Kolmar Korea Expands with Second US Factory Amid K-beauty Boom

Yoon Sang Hyun, vice chairman of Kolmar Group, delivers a commemorative speech at the opening ceremony of Kolmar USA's second plant.KolmarCosmetics contract manufacturer Kolmar Korea has reportedly completed its second U.S. factory in Scott Township, Pennsylvania, which effectively expands its tariff-free production base for K-beauty brands seeking to expand in the West, as well as for Western brands seeking production for the North and South American and European markets. 

This is reportedly the first time a Korean manufacturer has built a facility from scratch, rather than acquiring an existing site.

The new facility opens at a boom time for K-beauty, particularly sunscreens.

The 17,805-square-meter facility will support the production of skin care and sunscreen (for which it holds an FDA OTC certification), in contrast with its first U.S. plant, which focused solely on color cosmetics. 

This second manufacturing facility spans 17,805 square meters (191,651 square feet) and has an annual production capacity of 120 million units. 

Combined with its first U.S. factory and Canadian operations, Kolmar Korea's North American production capacity now reaches 470 million units annually. (The new factory will reportedly produce 120 million units annually.)

The factory incorporates AI-powered quality monitoring, 80% automation and replicates the standards of Kolmar's Sejong plant in Korea. 

Furthermore, the site's ability to produce locally allows it to avoid certain American import tariffs.

Yoon Sang Hyun, vice chairman of Kolmar Group, noted during an opening ceremony, "The U.S. is where Kolmar's journey began a century ago. This second factory is not merely a production site but the starting point for a new vision of collaboration and growth. We will build an innovation ecosystem alongside diverse value chain partners to establish the largest cosmetics manufacturing hub in North America."

A Kolmar spokesperson added, "This is the first time a Korean cosmetics company has directly built a production facility in the U.S. rather than acquiring one, making it a landmark achievement. We're ready to support K-beauty brands looking to enter the U.S. market without tariff concerns, as well as global customers aiming for North American, European and South American markets. Our collaboration ecosystem is poised for rapid expansion."