Anfao: positive trend in the first 11 months of 2005

Today, before the catwalk in the illustrious setting of the Pushkin Literary Museum in Moscow, Anfao (Italian Optical Goods Manufacturers' Association) presented its January-November 2005 results, during a press conference with the prestigious presence of Italy's Deputy Minister for Production Activities, Adolfo Urso, and President of Italy's Institute for Foreign Trade (Ice), Ambassador Umberto Vattani.

In 2005, Italian eyewear continued to recover gradually, leading to a more optimistic outlook on the future. During the first 11 months of 2005, Italian exports moved up and for the first time after several years, end-of-the-year results could be higher than in 2002. This continuing upward trend for Italian eyewear on international markets is the result of the quality, innovation and creativity of Italian products.

Exports in the January/September timeframe in 2005 were up 9,3% over the same period for the previous year, totaling €1,567 million. The trend varied in the different sectors: the best performers were sunglasses which, during January/November 2005, increased by 15,9% amounting to more than €978 million since the beginning of the year. Figures for frames, instead, remained virtually unchanged compared to the previous year, falling slightly by 0,1 percentage point.

Europe remains the main export market for Italian eyewear accounting for almost 50% (48,4%) of the total and posted +4% versus the same period in 2004.

Encouraging results were also observed in Asia which absorbed 13% of total exports of frames/sunglasses, up by +15,4% compared to the same period in the previous year. Noteworthy is the +21,2% for sunglass exports to Asia versus January/November 2004.

Exports to the United States posted excellent results in the first 11 months of 2005 accounting for 30% of the total. The United States is therefore the leading export market for Italian eyewear: this market attracted both exports of sunglasses (+20,7%) as well as prescription eyewear (+7,3%). This is an important sign that shows the American market's interest in quality and fashion products.

The Russian market also posted very good results with double digit increases for 2005, despite the fact that volumes remained very limited. During January-November 2005, exports of 'Made in Italy' eyewear stood at €23 million (+25,4%). This positive result is largely due to exports of sunglasses which amounted to €17 million (+28,1%). Frames performed well at € 6,6 million (+19%).

Interesting signs also came from new, developing markets: the United Arab Emirates (+21,6%) and Turkey (+5,7%) - largely due to sunglasses - as well as Australia (+50,6% frames, +23,7% sunglasses) and Brazil (+51,4% frames, +21,8% sunglasses).

Imports edged up by +4,7%, with Asia gaining ground over Europe and America.

'The positive trend in our sector is largely due to the success on the international markets of our sunglasses, a segment in which Italian creativity and imagination are best expressed', said Cirillo Marcolin, Anfao President. 'However, the positive sector trend is also confirmed by other important factors, one of which is the recovery of employment levels in the Belluno province. Today, after many years of declining employment, many companies have resumed hiring: around 1,000 new jobs are estimated to have been created since the beginning of the year. This is having positive repercussions also on related industries, an encouraging trend for small enterprises, which are winning numerous orders from abroad'.

'Therefore, signals are encouraging, and not for large companies alone', Marcolin concluded. 'This, combined with the recovery of consumer spending in the United States, allows for a positive outlook on 2006, a year in which our industry will continue to invest, through Anfao, in the promotion of Italian products abroad, while seeking to develop a major project at home, geared to offering our companies more and newer instruments to boost innovation and creativity. This project will be geared to promoting design, enabling Italian companies to collaborate with the top design companies and institutes at the international level, with the aim of creating a strong link between the research phase and prototyping'.