K-Beauty Wholesale Lead Times and Shipping: Air vs Sea, EXW vs FOB vs DDP

Two clocks run on every K-beauty order: supplier lead time (order to ready-to-ship) and transit time (Korea to your door). In-stock consolidated orders move fast — production orders do not. Understanding both, plus the Incoterm you are quoted, is what makes landed-cost math honest.

Here are the realistic numbers.

Realistic door-to-door timelines from Korea

Scenario	Supplier lead time	Transit	Total
In-stock, express air (10–50kg)	3–7 days	5–10 days	1.5–2.5 weeks
In-stock, consolidated air (50–300kg)	3–7 days	7–14 days	2–3 weeks
In-stock, sea LCL (300kg+)	5–10 days	30–45 days port-to-door	5–8 weeks
Production order (private label)	4–12 weeks	by mode above	2–4+ months

Ranges reflect typical FOB Korea terms observed across mainstream branded channels as of mid-2026; individual quotes vary by brand and volume.

Incoterms in one paragraph

EXW (ex-works) prices exclude everything after the warehouse door — you arrange Korean pickup and export. FOB (free on board) includes Korean-side logistics to the port/airport — the standard quote basis in K-beauty wholesale. DDP (delivered duty paid) lands the goods at your door with duty handled — simplest, priced accordingly. New importers comparing quotes across suppliers should normalize everything to estimated landed cost, since an attractive EXW number routinely loses to a plain FOB one.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a K-beauty wholesale order take door to door?

In-stock orders by express air: 1.5–2.5 weeks total. Consolidated air: 2–3 weeks. Sea freight: 5–8 weeks. Production/private label orders add 4–12 weeks before shipping begins.

When does sea freight become worth it?

Around 300kg, sea LCL beats air on cost per kg meaningfully — typically saving 40–60% on freight in exchange for a month of transit. Below ~200kg, air consolidation is almost always the right call.

What Incoterm should a first-time buyer request?

FOB Korea for comparability, or DDP if you want zero customs involvement on early orders. Treat EXW quotes carefully — they look cheapest while excluding the most cost.

Can suppliers hold stock while I sell?

Some consolidators offer short warehousing or split-shipment arrangements (order once, ship twice) — useful for stores with limited storage. Ask before ordering; terms vary widely.