THE WHAT? South Korean cosmetics exports reached a record US$7 billion in the first half of 2026, rising 27.3 percent year on year as strong US demand continued to drive international growth.
THE DETAILS Preliminary data from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety showed second-quarter exports reached US3.9billion,upfromUS3.1 billion in the first quarter. The US remained the largest export market, with shipments rising 41.5 percent to US1.45 billion,representing 20.7 percent of the total,while exports to China fell 6.6 percent to US1.01 billion. Japan ranked third at US580million.Skin care dominated exports at US5.48 billion, accounting for 78 percent of the total, while Korean brands continue to increase their presence through major US retailers including Sephora, Ulta Beauty and Amazon.
THE WHY? The figures highlight a structural shift in the K-beauty export market, with the US replacing China as its primary growth engine and a broader mix of brands and international retail channels reducing reliance on individual markets and companies.
Source: Seoul Economic Daily
