Written by the Oppenheimer Lab team
Published on
7 min read
The Tunisian cosmetics market is worth about 1.77 bn TND (around 530 M EUR), or 1.6% of GDP, according to Team France Export. The sector has about 774 companies, according to La Presse de Tunisie (6 March 2025). The growth segments are natural cosmetics, parapharmacy and exports.
This article compares the figures that diverge between sources, presents the 2026 segments and trends, then draws practical implications for launching a brand.
How big is the Tunisian cosmetics market?
The Tunisian cosmetics market is the set of companies that make and sell skincare, perfumery and hygiene products in Tunisia. According to Team France Export (undated sheet), its turnover is about 1.77 bn TND (nearly 530 M EUR), or 1.6% of GDP. La Presse de Tunisie (March 2025) counts about 774 companies and nearly 7,600 jobs.
These orders of magnitude come from separate sources, whose scopes and dates differ. The table below gathers the figures on companies and employment, with the reference for each.
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Companies, jobs and integration | About 774 companies, nearly 7,600 jobs, integration rate above 40% | La Presse de Tunisie, 6 March 2025 |
| Structured companies | About 774 companies, of which 60 structured | Chroniques, June 2025 |
How should you read these figures?
The Team France Export sheet carries no publication date. It is therefore prudent to read its turnover figure as a benchmark, not as a measure of the current year. It also states that the market remains dominated by large foreign brands.
Be careful with employment: the same sheet mentions about 20,000 direct and indirect jobs per year. An article in La Presse de Tunisie speaks of nearly 7,600 jobs, craft included. These two totals rest on different scopes: do not add them together and always cite the source.
Finally, the gap between 774 companies and 60 structured companies shows that a large part of the sector remains informal. This article is informative: for an investment decision, check the figures with the original sources.
Why do the sector’s figures differ between sources?
The figures differ because the sources use neither the same scopes nor the same dates: 774 companies of which 60 structured on one side, 60 companies on the other; 225 MD of exports at the end of 2024 against 270 MD cited in January 2026. Always cite the source and date, without mixing scopes.
A scope is the precise list of what a figure includes: types of companies, craft, period covered. Without this precision, two totals cannot be compared. Here are the main gaps found in the sources consulted:
- Number of companies: about 774 according to Chroniques (June 2025), of which 60 structured.
- Informal sector: 75% of these companies operate informally or employ undeclared workers.
- Exports: the amounts cited vary from one source and date to another, as the rest of this section details.
Companies: 774, 65 or 60?
According to Chroniques (June 2025), the sector has about 774 companies, of which 60 are structured, and 75% operate informally or employ undeclared workers.
Team France Export describes a different set: 65 production units, six of them wholly export-oriented. As this sheet is undated, comparison with the 2025 figures remains approximate.
In January 2026, a ministerial official mentions 60 companies generating 7,600 jobs, according to WebManagerCenter. These totals may refer to different scopes, but the sources do not say so.
Exports: 225 MD in 2024, 270 MD in 2026
According to La Presse de Tunisie (6 March 2025), the sector’s exports reached about 225 million dinars at the end of 2024.
In January 2026, speakers cite 270 MD, according to WebManagerCenter. These are statements made at a conference, not a customs statistic. The gap may come from the year, the scope or the method: the sources do not settle it.
For your analyses, keep the source and date with every figure. This article is informative and does not replace a check with official sources.
Which cosmetics segments have the most potential?
Three avenues emerge from the sources: natural cosmetics, driven by prickly pear oil, essential oils and floral waters; parapharmacy, with 3,500 parapharmacies; and skincare. In neighbouring Morocco, skincare is the leading segment and sun care is growing fastest. No source publishes Tunisian data by segment.
A segment is a category of products or customers whose size and growth are measured. In the absence of Tunisian statistics by segment, it is useful to rely on signals: exports, distribution channels and regional benchmarks.
Natural cosmetics and prickly pear
Natural cosmetics is a family of products formulated from ingredients of plant or mineral origin. According to Chroniques (June 2025), France, Germany and Spain are among the main export markets, attracted by essential oils and floral waters.
“Tunisia also stands out for its production of prickly pear oil, an ingredient prized in organic cosmetics, ranking fifth among the country’s organic agricultural exports.” (Chroniques, June 2025)
For this segment, textures such as serums and oils are a natural area for development. But sourcing the raw material calls for vigilance, as the next section on trends shows.
Parapharmacy as a distribution channel
Parapharmacy is a sales channel specialising in care, hygiene and dermocosmetics, distinct from mass retail. According to WebManagerCenter (23 January 2026), the Minister of Industry mentioned a parapharmaceutical sector of 3,500 parapharmacies.
The same article states that efforts aim to add value to aromatic plants such as rosemary for cosmetic products. For a brand, this network is an outlet to study, though no source quantifies its share of sales.
Regional benchmark: Morocco
This benchmark concerns a neighbouring market, not Tunisia. According to Femmes du Maroc (September 2026), skincare confirmed its status as the leading segment in 2025, at 2.3 billion dirhams (+12%).
Sun care products show the strongest growth there, at +13%. These figures do not allow conclusions for Tunisia, but they offer a way of reading face care and sun protection.
Which trends are influencing the market in 2026?
