South Korea cosmetics exports: December 2025
Monthly report, generated from Korea Customs Service statistics
In December 2025, South Korea exported $1.06 billion of cosmetics, up 12.6% from November 2025 and up 21.8% from December 2024.
The three largest destinations were the United States ($171.6 million, 16.1%), China ($149.9 million, 14.1%), Japan ($90.9 million, 8.5%).
Compared with December 2024, the largest increases in export value by destination were the United Arab Emirates (+$17.6 million), Taiwan (+$13.7 million), the United States (+$13.1 million).
The largest decreases by destination were China (-$31.6 million), India (-$1.4 million), New Zealand (-$732,291).
Within the top 10 destinations, the United Kingdom moved from 12th to 9th, Thailand moved from 8th to 10th, the United States moved from 2nd to 1st compared with December 2024.
Top destinations
| Rank | Country | Exports | Share | vs November 2025 | vs December 2024 | Rank a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | $171.6M | 16.1% | +12.0% | +8.3% | 2 |
| 2 | China | $149.9M | 14.1% | +6.8% | -17.4% | 1 |
| 3 | Japan | $90.9M | 8.5% | +3.0% | +12.6% | 3 |
| 4 | Hong Kong | $73.6M | 6.9% | +30.2% | +0.6% | 4 |
| 5 | Vietnam | $52.6M | 4.9% | +27.5% | +3.2% | 5 |
| 6 | Taiwan | $40.6M | 3.8% | +26.5% | +50.9% | 7 |
| 7 | Russia | $39.9M | 3.7% | +18.1% | +10.2% | 6 |
| 8 | United Arab Emirates | $34.9M | 3.3% | -7.1% | +101.3% | 9 |
| 9 | United Kingdom | $27.2M | 2.6% | +11.2% | +92.0% | 12 |
| 10 | Thailand | $25.4M | 2.4% | +6.3% | +39.5% | 8 |
| 11 | Poland | $25.0M | 2.4% | -23.7% | +70.0% | 10 |
| 12 | Canada | $21.5M | 2.0% | -2.7% | +78.2% | 13 |
| 13 | Malaysia | $19.0M | 1.8% | +56.4% | +30.1% | 11 |
| 14 | Indonesia | $18.8M | 1.8% | +6.3% | +61.8% | 14 |
| 15 | Australia | $17.3M | 1.6% | +8.4% | +73.9% | 16 |
Largest changes by destination
Change in export value compared with December 2024, ranked by dollar amount.
| Country | December 2025 | December 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | $34.9M | $17.4M | +$17.6M | +101.3% |
| Taiwan | $40.6M | $26.9M | +$13.7M | +50.9% |
| United States | $171.6M | $158.5M | +$13.1M | +8.3% |
| United Kingdom | $27.2M | $14.2M | +$13.0M | +92.0% |
| Netherlands | $17.1M | $5.0M | +$12.1M | +241.4% |
| Country | December 2025 | December 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | $149.9M | $181.5M | -$31.6M | -17.4% |
| India | $6.2M | $7.5M | -$1.4M | -18.2% |
| New Zealand | $2.1M | $2.9M | -$732K | -25.5% |
| Israel | $2.7M | $3.1M | -$432K | -13.9% |
| Georgia | $626K | $773K | -$146K | -18.9% |
Products
Six-digit codes counted in the cosmetics total.
Compared with December 2024, the largest increases in export value by product were Other beauty, make-up and skin care preparations (including sunscreen) (HS 3304.99) (+$152.3 million), Other toiletry preparations (depilatories, sheet masks, contact lens solutions and others) (HS 3307.90) (+$17.0 million), Liquid or cream skin-washing products (HS 3401.30) (+$13.3 million).
The largest decreases by product were Lip make-up preparations (HS 3304.10) (-$2.8 million), Manicure and pedicure preparations (HS 3304.30) (-$539,144), Eye make-up preparations (HS 3304.20) (-$122,334).
Imports in December 2025 were $154.0 million (up 14.0% from December 2024), leaving a surplus of $910.4 million for the month.
Exports FOB, imports CIF, US dollars. Percentages are left blank when the earlier month was under $10,000. Figures are as downloaded on 2026-11-13; the source can revise them later. Source: Korea Customs Service, via data.go.kr.