Intercharm 2007 to focus on growth in Russian market

The annual global beauty event Intercharm, held in Russia, will this year act as a platform to highlight on the continued growth and potential of the Russian cosmetics market.

Intercharm 2007 takes place in Moscow and will play host to numerous cosmetic and beauty manufacturers who exhibit products available on the Russian and global personal care market.

There will also be dedicated areas drawing attention to trends, packaging, raw materials and services to the cosmetics industry. However, the main feature of the show will be a wide business concurrent programme to showcase the market opportunities in Russia to the many decision makers that attend the event.

The 2007 event is expected to be larger then previous shows, with a focus on how the Russian cosmetics market is continuing to consolidate, with many smaller cosmetic players making way for large companies who have the capital to make new acquisitions and diversify their businesses.

The current market growth rate for the Russian cosmetics industry is expected to be around 10-12 per cent, hitting $7.8bn in 2006 and has huge potential for further expansion due to its significant population size and undeveloped infrastructure.

Moreover, a clear indication of the market development comes from specialised cosmetic retail chains, actively proliferating in the regions. Such chains are reporting 25-40 per cent annual growth - with imminent legislation changes expected to further stimulate market consolidation.

The show, which has been running since 1993, was relaunched in 2006 with 850 exhibitors attending, a 34 per cent increase from 2005. Attendees come from across the globe, with exhibitors coming from Russia, CIS countries and Eastern and Western Europe.