Exporting Tunisian cosmetics: promising markets and access requirements by region

The most promising markets for exporting Tunisian cosmetics are Europe, Libya and the Maghreb, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Gulf and Middle East. Each region applies its own access rules. According to L’Économiste Maghrébin (March 2025), Tunisian products are exported notably to France, Germany and Spain. According to Chroniques (June 2025), these exports reached about 225 million dinars in 2024.

This guide brings together the sector’s figures, a comparison table of the regions, the regulatory requirements and a method for choosing your first market. Manufacturing in Tunisia does not exempt you from the rules of the destination country. To go deeper into each step, see our guides on cosmetics export.

Why export Tunisian cosmetics in 2025-2026?

The Tunisian cosmetics sector is an export-oriented industry. According to WMC (January 2026), the perfumes and cosmetics sector exports about 270 MD. Estimates vary depending on the scope used: date and source every figure before building your export plan.

Cosmetics export is the sale, outside Tunisia, of cosmetic products made in the country, under the manufacturer’s brand or that of a principal. Before targeting a country, it is useful to gauge the real weight of the industry and the reliability of the figures available.

How big is the Tunisian cosmetics sector?

According to L’Économiste Maghrébin (March 2025), the sector accounts for 1.35% of GDP. Chroniques (June 2025) puts it at about 1.6% of GDP and an estimated turnover of 1.77 billion dinars. The same outlet counts about 774 companies, 60 of them structured.

The coverage rate is the ratio between the value of a sector’s exports and that of its imports. Chroniques puts it at about 60% for Tunisian cosmetics. For its part, WMC describes a sector of 60 companies generating 7,600 jobs.

Why do the figures vary between sources?

The differences come first from the scope used. Chroniques points out that a large share of the companies counted sit outside the formal sector. A figure covering only structured companies therefore cannot be compared directly with a total that includes the informal sector.

The dates also differ. The amount of 225 million dinars relates to 2024. The 270 MD figure comes from a statement made during the pharmaceutical days of January 2026. Without deciding between these estimates, always cite the source and date of each figure in your presentations to partners and investors. To go further region by region, browse all our articles on export.

What are the promising markets for Tunisian cosmetics?

Four regions stand out for exporting Tunisian cosmetics. Europe is the first outlet cited. Libya and the Maghreb play the proximity card, and sub-Saharan Africa benefits from growing demand and the AfCFTA. In the Gulf and the Middle East, Tunisia has privileged access to Arab markets. Access requirements differ greatly from one region to another.

A promising market is a region where demand, ease of regulatory access and distribution capacity combine in favour of your product. The AfCFTA is the African Continental Free Trade Area. The table below sets out, for each region, a demand signal, the Tunisian asset and the main access requirements.

According to Chroniques (June 2025), demand for hygiene and beauty products in sub-Saharan Africa is growing by more than 10% a year, against 4% elsewhere. The same outlet names two preferred entry countries.

This table deliberately gives no market share by country: the sources consulted do not publish any reliable figures. Outside the European Union, requirements often change. Confirm them with your importer and the competent authority before fixing your formula and labelling.

How do you sell Tunisian cosmetics in the European Union?

Yes, a cosmetic made in Tunisia can be sold in the European Union if it complies with Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. In particular, you need a Responsible Person established in the EU, a Product Information File with a safety assessment, compliant labelling and a notification on the CPNP portal before the product is placed on the market.

Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 is the European regulation on cosmetic products. It applies in the same way to a product made in Tunisia and to one made in Europe. The place of production therefore changes nothing about the obligations to be met before sale.

What obligations does Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 impose?

The Responsible Person is the operator established in the EU who guarantees the compliance of the product placed on the market. The CPNP is the European portal for the notification of cosmetic products. The main obligations break down as follows:

• Article 4: appoint a Responsible Person established in the European Union.
• Article 8: manufacture according to good manufacturing practice, with the ISO 22716 standard as a reference.
• Article 10: carry out the safety assessment, formalised in the CPSR, the cosmetic product safety report.
• Article 11: keep the PIF, the Product Information File, available to the authorities.
• Article 13: notify the product on the CPNP portal before it is marketed.
• Article 19: comply with the mandatory labelling particulars.
• Article 20 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 655/2013: substantiate every claim appearing on the packaging or in communications.

Our advice: manufacturing in Tunisia does not exempt you from the requirements of the destination market. CPNP notification is neither an authorisation nor a quality certification. We recommend defining the countries of sale from the brief, to prepare the corresponding supporting documents and packaging.

The United Kingdom and Switzerland, European outlets outside the EU, apply their own requirements. These may include a Responsible Person established in the country and a national notification separate from the CPNP: check them in each country’s official texts before fixing your labelling. On the Tunisian side, ask CEPEX about the export promotion schemes your project may be eligible for.

Oppenheimer Lab manufactures in accordance with cosmetic Good Manufacturing Practice (ISO 22716 / GMP) and prepares Product Information Files (PIF) and CPNP notifications. The appointment of the Responsible Person remains to be arranged with an operator established in the EU. This content is for information only: see the official text of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and our articles on regulation and quality.

