S. Korea's exports of cosmetics to Asia rose sharply last year

SEOUL, Feb. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean cosmetics exports to Asia, especially to Chinese-speaking nations, soared last year amid the growing popularity of South Korea's pop culture in the region, a government office said Wednesday.

South Korea exported US$222.2 million worth of cosmetics last year, up 35.6 percent from a year earlier, the Korea Customs Office said. Such products did not include perfumes and bath goods.

The largest importer of the nation's cosmetics was China with $62.73 million in imports, up 32.8 percent from the previous year, the office said.

Taiwan's imports of cosmetics from South Korea surged 157.4 percent from a year earlier to $33.45 million.

Japan's imports of South Korean cosmetics totaled $29.79 million, up 32.8 percent from the previous year, the office said.

Hong Kong's imports gained 69.6 percent to $25.42 million last year, while Singapore's imports soared 73.8 percent to $7.63 million.

South Korea exported $6.69 million worth of products to Vietnam, up 4.5 percent year-on-year, the office said.

"Local companies are aggressively penetrating Asian markets to take advantage of the growing popularity of South Korea's pop culture in such countries," an industry source said.

In areas unaffected by South Korean pop culture, however, the nation's cosmetics did not gain bigger market shares.

South Korea's exports of cosmetics to the United States fell 16.3 percent to $26.09 million.

The nation's imports of such products came to $418.39 million, up 10.6 percent from the previous year, the office said.

France was the largest exporter to South Korea, followed by the U.S. and Japan.