PCHi Proves: Cosmetics R&D Business is on the Rise in the East

By: Rachel Grabenhofer, Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine

Posted: March 24, 2010

During the Personal Care and Homecare Ingredients (PCHi) show, held March 10-12, 2010, in Shanghai, a record 194 personal care exhibitors including 65 newcomers, the highest number to date, supported what market research has claimed for some time—that cosmetics R&D business is on the rise in the East.

Jason Li, PCHi project manager, said in a press statement, “China will see high growth and low inflation this year, making it possible for the country to experience one of the best years in decades in terms of economic performance.” In relation to this, he added that the show organizers expect PCHi 2010 to springboard its exhibitors to achieve significant results and enjoy greater returns during the year.

Among the show’s exhibitors were members of the China Association of Fragrance, Flavor and Cosmetic Industries (CAFFCI). According to Zhang Tie Chen, chairman and senior engineer for CAFFCI, “Our members are interested in expanding beyond the Chinese market and PCHi provides a venue where they can exchange knowledge and ideas.”

The first day of the show opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony welcoming nearly 2,300 attendees from around the globe. While some exhibitors highlighted products such as whitening actives, materials derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and sensitive skin care ingredients, others were present to search for new distributors and gain a foothold in the Chinese market.

For example, Beom-Zoo Lee, president of the Korean company Chemland, noted “75% of our current business [including cornstarch, rice starch, coated powders and TiO₂ and ZnO dispersions, among others], is in the Korean and Southeast Asian markets, while 25% is exported to North America and Europe.” Through In-Won Lee, Chemland’s trading team/general manager and interpreter, B-Z added, “We’d like to reach the China market” but he conceded that language difficulties can be a barrier to penetrating further into the region. “Taking part in this show is not about meeting clients,” he added. “For us, it’s about finding a distributor.”