Incheon Airport News — 2026-10-15

K-Beauty Air Exports Rise 47% as Europe Becomes the Largest Market

South Korea exported 57,000 tonnes of beauty and personal-care products by air in the first eight months of 2026, up 47% from a year earlier.
Europe-bound volume more than doubled to about 19,000 tonnes, while Korean Air identified K-beauty as one factor behind stronger cargo demand.

South Korea's air exports of beauty and personal-care products reached 57,000 tonnes from January through August 2026, an increase of 47% from the same period a year earlier. Europe-bound volume rose 104% to about 19,000 tonnes, making Europe the largest air-export market for these Korean products, according to aviation and logistics consultancy Aevean. Europe moved ahead of the Asia-Pacific region as demand for Korean skincare, makeup, hair-care products, deodorants and soap spread beyond Korea's established regional markets.

Growth Extends Across Major Consumer Markets

North American volume increased 65%, while shipments to Latin America rose 124%. Air exports to the Middle East and South Asia grew 32%, and other markets increased 55%. The Asia-Pacific region recorded a more moderate gain of 9%.

K-beauty air-export graphic showing 57,000 tonnes in January–August 2026, up 47%, with Europe at 19,000 tonnes and up 104%. Regional growth rates are Europe 104%, North America 65%, Asia-Pacific 9%, Middle East and South Asia 32%, Latin America 124%, and other markets 55%. — Year-on-year growth in Korean beauty and personal-care air exports by destination region, January–August 2026.

The expansion adds a consumer-goods category to the high-value products supporting South Korea's air cargo market.

Semiconductor equipment and cargo linked to global investment in artificial intelligence remain important, particularly on routes to the United States. Beauty products now provide an additional source of demand across European and American markets, broadening the geographic and product mix of outbound freight.

Korean Air Reports Faster Cargo Revenue Growth

Korean Air said its cargo revenue increased 46.1% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, compared with a 26% increase in total revenue. The airline identified expanding AI investment and strong K-beauty exports as factors behind cargo demand. It also said that attracting higher-value shipments, adding charter flights and adjusting routes helped it respond to changes in the freight market.

The reported growth does not measure K-beauty's individual contribution to Korean Air's cargo revenue. Aevean's export figures and Korean Air's results describe a broader shift in Korean outbound air freight: industrial and technology cargo remains important, while fast-growing consumer products are taking a larger role on long-haul routes.