K-Cosmetics in the Global Market: Ranking 2nd in Exports with $11.4 Billion Today

Consumers of diverse nationalities are exploring Korean skincare products at a premium K-beauty store in Seoul. As of 2025, K-beauty is exported to 202 countries, rapidly expanding its global consumer base. [Photo = Korea Business Review DB] The Present of K-Beauty Told Through Numbers In 2025, the Korean cosmetics industry made history once again. Moving beyond merely breaking export records, it surpassed the United States in global cosmetics export rankings to effectively become the world's second-largest exporter, trailing only France. Compiling UN Comtrade and major trade statistics, South Korea is evaluated as virtually the world's second-largest cosmetics exporter following France as of 2025. However, rankings are subject to some variation depending on the release timing of final international trade statistics. The speed at which South Korea, which lagged in the top four globally j…