Q3 sales hit record 773.1 billion won
Operating profit up 68%; Medicube's standing rises
Overseas sales account for 94%; company eyes strong Q4
APR, the operator of leading K-beauty brand Medicube, surpassed its full-year earnings from last year after cumulative sales through the third quarter of this year crossed 2 trillion won ($1.5 billion). The company plans to sustain its rapid growth momentum into the fourth quarter, the peak shopping season.
APR said Friday in a preliminary earnings disclosure that third-quarter consolidated sales reached 773.1 billion won, a 100.3 percent increase from the same period last year and a new quarterly record. Operating profit rose 68.9 percent year-on-year to 160.6 billion won.
Cumulative sales and operating profit through the third quarter came to 2.13 trillion won and 503.5 billion won, respectively — exceeding the company's full-year 2025 figures of 1.53 trillion won in sales and 365.5 billion won in operating profit in just nine months. The results were considered particularly meaningful given that the third quarter saw fewer large promotional events on global retail channels and was affected by a stronger won.
Growth in overseas business, driven by the expansion of online sales and offline distribution networks in the United States and Europe, underpinned the results. Medicube, APR's flagship brand, provided additional support, with its own sales surpassing 2 trillion won through the third quarter on a single-brand basis.
APR's overseas sales in the third quarter reached 722.9 billion won, up 135 percent from the same period last year, and accounted for 94 percent of total sales. The combined share of North America and Europe in total sales jumped from 47 percent in the third quarter of last year to 69 percent in the third quarter of this year, with North America making up 46 percent and Europe 23 percent.
In North America, APR is expanding its offline distribution network beyond major online channels such as Amazon and TikTok Shop. This year, the company secured shelf space at major local retailers including Target, Walmart and Costco. APR also plans to enter more than 3,000 CVS Pharmacy locations in the United States before year-end, further broadening its consumer reach.
The fourth quarter, which concentrates major global shopping events including Black Friday and Christmas, is expected to bring even steeper growth. APR plans to expand its online and offline sales presence in key markets such as North America and Europe, and to target year-end demand through locally tailored products and promotions.
"Even in the third quarter, when major global channel events were relatively scarce and the impact of a stronger won persisted, we set a new quarterly sales record and continued to grow our global business," an APR official said. "In the fourth quarter, we expect sales to keep expanding across key markets as the global peak shopping season arrives."
spa@heraldcorp.com
