South Korea’s cosmetics industry is moving toward year-round peak conditions as K-beauty expands overseas and consumers demand a broader range of products. Cosmax produced about 172.47 million units in the first quarter of this year, 116% of its fourth-quarter output last year, reversing the traditional early-year slowdown. Cosmetics exports reached $2.56 billion in the first quarter, up 5.9% from the previous quarter. July output at Cosmax rose to 86.22 million units, nearly triple the July 2021 level, while national cosmetics exports reached a yearly high of $1.10 billion. Seasonal patterns have also shifted at APR and Amorepacific, as third-quarter sales increasingly exceed second-quarter revenue. Sun care is becoming a year-round category, with Cosmax’s monthly sales gap narrowing from 6.6 times in 2021 to 1.6 times this year. The number of cosmetics items produced in South Korea reached 145,360 last year, up from 127,656 in 2022.