China beauty exporters flourish despite US trade tensions

The Chinese beauty industry is thriving amid escalating trade tensions with the United States, with sales of artificial nail products and related accessories surging in the US market. Xuchang, a central city in China known as "the wig capital," is experiencing a 40% year-over-year boost in its wig sales, driven significantly by US consumers attracted through social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

China's exports of hair products to the US increased by 12.4% in the first half of 2026, totaling $1.3 billion, and are projected to surpass the previous year's full-year revenue of $2.3 billion.

Zhang Da, owner of a press-on nail factory in Donghai, reports that exports now account for 70% of his company's revenue, up from 20% just last year, with a substantial portion coming from US sales. This trend highlights China's ability to dominate global markets, not just in high-value products but also in lower-value-added goods, according to Dan Wang, the China director of Eurasia Group.

Despite this success, Chinese beauty exporters remain unfazed by potential US trade curbs, confident in the strength of US demand and the current scale of Chinese production capabilities.