South Korea’s exports of cosmetic products reached a record high of $11.43 billion in 2025, up 12.3% on the previous year, as demand expanded beyond its traditional East Asian markets.
Seoul’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Korean cosmetics were shipped to 202 countries last year, up from 172 the year before.
The United States was Korea’s largest export destination, accounting for $2.2 billion in shipments.
China followed with $2 billion, while Japan imported $1.1 billion worth of Korean cosmetics.
While exports to the United States and China still dominated, their combined share fell to 36.7% from 43.1%, reflecting diversification into Europe, the Middle East, South and Southwest Asia and Latin America.
Shipments to the United Arab Emirates and Poland showed particularly strong growth, said the ministry.
By product category, skin care accounted for the largest share, with exports totaling $8.54 billion, or nearly 75% of the total.
Exports of skin care, colour cosmetics and cleansing products all rose by more than 10% from a year earlier.
The ministry attributed the growth in part to regulatory support for exporters, including international regulatory forums, bilateral cooperation, export guidance, training on overseas approval processes and halal certification consulting.
It also cited efforts to streamline domestic regulations to shorten product launch timelines.
The ministry said it would gradually introduce a safety assessment system aligned with new regulatory requirements in major markets such as the US and China.
The government plans to support the industry by designating specialized safety assessment institutions, offering technical assistance and providing training for evaluators.
