"Is It Really This Big?" World Number One in Sight... K-Beauty’s Surge Captivates Foreign Consumers with Trusted Korean Products

Korean Exports Up 25% in First Half, France Down 0.6%
Monthly Turnaround in April and May, Skincare Gap Narrows to 27.2 Billion Won
Already Surpassed France in the U.S.; Eyes on World's No. 1 for Basic and Color Cosmetics This Year

Attention is now focused on whether K-beauty will surpass France, the "homeland of cosmetics," to become the world's largest cosmetics exporter this year. Although France's cosmetics exports are still ahead in the first half of 2026, the rapid growth of K-beauty is closing the gap.

According to an analysis of export statistics from Korea Customs Service and French Customs, based on the same product category (HS code 3304), Korea's exports of basic and color cosmetics in the first half of this year totaled approximately 7.9857 trillion won (USD 5,724.53 million). France reported about 9.2798 trillion won (EUR 5,694.01 million), maintaining a slight lead. The calculations applied the exchange rates from August 20 (USD 1 = KRW 1,395, EUR 1 = KRW 1,629.75).

Korea Closing In On France

By the first half, France was ahead by about 1.2941 trillion won, but the rate at which Korea is narrowing the gap is notable. Korea's export amount in the first half rose 25.0% from approximately 6.3862 trillion won (USD 4,579.10 million) during the same period last year to 7.9857 trillion won (USD 5,724.53 million) this year. In contrast, France's exports declined by 0.6% in the same period, from around 9.3361 trillion won (EUR 5,728.55 million) to 9.2798 trillion won (EUR 5,694.01 million).

The changes are particularly clear when viewed monthly. In April this year, Korea's exports reached around 1.5272 trillion won (USD 1,094.79 million), surpassing France (1.51 trillion won, EUR 926.55 million). In May, Korea outpaced France with approximately 1.366 trillion won (USD 979.20 million) compared to France's 1.3112 trillion won (EUR 804.52 million). Although France still held the lead for the entire first half, Korea overtook France in monthly exports for two consecutive months.

In the skincare segment, where K-beauty is particularly strong, the gap with France has virtually disappeared. The category "Other beauty, makeup, and skincare products" (HS code 330499), which includes skincare, accounted for 92.8% of Korea’s and 80.1% of France’s total exports in HS 3304 for the first half of this year. Korea's exports of this category amounted to approximately 7.4074 trillion won (USD 5,309.96 million), while France's were about 7.4346 trillion won (EUR 4,561.78 million)—a difference of only 27.2 billion won.

The divergence in growth was even more pronounced. Korea’s exports in this category increased by 28.9%, from approximately 5.7471 trillion won (USD 4,120.15 million) in the first half of last year to 7.4074 trillion won this year, whereas France’s fell by 1.9%, from about 7.5788 trillion won (EUR 4,650.04 million) to 7.4346 trillion won. On a monthly basis, Korea surpassed France for three consecutive months from April to June.

Kim Kyung-Ok, Head of Global Cooperation at the Korea Cosmetics Association, commented, "Korean cosmetics are especially strong in skincare products such as sheet masks and sunscreen, rather than makeup or perfumes, and these products are highly favored overseas as well."

Korea Has Already Overtaken France in the U.S.

Korea’s pursuit of France is already evident in the United States, the world’s largest cosmetics market. Korea's cosmetics exports to the U.S. (HS code 3304) in 2023 amounted to about 1.4271 trillion won (USD 1,023.04 million), which was less than France's approximately 1.6345 trillion won (USD 1,171.67 million).

However, the situation reversed in 2024. Korea's exports to the U.S. increased to around 2.1589 trillion won (USD 1,547.59 million), surpassing France’s roughly 1.8598 trillion won (USD 1,333.19 million). Last year, Korea's exports to the U.S. rose 13% to about 2.4396 trillion won (USD 1,748.81 million), while France's dropped by 20.3% to about 1.4819 trillion won (USD 1,062.28 million). In 2023, France was ahead by about 207.4 billion won (USD 148.63 million), but within two years, Korea has pulled ahead by nearly 957.7 billion won (USD 686.53 million).

Even in France, K-beauty is now seen as a formidable competitor. The French daily Le Monde reported that, in 2023, France's exports of cosmetics such as perfume and skincare fell for the first time in 20 years. While U.S. tariffs were cited as a major cause, French media also analyzed that competition with K-beauty products—quickly expanding into the U.S. skincare market—significantly contributed to the decline in French exports.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.