Business & Finance
South Korean beauty firm APR to enter U.S. Costco stores following strong quarterly growth
APR's flagship brand Medicube will launch in Costco in September after North American sales drove major revenue increases for the company.
The short version
- South Korean cosmetics company APR plans to launch its flagship Medicube brand, including the Zero Pore Pad 2.0, in U.S. Costco stores in September.
- The expansion follows major quarterly growth, with North American sales accounting for 49% of APR's 767.5 billion won ($273 million) in total revenue in the second quarter.
- Following strong performance, APR raised its full-year revenue target to 3 trillion won, with U.S. sales expected to reach approximately 1.3 trillion won.
Key facts
- APR's Medicube brand will enter U.S. Costco stores in September, following earlier U.S. retail launches at Ulta Beauty, Target, and Walmart.[CNBC]
- APR reported a 134.2% year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue to 767.5 billion won, while operating profit rose 134.5% to 190.6 billion won.[CNBC]
- North American sales reached 376.3 billion won in the second quarter, representing 49% of the company's total revenue, while international sales overall made up 91.8%.[CNBC]
- APR raised its full-year revenue projection to 3 trillion won from roughly 2.1 trillion won, expecting U.S. sales alone to reach around 1.3 trillion won.[CNBC]
- South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety reported that national cosmetics exports hit a record $7 billion in the first half of 2026, with the U.S. receiving $1.45 billion of that total.[CNBC]
What remains uncertain
- Whether APR will meet its revised full-year revenue targets depends on sustained U.S. sales momentum and continued global expansion.[CNBC]