Korean Cosmetics from Moscow Stock or to Order: How to Choose

One of our partners was ordering cosmetics from Korea ahead of the season. Their sun care stock was running out, and waiting for the entire shipment to arrive by sea was too late.

We split the order. The urgent part travelled by air and arrived in about three weeks. The remaining goods came by sea in about 60 days.

The whole order was placed at the same time, but we calculated the delivery speed and cost separately for each part. A different purchase may lead to Moscow stock, a direct supply from Korea, or the same combination of routes.

We start with the partner's actual requirement

I start with the product list, quantity, required date, and final destination. These details show us which option to calculate first.

Moscow stock works for a small urgent purchase, replenishing fast-moving items, or testing demand for a brand. Supply from Korea is the better fit when a partner needs an exact assortment, a larger batch, or a consolidated purchase covering several brands.

Sometimes both routes belong in the same plan. We take part of the goods from Moscow stock or send them by air, then schedule the rest by sea.

Stock lets a partner begin with a smaller batch

Stocked goods are already in Russia and can be dispatched quickly. This route helps replenish inventory or test a new brand without starting with a large volume.

A partner can order less than a full factory case. That matters when the sales rate of a specific item is still unknown or the business prefers smaller, more frequent replenishment.

If you are still choosing a brand, I have explained what to check before the first purchase.

The assortment and quantities change. A permanent public catalogue would quickly become outdated, so we send a current price list and confirm the actual quantity after receiving the order.

A stock order follows these steps:

1. The partner receives the price list and marks the required items.
2. We check and confirm the available quantity.
3. For a first transaction, we exchange company details and sign a supply agreement through Russian EDI.
4. We issue the invoice and confirm the delivery address.
5. After payment, we dispatch the goods and send the universal transfer document, or UPD, through EDI.

If an item has already sold out, the manager confirms this before the order is finalised. We can then check an incoming shipment or calculate supply from Korea.

Supply from Korea gives more room to choose the assortment

An order from Korea can include specific brands and SKUs that are absent from Russian stock. This route is suitable for larger, planned purchases.

The partner sends the product list and quantities. We check supplier availability, the current price, and the required conformity documents. We then agree on transport and payment terms before placing the order in Korea.

The price is recalculated for each purchase. Exchange rates, weight, volume, route, and transport mode all affect it. An earlier price list helps select the assortment but cannot replace a current estimate.

Heavier products usually travel better by sea

In our experience, shampoos, toners, and other products heavier than 300 grams are often better planned in advance and shipped by sea. Their weight quickly increases the cost of air freight.

Air freight may be justified for lighter products in the medium and higher price segments, especially when stock is running out or the goods are needed for a season.

The final destination also matters. Shipments to the Urals, Siberia, and the Russian Far East require an additional domestic leg from Moscow, which must be included before choosing the route.

We confirm timing after checking the exact products and destination. Supplier availability, documents, carrier capacity, customs clearance, and seasonality can all affect the schedule.

One order can be split by urgency

The sun care case shows why it helps to calculate products separately. The partner needed to replenish seasonal items quickly, while flying the entire batch would have raised the logistics cost considerably.

We therefore sent the sun care products by air and kept the other items in the sea shipment. The urgent goods arrived in about three weeks, and the main batch in about 60 days.

Those timings belong to that particular shipment. We calculate the route and schedule again for every new order.

Regular purchases can be dispatched from Moscow stock

Another partner, a retail chain, regularly orders colour cosmetics from stock. We assembled and confirmed one such order on the day it arrived.

The Moscow part went by courier, while the regional consignments went through a transport company. The chain received new products and testers with the main items.

Actual availability determines what can ship. The manager checks stock and confirms the quantity again before every dispatch.

We compare the cost of the complete supply

The purchase price in Korea covers only part of the expense. To choose a route, we calculate the quantity, cargo weight and volume, international freight, customs clearance, and delivery to the final address.

A small purchase can be easier to take from stock. A larger batch usually makes more sense as a planned order from Korea. When products in one request differ greatly in weight and urgency, we divide the estimate into several parts.

The partner can then compare the cost of each route and choose a workable supply plan.

Documents supplied with the goods

For a Russian domestic supply, we issue an invoice and a UPD. A specification is added for a supply to order.

Depending on the product, we provide a declaration of conformity or a state registration certificate. We provide proof of authenticity on request when the relevant documents are available from the rights holder.

Before placing the order, we check whether the selected products have the required conformity documents. If the goods or documents are unavailable, we report this before the purchase is agreed.

What to send for an estimate

To begin, send us:

• brands;
• SKUs or product names;
• quantity for each item;
• required date;
• delivery city and address;
• preferred transport mode, if already chosen.

A spreadsheet, a simple list, or a previous order will work. We will check current Moscow stock, the possibility of supply from Korea, and propose a route for the purchase.

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Sergey Maltsev, CEO of K-Business

The case details and timings were recorded on 21 September 2026. Availability, prices, and timing are recalculated for every new supply.