South Korea overtakes US in cosmetics exports, trailing only France

SEOUL – South Korea’s cosmetics exports have climbed to second place globally, surpassing those of the United States for the first time in 2025. It is trailing industry powerhouse France, data showed on June 30.

According to the South Korea International Trade Association (Kita), South Korea exported US$3.61 billion (S$4.6 billion) worth of cosmetics from January to April 2025, narrowly edging out the US’ US$3.57 billion.

This marks South Korea’s first time overtaking the US in beauty exports, after its exports in the January to March 2025 period, which totalled US$2.58 billion, had lagged behind the US’ US$2.72 billion.

South Korea’s cosmetics exports have been rising at a blistering pace.

In 2024, they totalled US$10.3 billion, outpacing Germany’s US$9.08 billion to become the world’s third-largest exporter, behind France and the US. While France and the US recorded growth of 6.3 and 1.1 per cent respectively, South Korea’s exports surged by 20.3 per cent.

This upward momentum has carried into 2025, with monthly exports climbing from US$750.8 million in January to US$885.9 million in February, US$939.9 million in March and US$1.03 billion in April.

The ongoing rise of K-beauty is set to push further into emerging markets in Europe and the Middle East, including Poland, Ireland, Belgium and the United Arab Emirates.

According to data from Kita, exports to Poland from January to May 2025 surged 121 per cent to US$111.8 million, up from US$50.4 million a year earlier, while exports to the UAE rose 74 per cent to US$99.3 million from US$57 million over the same period. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK