Source: Zim spends US$140m importing cosmetics, wigs and toiletries – herald
Lincoln Towindo-Deputy National Editor
ZIMBABWE spent more than US$140 million importing personal care, beauty and cosmetic products over the past five years, highlighting the country’s continued reliance on foreign-sourced grooming products.
Under the new five-year plan that will be running until 2030, the Government is pushing for local production and import substitution as part of a broader industrialisation drive.
Official data obtained by The Sunday Mail covering the 2021 to 2025 period indicated that a significant portion of the country’s import bill is being driven by beauty and personal care products.
Beauty makeup and skincare products accounted for the largest share of the imports, costing the country US$43,6 million during the five-year period.
Other high-value imports include petroleum jelly, which cost US$13,6 million, and dentifrices — toothpaste and related dental products — at about US$20 million.
Perfumes, deodorants and antiperspirants accounted for US$16,4 million.
Further, US$8,5 million was spent on human hair and wigs, while eyebrows and eyelashes cost US$22 million.
Additional personal care products included bath salts (US$3,2 million), sunscreen (US$1,9 million) and shower gels (US$1,9 million).
Other smaller but notable imports include hair waving and straightening products valued at US$2,6 million, hairstyling and grooming products at US$2 million, as well as cosmetic powders (US$888 268) and shampoo (US$833 614).
Although some categories recorded relatively modest values — such as lip makeup preparations (US$330 205), eye makeup (US$164 160), manicure and pedicure preparations (US$82 205) and dental floss (US$72 395) — their cumulative impact continues to add pressure to the country’s import bill.
Last year alone, Zimbabwe spent US$9,6 million on makeup imports, while US$8,2 million went towards hair extensions, weaves and false eyelashes.
A further US$2,9 million was splurged on importing perfumes.
In total, the country’s import bill for cosmetics, wigs, toiletries and grooming products reached nearly US$29,9 million in 2025.
Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable increase in small retail outlets selling imported cosmetic products across major towns and cities.
Some analysts attribute the growing demand to rising disposable incomes among sections of the population, which has increased spending on lifestyle and grooming products.
In recent years, foreign network marketing companies such as Inuka Fragrances and Avon have also expanded their footprint in Zimbabwe.
These companies sell beauty products, skincare items, fragrances and fashion accessories through local independent representatives who often operate from home.
Distributors typically earn commissions of up to 30 percent, with sales largely managed through online platforms and social media, while most of the products are sourced through distribution networks in South Africa.
New industrial policy
The Government and industry players have warned that the persistent drain on foreign currency through importing “vanity products” is placing an unnecessary burden on the national trade balance, particularly as many of the products can potentially be manufactured locally.
Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said the Government was concerned about the trend.
“It is not just the non-essentials that worry us,” he said.
“We are also worried about the essentials where we have capacity to produce locally.
“We are most likely going to table our Industrial Policy this coming Tuesday for approval by Cabinet, which will go a long way in addressing these issues.
“For the first time, we are very particular and deliberate about things like mineral value addition, beneficiation, as well as manufacturing.
“We believe that most of what we are importing, if we put our heads together as Government ministries, agencies and departments working with the private sector and financial institutions, we can go a long way.”
The Government, he added, was intensifying efforts to promote domestic value addition and manufacturing.
“The President has already demonstrated that as a people we have capacity to do this,” he added.
“The banning of mineral exports is yet one deliberate and bold stance to give direction that we will not allow our raw materials to go out of the country unbeneficiated.
“So, we are looking at all the things we are importing, and we are going to be engaging the private sector to say how best can we internalise production of those.”
Zimbabwe’s manufactured exports have, however, already shown significant growth in recent years.
“When you look at our manufactured exports, rising from US$171 million in 2018 to more than US$570 million in 2025, it is all these policies that we are looking at,” he said.
Local manufacture
Innovation hubs at State universities are also working to promote the local manufacture and provision of goods and services.
Institutions such as the University of Zimbabwe Innovation Hub and the NUST Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship have student-led ventures that have developed prototypes of lip balms, shea butter-based cosmetics, herbal shampoos and natural deodorants using locally sourced ingredients.
Industry players say the cosmetics sector represents a “low-hanging fruit” for Zimbabwe’s import substitution agenda. Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Mr Denford Mutashu said the figures highlight an opportunity for local manufacturers.
“I think that figure shows us an opportunity for industry,” he said.
“And we need to then engage with the suppliers and manufacturers of those particular products.
“Because, you see, consumer preferences cannot be policed.
“If local consumers are going for those products, it certainly means these are the products that they like or prefer.
“So, our role as an association is to engage with manufacturers so that they can come and instal manufacturing plants here, since the market has already shown that it prefers those particular products,” he said.
The post Zim spends US$140m importing cosmetics, wigs and toiletries appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.