GT Cosmetics sees ‘surprising’ growth in Japan, UAE markets

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu-based cosmetic manufacturing firm GT Cosmetics is seeing a quick growth of sales in Japan and United Arab Emirates (UAE) markets, a company executive said.

GT Cosmetics Manufacturing Inc. founder Leonora Salvane yesterday told reporters that while the domestic market for naturally-processed cosmetics continues to be lucrative, the export market is also showing good prospects.

Already, GT Cosmetics product lines have been available in United States, Canada, Korea, Middle East, Singapore, as well as Nigeria, but the emerging markets that register “surprising” growth are Japan and UEA, Salvane said.

Salvane, a Cebuana chemical engineer, started GT Cosmetics in 1994 at her home backyard in Barangay Yati, Liloan, Cebu with beauty soaps made of vegetable and fruit extracts like papaya and carrot as initial flagship products.

Today, the company has grown into a full-blown cosmetics manufacturer with at least 12 products from beauty soap, to lotion, face cream, liquid lipsticks, among others.

According to Salvane, aside from using natural ingredients, the brand’s certification from Halal, ISO, and FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) reinforced the brand’s credibility in the global market, competing with the giants in the multi-billion-dollar cosmetics industry in the world.

In fact, the Cebuano brand has already entered the market in Korea, which is considered as the beauty and cosmetics capital of the world.

At present, the company maintains manufacturing plant, producing 12,000 pieces of beauty soap and 15,000 bleaching cream a day.

GT Cosmetics is able to ride on with the trend of providing health-friendly cosmetics products using the basic nature’s ingredients abundantly available in the Philippines.

In the Philippines, its products are available in all Metro Gaisano, SM, Robinsons, Gaisano Grand, Gaisano Capital stores, Mercury Drug, Watsons, Rustans Supermarkets, among others. Its products are also being carried online stores like Lazada, and soon Shoppe.

GT Cosmetics Manufacturing Inc. employs over 300 people. Its production system is following the ASEAN Directive, an agreement on the ASEAN Harmonized Cosmetic Regulatory Scheme, said Salvane. —JMD