South Korea cosmetics exports to South Africa
남아프리카공화국 · latest month: October 2026
In October 2026, South Korea exported $1.1 million of cosmetics to South Africa, down 16.6% from September 2026 and up 14.9% from October 2025.
Over the 12 months to October 2026, exports of cosmetics to South Africa totalled $12.7 million, up 59.9% from the 12 months before ($8.0 million).
South Africa ranked 59th of 207 destinations for Korean cosmetics over the 12 months to October 2026, up from 61st in the 12 months before.
Cosmetics made up 1.57% of South Korea's total goods exports to South Africa over those 12 months ($12.7 million of $813.2 million).
The largest product group was other beauty, make-up and skin care preparations (including sunscreen) (HS 3304.99), with $10.2 million or 80.2% of cosmetics exports to South Africa.
Imports from South Africa in October 2026 were $22,270 (down 77.7% from October 2025), leaving a surplus of $1.1 million for the month.
Last 24 months
What South Korea exports to South Africa
Cosmetics export value by HS code over the 12 months to October 2026.
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3303 | Perfumes and toilet waters | $63 | 0.0% | – | $0 |
| 3303.00 | Perfumes and toilet waters | $63 | 0.0% | – | $0 |
| 3304 | Beauty, make-up and skin care preparations | $10.9M | 85.7% | +56.8% | $961K |
| 3304.10 | Lip make-up preparations | $670K | 5.3% | -22.2% | $24K |
| 3304.20 | Eye make-up preparations | $18K | 0.1% | -10.0% | $2,835 |
| 3304.30 | Manicure and pedicure preparations | $450 | 0.0% | – | $450 |
| 3304.91 | Powders for make-up or skin care, whether or not compressed | $12K | 0.1% | – | $248 |
| 3304.99 | Other beauty, make-up and skin care preparations (including sunscreen) | $10.2M | 80.2% | +68.1% | $934K |
| 3305 | Hair preparations | $349K | 2.7% | +73.3% | $48K |
| 3305.10 | Shampoos | $111K | 0.9% | +221.7% | $13K |
| 3305.30 | Hair lacquers | $63 | 0.0% | – | $63 |
| 3305.90 | Other hair preparations | $238K | 1.9% | +42.6% | $34K |
| 3307 | Shaving, deodorant, bath and other toiletry preparations | $881K | 6.9% | +102.9% | $62K |
| 3307.10 | Shaving preparations | $28 | 0.0% | – | $0 |
| 3307.20 | Personal deodorants and antiperspirants | $164 | 0.0% | – | $10 |
| 3307.30 | Perfumed bath salts and other bath preparations | $1,670 | 0.0% | – | $0 |
| 3307.49 | Other room perfuming or deodorizing preparations | $176 | not in total | -99.4% | $30 |
| 3307.90 | Other toiletry preparations (depilatories, sheet masks, contact lens solutions and others) | $879K | 6.9% | +117.2% | $62K |
| 3401.11 + 3401.30 | Soap and cleansers | $593K | 4.7% | +48.0% | $48K |
| 3401.11 | Toilet soap, including medicated soap | $0 | 0.0% | – | $0 |
| 3401.30 | Liquid or cream skin-washing products | $593K | 4.7% | +48.1% | $48K |
Group rows (bold) are the sum of the six-digit rows below them. "Share" is the share of the cosmetics total, which leaves out the rows marked "not in total". Products are linked when exports to South Africa reached $100,000 over 24 months.
See also: all South Korean exports to South Africa, by chapter and heading.
Monthly figures
| Month | Exports | vs year earlier | Export weight | Export $/kg | Imports | Import weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | $1.1M | +14.9% | 32.1 t | $34.92 | $22K | 844 kg |
| September 2026 | $1.3M | +102.2% | 33.3 t | $40.33 | $37K | 1.6 t |
| August 2026 | $959K | +72.2% | 23.6 t | $40.60 | $87 | 3 kg |
| July 2026 | $1.8M | +65.0% | 60.7 t | $29.16 | $9,051 | 76 kg |
| June 2026 | $1.2M | +43.7% | 39.5 t | $30.81 | $11K | 139 kg |
| May 2026 | $1.4M | +173.8% | 32.0 t | $43.79 | $6,344 | 234 kg |
| April 2026 | $810K | -11.4% | 21.0 t | $38.50 | $10K | 708 kg |
| March 2026 | $732K | -5.8% | 26.3 t | $27.80 | $2,792 | 18 kg |
| February 2026 | $481K | -2.7% | 9.7 t | $49.31 | $8,633 | 94 kg |
| January 2026 | $998K | +244.0% | 35.6 t | $28.05 | $4,519 | 42 kg |
| December 2025 | $955K | +217.8% | 25.4 t | $37.62 | $5,605 | 84 kg |
| November 2025 | $958K | +68.4% | 24.2 t | $39.50 | $6,384 | 79 kg |
| October 2025 | $974K | +56.3% | 27.6 t | $35.25 | $100K | 4.1 t |
| September 2025 | $664K | +38.4% | 15.2 t | $43.68 | $8,388 | 79 kg |
| August 2025 | $557K | +98.9% | 11.5 t | $48.36 | $54K | 2.7 t |
| July 2025 | $1.1M | +122.8% | 30.6 t | $35.10 | $134K | 5.6 t |
| June 2025 | $847K | +99.9% | 18.6 t | $45.54 | $55K | 2.2 t |
| May 2025 | $512K | -10.5% | 15.1 t | $33.93 | $5,049 | 59 kg |
| April 2025 | $915K | +184.1% | 35.2 t | $25.96 | $12K | 149 kg |
| March 2025 | $777K | +337.8% | 24.8 t | $31.35 | $255 | 6 kg |
| February 2025 | $494K | +140.9% | 13.5 t | $36.55 | $42K | 1.3 t |
| January 2025 | $290K | -33.7% | 6.5 t | $44.37 | $1,201 | 19 kg |
| December 2024 | $300K | +65.1% | 7.3 t | $41.27 | $12K | 162 kg |
| November 2024 | $569K | +32.9% | 18.6 t | $30.66 | $5,960 | 75 kg |
Exports FOB, imports CIF, US dollars. Weight is net weight. "vs year earlier" compares export value with the same month one year before and is left blank when that month was under $10,000. Source: Korea Customs Service, via data.go.kr.