11.9K t |
| 2021 | $25.6M | 10.4K t |
| 2020 | $17.5M | 6.5K t |
| 2019 | $15.6M | 7.5K t |
| 2018 | $12.2M | 6.2K t |
| 2017 | $5.9M | 3.0K t |
Where the DR Congo imports cosmetic from
The largest suppliers were South Africa (28%), Uganda (24%), Cote d'Ivoire (10%). Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+215% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $10.6M | 28% |
| Uganda | $9.2M | 24% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $3.7M | 9.7% |
| Tanzania | $3.2M | 8.4% |
| Zambia | $2.3M | 6.2% |
| France | $2.0M | 5.2% |
| China | $1.5M | 4% |
| Belgium | $1.2M | 3.3% |
| Togo | $1000K | 2.6% |
| Senegal | $888K | 2.3% |
Product types under HS 3304
| 3304.99 | Cosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for the care of the skin (excluding medicaments, including sunscreen or sun tan… | 92% |
| 3304.91 | Cosmetic and toilet preparations: powders, whether or not compressed (excluding lip, eye, manicure or pedicure preparations) | 3.6% |
| 3304.20 | Cosmetic and toilet preparations: eye make-up | 2.6% |
| 3304.10 | Cosmetic and toilet preparations: lip make-up | 1.4% |
| 3304.30 | Cosmetic and toilet preparations: manicure or pedicure preparations | 0.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3304.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.54 per kg, 88% below the world average of $21.51, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Cosmetic exports from the DR Congo
In 2024, the DR Congo exported cosmetic worth $1.5 million (3.4 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Angola (44%), Uganda (43%), Zambia (10%). Among the main buyer markets, Uganda grew fastest (+104% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Angola | $645K | 44% |
| Uganda | $633K | 43% |
| Zambia | $151K | 10% |
| Zimbabwe | $8K | 0.5% |
| United States | $7K | 0.5% |
| Canada | $7K | 0.5% |
| France | $5K | 0.4% |
| Denmark | $1K | 0% |
| Spain | $0K | 0% |
| Switzerland | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in the DR Congo?
The shipment records behind DR Congo cosmetic imports (HS 3304): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 3304: Cosmetic and toilet preparations; beauty, make-up and skin care preparations (excluding medicaments, including sunscreen or sun tan preparations), manicure or pedicure preparations.
Common questions
What is the value of cosmetic imported by the DR Congo?
The DR Congo imported cosmetic worth $38.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 14.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 100th of 224 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 4% on 2023.
Which countries supply cosmetic to the DR Congo?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 28% of the value ($10.6 million), followed by Uganda (24%) and Cote d'Ivoire (10%). The top three together account for 62%, out of 35 supplier countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 215% on the year.
What is the average import price of cosmetic per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.54 per kg in 2024, 88% below the world average of $21.51 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of cosmetic to the DR Congo changed since 2017?
Imports went from $5.9 million in 2017 to $38.0 million in 2024, an increase of 546%. The peak was 2023 at $39.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $23.1 million a year.
Does the DR Congo also export cosmetic?
Yes. The DR Congo exported $1.5 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Angola, Uganda and Zambia. On balance the DR Congo is a net importer of this product, by about $36.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for cosmetic?
The HS code for cosmetic is heading 3304. In the DR Congo the largest six-digit codes were 3304.99 (92% of the value) and 3304.91 (4%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For the DR Congo, EximDataX reads the shipment records of the countries that trade with it and shows the companies on both sides. We can walk you through your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
More trade data for the DR Congo
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.