Which Tunisian products attract European buyers?

European buyers favour natural products, an area where Tunisian origin is easy to promote.

“The main export markets include France, Germany and Spain, drawn by natural products such as essential oils and floral waters.” (Chroniques, June 2025)

This demand calls for particular care with “natural” or “organic” claims. They must remain substantiated under Commission Regulation (EU) No 655/2013.

Libya and the Maghreb: what potential for Tunisian cosmetics?

Libya and the Maghreb countries are nearby outlets for Tunisian cosmetics. Transport distances are short and trade is conducted in Arabic or French. Libya is among the markets where Tunisian cosmetics have established themselves, but each country applies its own product registration rules.

According to La Presse de Tunisie (January 2025), Tunisian cosmetics have established themselves in export markets, notably in Libya, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. The same daily attributes this success in part to subsidies from a public programme launched in 1995, which helped Tunisian products stand out for their value for money.

For Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania, the sources consulted publish neither export figures nor detailed access rules. Registration is the procedure by which a product is declared to a country’s competent authority before going on sale. Its terms vary from one country to another.

Before shipping, check three points with your importer and the competent authority of the target country:

• the product registration procedure and the documents to provide;
• the languages required on the labelling;
• the customs documents expected on entry.

Sub-Saharan Africa: what does the AfCFTA change for Tunisian cosmetics?

The AfCFTA, the African Continental Free Trade Area, widens the horizon for Tunisian manufacturers. According to Chroniques (June 2025), it eases access to a market of more than 1.3 billion consumers. Demand for skincare is growing fast there, but logistics, financing and payments remain to be anticipated.

According to Managers (July 2026), the Ministry of Trade presented a study to measure the results of Tunisia’s integration into the AfCFTA. The same outlet reports that full implementation of the agreement could increase Tunisian exports to the rest of the continent by 91% by 2035. This estimate covers all exports, not cosmetics alone.

The AfCFTA does not settle entry formalities on its own. Before fixing your price, have your importer confirm the customs treatment applicable to your product and the proofs of origin expected.

Why is African demand growing?

The growth in demand for hygiene and beauty products, noted in the comparison table, opens up space for Tunisian products. Chroniques considers that the local offer is well placed.

This potential nonetheless requires adapting the offer rather than transposing a range designed for Europe. The same outlet stresses the diversity of local expectations. So test textures, formats and prices with your distributor before launching batch production.

What obstacles still hold back exports to Africa?

Managers lists several challenges to overcome to realise this potential. Intra-African payments are the financial settlements between a Tunisian company and its customers established in other countries of the continent.

The outlet also cites an issue of commercial presence. Before your first shipment, check three points with your local partner:

• the landed cost, transport and formalities included;
• the payment method and term accepted;
• how the formula and packaging withstand heat and the length of transport.

Gulf and Middle East: what are the conditions for selling there?

Tunisian cosmetics can be sold in the Gulf and the Middle East, where cultural and linguistic proximity with Arab markets eases trade. Entry most often involves local registration of the product, an importer or distributor on the ground and, depending on the channels, Halal certification. The precise rules must be checked country by country.

According to WMC (January 2026), an official of the Ministry of Industry stressed that Tunisia has privileged access to Arab markets for perfumes and cosmetics. La Presse de Tunisie (January 2025) also lists the Middle East among the outlets where Tunisian cosmetics have established themselves.

For Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait or Oman, the sources consulted give no detail of registration procedure or timeframe. Your importer therefore remains your first point of contact. Ask them for the list of documents they consider necessary, which could include:

• a certificate of free sale, that is, a document attesting that the product is legally marketed in its country of manufacture;
• the full composition in INCI, the international nomenclature of cosmetic ingredients;
• labelling in Arabic, possibly supplemented by another language.

Halal certification is an attestation, issued by a certification body, that a product complies with a given Halal standard. Its usefulness depends on the country, the distribution channel and your buyers’ expectations. At Oppenheimer Lab, COSMOS, Ecocert, Vegan and Halal certifications are available on request. Have the standard recognised in the target country validated beforehand with your importer, as this content is for information only.

Which Tunisian ingredients interest foreign markets?

Foreign buyers mainly look for Tunisian natural actives: essential oils, floral waters, prickly pear seed oil and aromatic plants such as rosemary. These ingredients give a clear origin to a skincare range. They do, however, require substantiated claims within the meaning of Commission Regulation (EU) No 655/2013, with no promise of efficacy that has not been demonstrated.

According to Chroniques (June 2025), Tunisia stands out for its production of prickly pear seed oil, prized in organic cosmetics. The same outlet adds that this ingredient ranks fifth among the country’s organic agricultural exports.

According to WMC (January 2026), an official of the Ministry of Industry indicated that efforts are under way to promote aromatic plants, including rosemary. Other local ingredients can round out a range: orange blossom water, rose water, neroli, olive oil or ghassoul.

A floral water is the aromatic water obtained when plants are distilled with steam. For your floral waters formulated in Tunisia as for your skincare, Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 governs claims. A mention of origin or ingredient must reflect the actual formula and rest on supporting documents kept in the product file.

