<P> The cosmetic industry is dominated by a small number of multinational corporations that originated in the early 20th century, but the distribution and sale of cosmetics is spread among a wide range of different businesses . The largest cosmetic companies are The L'Oréal Group, The Procter & Gamble Company, Unilever, Shiseido Company, Limited and Estée Lauder Companies, Inc . The market volume of the cosmetics industry in the United States, Europe, and Japan is about EUR € 70b per year, according to a 2005 publication . The worldwide cosmetics and perfume industry currently generates an estimated annual turnover of US $170 billion (according to Eurostaf--May 2007). Europe is the leading market, representing approximately € 63 billion . </P> <P> Cosmetic sales in France reached € 6.5 billion in 2006, according to FIPAR (Fédération des Industries de la Parfumerie--the French federation for the perfume industry). France is another country in which the cosmetic industry plays an important role, both nationally and internationally . Most products with a label, "Made in France" are valued on the international market . According to data from 2008, the cosmetic industry has grown constantly in France for 40 consecutive years . In 2006, this industrial sector reached a record level of € 6.5 billion . Famous cosmetic brands produced in France include Vichy, Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Rocher and many others . </P> <P> In Germany, the cosmetic industry generated € 12.6 billion of retail sales in 2008, which makes the German cosmetic industry the third largest in the world, after Japan and the United States . It has been shown that in Germany this industry grew nearly 5 percent in one year, from 2007 to 2008 . German exports in this industry reached € 5.8 billion in 2008, whereas imports of cosmetics totaled € 3 billion . The main countries that export cosmetics to Germany are France, Switzerland, the United States and Italy, and they mainly consist of makeup and fragrances or perfumes for women . </P>

What is the largest cosmetic company in the world