Anfao: data for first nine months of 2003

Anfao, Associazione Italiana dei Fabbricanti di Articoli Ottici, has published data on the trend in the sector for the period January-September 2003. The overall downturn in exports was 2.89% compared to the same period in 2002, but the total in value came to 1.5 billion euros.

The trend for frames went in the opposite direction with exports showing an increase of 3.55% (against a drop of 2.28% in 2002 compared to 2001) and a total in terms of value of 469.6 million euros.

The negative international economic situation made itself felt for the sales of other products outside Italy. Topping the list were sunglasses, with a shortfall of 7% (656 million euros), followed by glass lenses (-4% and 11.9 million) and lenses in other materials (-1.78% and 19.1 million euros).

The global import picture was also negative at -10.32% (equal to 313.6 million euros). The most obvious slowdown in this area was for sunglasses (-18.4%), followed by lenses in other materials (-8.8%) and frames (-5.9%). A plus sign, however, went to glass lenses (+4%).