First Half of 2025 Shows a 13% Surge in Healthcare Industry Exports: The Reason Behind the Combined Growth of Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals?

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First Half of 2025 Shows a 13% Surge in Healthcare Industry Exports: The Strong Pull of Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals

In the first half of 2025, the healthcare industry's export performance increased by 13.2% compared to the previous year, reaching a total of $13.79 billion. Particularly, the cosmetics and pharmaceuticals sectors are being highlighted for driving the overall growth of the industry.

According to a report by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, the cosmetics sector achieved an export value of $5.51 billion. Among that, basic cosmetics products rose by 14.8% to reach $4.11 billion, while color cosmetics and personal cleansing products grew by 17.3% and 22.2%, respectively.

First Half Healthcare Industry Exports Up by 13%...Driven by Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals

Source

By country, exports grew mainly in the US, Hong Kong, and Poland, with Japan seeing a particularly large increase of 38.3% in color cosmetics exports. Conversely, China experienced a slight decrease due to stagnation in certain items.

The pharmaceutical sector also achieved remarkable results. Exports of biopharmaceutical products and vaccines significantly increased, marking a 20.5% rise over the same period last year to $5.38 billion. The US, Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands were core export markets, while there was increased demand for vaccines in African regions such as Sudan, South Sudan, and Congo.

The medical device sector displayed a more complex pattern. Exports of ultrasound imaging and electrical medical devices increased, but overall export value decreased by 0.6% due to poor sales in the implant product line.

"In the first half, healthcare industry exports were led by cosmetics and pharmaceuticals," evaluated the head of the BioHealth Innovation Planning Team, adding, "There is a positive outlook for the second half due to anticipated increases in demand for key products."

He further stated,

"Given external uncertainties such as changes in US tariff policies, it is essential to closely monitor market trends for strategic responses."

Despite varying external factors, the domestic healthcare industry continues to expand its global competitiveness and gains ground in the export market.

YURICO5

This announcement serves as a moment to acknowledge the structural growth and innovative capabilities of the Korean healthcare industry. The upward trend in exports is not just a simple numerical increase but a result of product competitiveness, capability to comply with international regulations, and localization strategies.

Particularly in the cosmetics sector, functional and high-value products are gaining attention, while, in the pharmaceuticals sector, the expansion of biopharmaceutical exports has become a new growth driver for the industry. This trend is expected to continue into the latter half, with product advancement, quality control enhancement, and new market development emerging as key tasks.

In Conclusion

The first half's export performance in the healthcare industry has become an important indicator proving the overall innovation and competitiveness of the industry. The growth of the cosmetics and pharmaceuticals sectors not only expands their foothold in overseas markets but also strengthens the foundation of the domestic industry. Strategic responses will be required to maintain this positive trend in the second half. Through these efforts, the global competitiveness of the Korean healthcare industry will be further enhanced.


The meaningful growth in first-half healthcare industry exports is attributed to increased exports of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. For those seeking to further enhance the global market competitiveness of Korean cosmetics, feel free to inquire with YURICO5.

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