How do you choose your first export market?

To choose your first export market, weigh three criteria: real demand for your product, the regulatory complexity of access, and your ability to sell there, through a distributor, an online channel or a dedicated marketing budget. It is better to succeed in one well-prepared market than to spread your resources across several countries at once.

The first export market is the country where your brand tests its model outside its home territory. This choice determines your labelling, your supporting documents and part of your budget. The landed cost is the total price of a product delivered to the buyer, transport, duties and formalities included.

What steps should you follow before launching exports?

It is useful to settle the list of your countries of sale before developing the formula and packaging. The following steps then come in this order:

1. Set the countries of sale from the brief, so that formula, supporting documents and packaging are designed for these markets.
2. Identify the regulatory requirements: Responsible Person established in the EU for Europe, local registration elsewhere.
3. Check the labelling and languages required in each target country.
4. Adapt the formula and packaging to the climate, duration and conditions of transport.
5. Choose the distribution partner: importer, distributor or online sales.
6. Calculate the landed cost to check that your selling price remains competitive locally.
7. Plan manufacturing taking validation and shipping lead times into account.

Each step conditions the next. Labelling decided too late, for example, may require a new order of packaging.

A typical example: a French brand having its products made in Tunisia

Take a typical example: a young French brand wants to launch a short range of face care. Three criteria lead it to manufacture in Tunisia: talking directly in French with the technical team, geographical proximity and an offer suited to its starting volumes.

In this scenario, the decision does not rest on a general impression. It is built on concrete elements: the quality of the samples, the documentation available, the landed cost and the reliability of the schedule. Compare these four points across several offers before signing.

If your project starts from a blank page, support with brand creation lets you link positioning, range and target markets from the outset.

What obstacles should you anticipate when exporting from Tunisia?

Exporting cosmetics from Tunisia means anticipating several obstacles. The main ones are tax pressure, competition from large international brands, logistics costs, export financing and payments to certain countries. The sector’s regulatory framework is also under debate in Tunisia: check the state of the texts when you launch your project.

According to Chroniques (June 2025), the sector faces high tax pressure and increased competition from large brands. Tax pressure is the share of compulsory levies borne by a company. It adds to the landed cost and reduces your room for manoeuvre on the selling price.

Transport costs and shipment financing do not concern Africa alone. They weigh on all distant regions. Build them in from the price calculation, rather than after the first order.

The supervisory authority is the administrative body responsible for overseeing a sector. La Presse de Tunisie (January 2025) mentioned the decision to transfer oversight of the sector to the Ministry of Health. The daily saw a risk for small industries there. This is a press analysis, not an established finding.

Support schemes also exist. According to WMC (January 2026), an official of the Ministry of Industry stated that the ministry is working to create support structures for industrial companies in the sector. L’Économiste Maghrébin (March 2025) reports that the Minister of Industry brought together representatives of the profession. Ask these professional organisations about the schemes in force before building your export budget.

How do you prepare manufacturing for export with a Tunisian laboratory?

Preparing for export starts at the laboratory: a formula compatible with the rules of the target country, complete regulatory documentation, batch traceability and packaging suited to transport. Ask your manufacturer for its quality references, lead times and ability to supply the files expected by your importers or your Responsible Person.

Traceability is the ability to retrieve the complete history of a batch, from raw materials to shipment. It becomes decisive when an importer or an authority asks for supporting documents after the product has been placed on the market. At Oppenheimer Lab, the complete history of a batch is available within 24 hours.

Based in Tunisia, Oppenheimer Lab exports to more than 30 countries and has supported more than 50 brands. Small batches are possible: from 200 units, or even 100 depending on the project, subject to assessment. Compare this threshold with the volume actually planned for your first market before fixing your range.

Private label is the marketing, under your own brand, of an existing formula from a laboratory’s catalogue. Oppenheimer Lab’s catalogue contains more than 500 formulas, which lets you start from ready-to-launch formulas rather than a blank page, provided you check their compliance for each target country. Lead times vary according to the development route:

• 45 to 90 days for private label;
• 3 to 6 months for custom private label;
• 6 to 12 months for custom formulation.

Build these lead times into your export calendar, as local registration or labelling validation may be added. To frame formula, documents and schedule country by country, you can request a quote for your export project: Oppenheimer Lab replies to quote requests within 48 working hours.

Sources

• Le ministère de l’Industrie renforce son soutien à l’industrie cosmétique (in French), L’Économiste Maghrébin, 7 March 2025
• Parapharmaceutique : 270 MD d’exportations pour les parfums et cosmétiques tunisiens (in French), WMC (Webmanagercenter), 23 January 2026
• La Tunisie mise sur ses cosmétiques pour conquérir l’Afrique (in French), Chroniques, June 2025
• Petites et moyennes industries cosmétiques : Un secteur à sauver (in French), La Presse de Tunisia, 14 January 2025
• ZLECAf : la Tunisie évalue sa stratégie pour accélérer ses exportations vers l’Afrique (in French), Managers, 15 July 2026