Korea becomes world's No. 2 cosmetics exporter as trade surplus tops $10 bil. - The Korea Times

Ministry of Food and Drug Safety headquarters in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province / Yonhap

Korea's cosmetics trade surplus reached $10.1 billion in 2025, surpassing the $10 billion threshold for the first time and rising 13.5 percent from 2024, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Friday.

Exports hit a record $11.4 billion, up 11.8 percent year-on-year, while imports edged down 2.3 percent to $1.29 billion. Korea's cosmetics exports ranked second globally in 2025, overtaking the United States. France led with $24.3 billion, followed by Korea at $11.4 billion and the United States at $10.8 billion.

The cosmetics trade surplus of $10.1 billion accounted for 12.9 percent of Korea's total trade surplus of $78 billion last year, making the sector one of the country's leading contributors to the overall balance.

Skin care products led export categories at $8.53 billion, or 74.7 percent of total exports, followed by color cosmetics at $1.51 billion, or 13.2 percent. Together they accounted for 87.9 percent of all cosmetics exports.