State minister projects $250m annual earnings for Jamaica beauty and personal care sector

Jamaica's beauty and personal care sector is gaining ground as a significant economic driver, with annual revenue expected to reach roughly US$250 million—about J$39 billion—while growth remains on a stable upward path, State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Delano Seiveright has said.

Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) has singled out the industry among the nation's most promising export channels, pointing to rich natural inputs, a fast-growing manufacturing footprint, and a wide base of creative professionals.

"We have internationally recognised natural ingredients, such as black castor oil, coconut-based products and other botanical extracts. We have exceptionally talented hairstylists, we have amazing barbers, we have great makeup artists, great nail technicians, highly skilled aestheticians, and innovative manufacturers, and they're all passionate about what they do," he said.

Seiveright delivered the keynote on Friday at the opening of the Jamaica International Beauty Expo, held at the National Arena in Kingston.

The state minister said Jamaica already holds the human capital needed to keep scaling the beauty and personal care field. He stressed, however, that the real test is converting that skill into export-ready enterprises that produce goods, sell abroad, and tap into e-commerce.

Drawing on figures from global management consultancy McKinsey, he said worldwide demand for beauty products is forecast to rise by around five per cent each year until 2030, lifting the market to an estimated US$590 billion.

"It is one of the world's largest, fastest growing and most resilient consumer industries. So even during times of great global uncertainty, people continue investing in wellness, they continue to invest in self-expression, they continue to invest in grooming, and that resilience presents tremendous opportunities for Jamaica," Seiveright said.