THE FACT THAT? South Korean beauty technology company APR has become Asia’s most valuable beauty company by market capitalization, surpassing regional rivals such as Amorepacific, LG Household & Health Care, Shiseido and Proya Cosmetics.
THE DETAILS APR ended April with a market capitalization of around KRW 16 trillion ($10.9 billion), compared to around KRW 8 trillion for Amorepacific and KRW 4 trillion for LG Household & Health Care. The company is now ranked as the third largest beauty company in the world behind L’Oréal and The Estée Lauder Companies. APR’s share price has risen more than 80% this year, supported by strong foreign demand. International revenue surpassed domestic sales for the first time in 2024 and tripled in 2025 to reach 1.23 trillion won, accounting for more than 80% of total revenue. The US market has been a key growth driver, with sales increasing almost eightfold between 2023 and 2025. APR is also expanding across Europe through Sephora in 17 countries, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The company was recently named to TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential companies of 2026.
THE WHY? The growth highlights the growing global demand for K-beauty brands and demonstrates how international expansion and innovation in beauty technology is reshaping the competitive landscape in the global cosmetics industry.
Fountain: Herald of Korea
