Small and midsize corporations' online exports topped $300 million for the first time in the first quarter of this year. This is the first time quarterly online exports have exceeded $300 million.
According to the "first-quarter 2026 online export trends for small and midsize corporations (preliminary)" that the Ministry of SMEs and Startups released on the 14th, first-quarter online exports by small and midsize corporations totaled $300 million, up 38.2% from a year earlier.
Small and midsize corporations accounted for 70.0% of total online exports. The number of small and midsize corporations also rose 14.4% from a year earlier to 2,735, a first-quarter record high.
By item, cosmetics accounted for the largest share. Cosmetics exports totaled $200 million, up 74.2% from a year earlier, setting a new quarterly record. While exports to the United States and China rose 60.8% and 90.8%, respectively, growth in Europe also stood out, including the United Kingdom (282.8%) and the Netherlands (133.8%).
Online export support policies by the government, entry into overseas online platforms, and support for building in-house online malls also helped extend the export growth trend beyond cosmetics to other items.
Apparel accounted for 7.7% of total online exports, reaching $23 million. With the expansion of overseas online consumption, sales of premium consumer goods such as baby bibs increased in the Chinese market, driving exports to China up 96.4% to $6 million. In contrast, exports to Japan and the United States fell 19.7% and 40.9%, respectively.
Computer item exports totaled $18 million. Exports of photo printers by small and midsize corporations with proprietary technology delivered steady results on overseas online platforms, driving performance in the United States ($9 million) and the Netherlands ($3 million).
Exports of livestock processed products reached $10 million, up 172.1% from a year earlier. Along with the popularity of cosmetics, edible beauty and health-care products also drew interest, which is seen as boosting China-bound exports centered on weight-loss products.
Stationery and toys recorded $9 million. In Europe, including Germany and the United Kingdom, sales of idol merchandise and phone cases expanded, while in the United States, strong exports of photo printer film lifted results.
Sim Jae-yun, director general for global growth policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), said, "The online market is a field where small and midsize corporations are strong, and the effect of policy support is translating into overseas expansion by domestic corporations," adding, "We will support domestic corporations so they can expand into overseas markets and go beyond online sales to establish a presence on the ground."