South Korea’s outbound shipments of cosmetics increase sharply in the first five months of the year, with government trade data showing beauty products become the country’s top consumer-goods export category. Across January to May, cosmetics exports reach $5.6 billion, up from $4.6 billion a year earlier, according to data cited from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. The ministry says demand for South Korean cosmetics continues to grow in Europe and the United States even as exports decline to China, which has been one of the country’s largest overseas markets. In the set of five major consumer goods categories—agricultural and fishery products, cosmetics, fashion apparel, household goods and pharmaceuticals—cosmetics move ahead of the previously leading agricultural and fishery products. This change marks a shift in ranking for the period covered, where agricultural and fishery goods had held the top spot over the past three years. Separately, one outlet notes that cosmetics exceeded $10 billion in exports for the first time in 2024, indicating sustained momentum going into the current year.