Three trends emerge in 2026: a shortage of prickly pear seed oil linked to falling harvests, marked seasonality of demand (sun care in summer, moisturisers in winter) and an opening towards Africa, where demand is growing by more than 10% a year according to Chroniques (June 2025).
A trend is a lasting change in demand or supply, observable over several months. The three below directly affect the choice of ingredients, timing and markets.
Pressure on prickly pear oil
According to La Presse de Tunisie (3 August 2026), prickly pear seed oil has become almost impossible to find in many points of sale. In Bouargoub, Utap estimates harvest losses at nearly 70%, notably because of the cochineal insect.
The scarcity contributes to rising prices. Ask your laboratory how to secure this raw material before building a range around it.
Seasonality of demand
Demand generally follows the seasons: sun care in summer, moisturising care and solutions for oily skin in winter. We advise anticipating these peaks by several months in the development and manufacturing schedule.
Towards Africa and exports
According to Chroniques (June 2025), Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire are identified as gateways to sub-Saharan Africa.
On the institutional side, La Presse de Tunisie (6 March 2025) notes a desire to make it easier for companies to access international markets, particularly African ones. Define your selling countries from the brief, as each market has its own requirements.
What should you take away for launching a brand?
To launch a cosmetics brand, choose a segment, secure sensitive raw materials, anticipate the season and start with a single product. At Oppenheimer Lab, small batches are possible from 200 units, or even 100 depending on the project, subject to assessment, with lead times of 45 to 90 days in private label. Custom formulation follows a different timeline.
The figures of this market guide the choice without replacing it. Here are the points to remember from this article, in the order in which they affect your project:
- Segment: no source publishes Tunisian data by segment. Rely on signals (exports, parapharmacy, regional benchmarks) and on your target customers.
- Raw materials: the pressure on prickly pear seed oil is a reason to plan an alternative formula before building a range around it.
- Season: we recommend anticipating demand peaks by several months, sun care in summer, moisturisers in winter.
- Range: our advice is to start with one or two well-positioned products, keep budget to market them, then expand according to customer feedback.
To start from an already validated base, look at our ready-to-launch formulas, drawn from a catalogue of more than 500 formulas. To compare collaboration models, read our guide to cosmetic contract manufacturing in Tunisia.
Typical example: a first brand sold online
Take a typical example, which matches no real client. A Tunisian entrepreneur launches her first skincare brand sold online. She starts with a single product: a 50 ml face moisturiser with a light texture and accessible positioning, based on an existing formula that is already validated.
For 1,000 units, a timeline of about twelve weeks is realistic, provided the packaging is available, validations are quick and checks are satisfactory. A fully custom formulation would require a different schedule.
This article is informative: it replaces neither a market study nor a check of the official texts applicable to your product. To cost your project, you can request a quote; we reply within 48 working hours.
Sources
- L’industrie cosmétique en Tunisie : Un secteur en pleine effervescence (in French), Team France Export, undated
- Industrie des cosmétiques : Vers une évolution réglementaire pour un meilleur accès aux marchés (in French), La Presse de Tunisia, 6 March 2025
- La Tunisie mise sur ses cosmétiques pour conquérir l’Afrique (in French), Chroniques, June 2025
- Parapharmaceutique : 270 MD d’exportations pour les parfums et cosmétiques tunisiens (in French), WebManagerCenter, 23 January 2026
- La figue de Barbarie et son huile : une rareté qui fragilise toute une filière (in French), La Presse de Tunisia, 3 August 2026
- Marché de la beauté : la nouvelle donne (in French), Femmes du Morocco, September 2026
Frequently asked questions
How big is the cosmetics market in Tunisia?
The sector’s turnover is about 1.77 bn TND, or nearly 530 M EUR and 1.6% of GDP, according to Team France Export. This sheet is undated: treat the amount as an order of magnitude. The market also remains dominated by large foreign brands, notably French ones.
How many cosmetics companies are there in Tunisia?
The sector has about 774 companies according to La Presse de Tunisie (March 2025) and Chroniques (June 2025). Only 60 are structured, each with more than six employees, and 75% operate informally or employ undeclared workers. Other sources cite 60 or 65 units: their scopes differ.
How many cosmetics does Tunisia export?
Sector exports reached about 225 million dinars at the end of 2024, according to La Presse de Tunisie. In January 2026, speakers mentioned 270 MD at a conference. The gap may come from the year or the scope. Always state the source and date when you cite these amounts.
What are the main export markets for Tunisian cosmetics?
The main markets are France, Germany and Spain, according to Chroniques (June 2025). They are drawn to natural products, notably essential oils and floral waters. Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire are also cited as gateways to sub-Saharan Africa.
Why is prickly pear oil so scarce and expensive?
It is scarce because harvests fell sharply in summer 2026. La Presse de Tunisie cites the cochineal insect, heat and a rainfall deficit, with losses estimated at nearly 70% in Bouargoub. Extracting it requires large volumes of fruit, and demand remains strong, which pushes prices up.
How many parapharmacies are there in Tunisia?
The parapharmaceutical sector has 3,500 parapharmacies, according to the Minister of Industry cited by WebManagerCenter on 23 January 2026. None of the sources consulted quantifies this channel’s share of cosmetics sales. For a brand, it remains an outlet to study according to its target.
