K-beauty exports hit $7 billion in six months, and Europe is the surprise
Korea's cosmetics exports reached a provisional $7 billion in the first half of 2026, up 27.3% year on year and the biggest first half on record.
The numbers worth a look:
- US:$1.45 billion,20.7% of the total, up 41.5%. Top market for the second year running
- China: down 6.6% to $1.01 billion; its share fell from 19.6% to 14.4%
- Japan: $580 million, up 5.9%
- **Europe:**the UK up150.6%, the Netherlands up 220.4%, Poland up 72.8%
By category, basic skincare carried the growth at $5.48 billion. Colour cosmetics and body cleansing both shrank.
So the story is still skincare, not makeup. That matches what a lot of forum threads say: people abroad come for sunscreen, toners and serums, and keep buying makeup closer to home.
If you are in Europe, have you noticed more K-beauty on shelves this year?
Source: Seoul Economic Daily — K-Beauty Exports Hit Record $7 Billion in First Half, US Share Tops 20%
0
No comments yet. Be the first.