Kolmar Korea logs W6.8b in export consultations at Melbourne hallyu fair

Kolmar Korea joined six client companies in a push into the Australian market, conducting more than 150 export consultations at a local trade fair and logging an estimated 6.8 billion won ($5.07 million) in consultation value. The cosmetics manufacturer said it plans to help small and mid-sized Korean beauty brands expand their overseas reach amid rapidly growing Australian demand for Korean cosmetics.

Kolmar Korea announced Monday that it participated in the 2026 Melbourne Hallyu Fair, held Thursday through Saturday at Melbourne Showgrounds in Australia. Now in its 28th edition, the fair was organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

Joining Kolmar Korea at the event were six client companies: Gooday Global (Round Lab), Packet (Mixsoon), Mersico (Herbluem), I'm Uniq (I'm Uniq), Gibest (Ninetails) and HK inno.N (B'wants).

Kolmar Korea and its clients conducted more than 150 export consultations during the fair, accounting for more than 10 percent of all consultations held across the roughly 110 participating companies. The total consultation value was estimated at 6.8 billion won, though the company noted that figure differs from actual signed export contracts.

The consumer-facing event drew about 30,000 visitors over two days, with an estimated 15,000 stopping by the Kolmar Korea booth. The company displayed sunscreens, essences, creams and sheet masks, and ran a hands-on program where visitors could try five of its sun-care products.

Australia has emerged as a fast-growing market for Korean cosmetics. According to KOTRA, Australian imports of Korean skincare products reached $147.7 million last year, up 42.1 percent from the previous year, pushing Korea past France to become Australia's second-largest source of skincare imports.

In the first half of this year, Korean skincare products held a 19.5 percent share of the Australian import market, narrowing the gap with top-ranked the United States to just 1.6 percentage points. As more Korean cosmetics companies expand into Australia, securing local distribution networks and identifying export partners has become increasingly important.

"This fair was an opportunity to directly showcase the competitiveness of K-beauty products to local buyers and consumers alongside our clients," a Kolmar Korea official said. "We will continue to work with our clients to broaden local distribution channels and support K-beauty's global expansion."