K‑pop album exports jump 125% as US CD sales climb 16% in 2026

South Korea’s music export data show that K‑pop album shipments reached a record $257.5 million in the first half of 2026, a 125 % rise from the same period a year earlier. The United States was the biggest importer, buying $74.1 million worth of albums, followed by China and Japan.

In the United States, physical CD sales surged 16 % year‑on‑year to 16.3 million units in the first six months of 2026, far outpacing the modest 2.4 % growth in vinyl. The Luminate report attributes the CD rebound largely to K‑pop collectors, especially the BTS “ARIRANG” release, which alone sold 516 000 copies in its opening week. Even when K‑pop figures are excluded, U.S. CD sales still rose 6.7 %.

Analysts note that many young buyers treat CDs as collectible items rather than playback media, with roughly half of Gen‑Z and millennial purchasers lacking a CD player. The trend reflects a broader shift toward physical‑media fandom support while streaming dominates everyday listening.