APR Medicube Costco launch set for September as North America drives sales

APR’s Medicube brand is scheduled to begin selling its Zero Pore Pad 2.0 in Costco stores across the United States in September, according to CNBC, extending the South Korean beauty group’s distribution through major American retailers. CNBC reported that APR shares had risen nearly 100% so far this year, while North America supplied 49% of the company’s second-quarter revenue.

The APR Medicube Costco launch involves a skincare pad designed to cleanse pores, CNBC said, citing the company. The rollout had not yet occurred as of the report, and Costco had not independently confirmed it in the available information.

What does APR’s Medicube Costco launch mean for its U.S. strategy?

Costco would add another national retail channel for Medicube as APR seeks to broaden access to the brand in its largest regional market. Wider store distribution can put a product in front of more shoppers, but a planned listing does not establish future sales or the durability of demand.

CNBC said the Costco entry follows Medicube’s reported launches at Ulta Beauty in August of the previous year, Target in April and Walmart in June. APR listed on South Korea’s Kospi in 2024 and had a market value of about 17.3 trillion won, or $12.5 billion, according to CNBC.

North America accounts for almost half of APR revenue

APR reported North American second-quarter sales of 376.3 billion won, equivalent to $273 million, or 49% of its 767.5 billion won in quarterly revenue. That concentration makes U.S. retail expansion strategically significant for the group, although the figures do not isolate sales generated by any individual retailer.

The company said second-quarter revenue rose 134.2% from a year earlier and operating profit increased 134.5% to 190.6 billion won. Overseas business represented 91.8% of revenue in the period, APR reported.

APR also said Medicube was the most-searched term in all categories during Amazon’s June 23 to 26 Prime Day event. CNBC reported the assertion as a company claim; no independent verification was included.

Guidance points to further overseas growth

APR raised its full-year revenue target to 3 trillion won from about 2.1 trillion won, citing U.S. growth and potential expansion in other markets. On the company’s second-quarter earnings call, Vice President Shin Jae-ha said U.S. sales were expected to reach roughly 1.3 trillion won this year. Both figures are company guidance rather than reported results.

The move comes amid growing U.S. demand for Korean cosmetics. South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety estimated that the country’s cosmetics exports reached a first-half record of $7 billion in 2026, up 27.3% from a year earlier. The U.S. was the largest destination, receiving $1.45 billion, or 20.7% of the total, CNBC reported.

APR’s previous share-price gains underscore investor attention to that expansion. CNBC said the stock rose more than 360% in the prior year, before the nearly 100% advance reported for this year.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.