16 recently released figures on the performance of the eyewear sector in the first half of 2024. Italian eyewear ended 2023 on a positive note, driven by exports, despite overall world goods trade falling back sharply (-1.9%).
In the first part of 2024, many of the factors that contributed to this slowdown were still present: poor demand for manufacturing goods and investment, high interest rates, persistent energy prices well above pre-pandemic rates, conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and fragmentation. In addition, the German recession worsened in Europe.
Against this backdrop, exports in the eyewear sector, which account for a large portion of its production, after a first quarter marked by renewed growth (+2.3% in value compared to 2023), also suffered a slight setback (-2.9% in the second quarter of 2024).
Consequently, overall, Italian eyewear exports decreased slightly by 0.3% to about 2 billion 888 million euros ($3.19 million US) from January-June 2024.
Compared to the first half of 2023, exports of frames fell by 0.4% (838.4 million euros) ($926 million US) and sunglasses by 0.6% (1,986 million euros) ($2.19 Million US); although insignificant (about 63 million euros) ($69.9 million US), exports of lenses increased (+9%).
First Half-Year 2024: Exports By Geographical Area
- Europe continued to be the reference area for eyewear exports, accounting for nearly 53% of all industry exports in value terms in the first half of 2024. Here, exports increased in value by 8%, thanks to the performance of frames alone (+9%), while sunglasses remained at the same level as in January-June 2023 (+0%).
- Italian eyewear exports to America accounted for about 29% of all exports in the industry in the first half of 2024 (about 809 million). However, performance was negative with a result of -12.5% overall (-14.4% export of frames and -11.8% of sunglasses).
- In Asia, however, the positive trend of Italian exports in the sector continued, returning to pre-pandemic values. Italian exports to Asia actually reached 17% in the first half of 2024 (as in 2019). In the first half of 2024, Italian eyewear exports grew by 14.6% compared to the first half of 2023.
- Other geographical areas were of little significance in terms of share.
First Half-Year 2024: Exports By Country
- In the S. (which has always been the leading market for the sector), total exports of frames and sunglasses fell by 15.6% in the first half of 2024. Both sectors performed badly: -17.6% exports of frames and -14.9% exports of sunglasses.
- In France, exports for the sun-optical sector fell by -1.7% in January-June 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 (+4.4% for frames and -5.6% for sunglasses).
- In Germany, overall exports for the first half of 2024 were at the same level as the first half of 2023: +0.1% (+0.4% for frames and +0% for sunglasses).
- The positive trend of Italian eyewear exports to Spain continued with an increase of +9% in value compared to the first half of 2023 (frame exports +13.6%, sunglass exports +5.8%).
- The post-Brexit recovery of Italian eyewear exports in the UK continued: overall exports were +6% in value in the first half of 2024, with +5.1% of sunglasses and +31.2% of frames.
The Domestic Market
Based on the figures available to the association, in the first half of 2024, the performance of the optical market (frames, sunglasses, and ophthalmic lenses) increased by about 5% in value compared to the same period in 2023.
In terms of overall volume, however, there were drops (about -2% for sunglasses and frames, -1% for ophthalmic lenses).
The increase in value was therefore generated by a higher value-added product mix, with higher average prices: the mid-to high-end product for sunglasses and frames and progressive lenses on the ophthalmic side.
The International Monetary Fund’s growth forecasts are not particularly rosy for 2024 and 2025, especially for advanced economies, especially the United States and the Eurozone countries
Considering that these are major eyewear markets, the decline in exports seen in the second quarter of 2024 is a warning sign to be monitored.
The war in Ukraine, the Middle East conflict, the growing fragmentation of the economy, the anti-inflationary monetary squeeze, the withdrawal of government aid, and extreme weather events are a chain of causes that have contributed to a geopolitical picture of extreme uncertainty.
These are certainly not the best conditions for trade growth. The eyewear industry will therefore face a complex situation to interpret in the second half of 2024. Estimates prepared by ANFAO, given current conditions, point to an end of 2024 very close to 2023 values.
About ANFAO
ANFAO, the National Association of Optical Article Manufacturers has over 130 member companies and brings together all the main Italian eyewear companies from the entire production chain.
The Association was founded in Milan in 1954 by the will of a group of entrepreneurs determined to group the companies in the sector into an association adhering to Confindustria with targeted objectives: the first to create a profitable synergy between the member companies and, in a climate of full collaboration, representing their interests at the Institutions, both nationally and internationally, to export the Made in Italy concept, which has always been synonymous with quality, all over the world.
ANFAO is the organizer of MIDO and DaTE International Trade Shows.
