K-Beauty Seasonality: Best Time to Stock Korean Cosmetics
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Bottom line: on monthly export data for 2023–2025, K-beauty seasonality peaks in September (9.55% of the year’s exports on average) and October (9.00%) and is lowest in January (6.76%) and February (7.56%); in each of the three years the low month was January or February and the high month September or October.
To find the best time to stock, we used Korea’s monthly HS 3304 exports (beauty, make-up and skincare preparations) reported to UN Comtrade for the last three complete years. Because exports grew each year, we looked not only at monthly values but also at each month’s share of that year’s total, averaged over the three years.
K-beauty seasonality: monthly averages, 2023–2025
Swipe sideways to see the whole table.
| Month | Average exports (USD million) | Average share of the year |
|---|---|---|
| January | 572.7 | 6.76% |
| February | 634.6 | 7.56% |
| March | 696.7 | 8.34% |
| April | 715.4 | 8.48% |
| May | 733.6 | 8.78% |
| June | 688.4 | 8.24% |
| July | 676.6 | 8.02% |
| August | 659.3 | 7.89% |
| September | 801.6 | 9.55% |
| October | 753.5 | 9.00% |
| November | 723.7 | 8.66% |
| December | 734.9 | 8.71% |
Swipe sideways to see the whole table.
| Year | Annual exports (USD million) | Highest month | Lowest month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 7,181.9 | September (694.9) | January (395.3) |
| 2024 | 8,566.6 | October (874.7) | February (608.9) |
| 2025 | 9,424.9 | September (936.7) | January (632.1) |
USD million (average of the same month, 2023–2025)
HS 3304 exports · Korea, by month, 2023–2025 average · Source: UN Comtrade · ACCESSED 2026-10-16 · USD million
Definitions, sources and access date
- Scope: UN Comtrade, reporter Korea (code 410), exports, HS 3304, partner World, monthly FOB value in US dollars, January 2023 to December 2025 (36 months). The twelve months of each year add up to that year’s annual figure.
- “Average exports” is the simple average of the same month over three years. “Average share of the year” is each month’s exports divided by that year’s total, averaged over the three years. An even spread would give 8.33% a month.
- By quarter, the three-year totals split 22.7% (Q1), 25.5% (Q2), 25.5% (Q3) and 26.4% (Q4).
- Source: UN Comtrade https://comtradeplus.un.org/ (example API query: https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=410&period=202509&cmdCode=3304&flowCode=X&partnerCode=0 )
- Data accessed: 16 October 2026
What it means for timing your orders
The start of the year is quietest. January and February together average 14.3% of the year, below the 16.7% an even spread would give. Korea’s Lunar New Year holiday also falls in January or February, so if you need goods shipped in that window, confirm orders and schedules before the end of the year.
The gap between high and low months is wide. In 2023, September exports of USD 694.9 million were 1.76 times January’s USD 395.3 million; in 2025, September’s USD 936.7 million was 1.48 times January’s USD 632.1 million.
Autumn is the peak. September ranks highest on the three-year average, followed by October. That is when the most goods leave Korea, so volumes for year-end selling are best agreed during the summer.
The second half is slightly heavier. Q3 and Q4 together came to 51.9% against 48.2% for the first half, although year-on-year growth contributes to that.
These are national export flows; an individual brand’s or supplier’s shipping calendar can differ. SEONGWOO GLOBAL does not quote a standard lead time; timing is confirmed with each quotation, depending on products and season.
Related reading: Korean cosmetics export trend · Hong Kong cosmetics retail sales · Beauty trade shows 2027
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