ANFAO Reports Italian Eyewear Exports at €2.7 Billion in H1 2026 with Recovery Signals Despite Overall Decline

Italian eyewear industry exports reached slightly over €2.7 billion in the first half of 2026, a 2.7% decrease year-on-year, according to data from ANFAO. While sunglasses and frames exports fell by 3.7% and 1.1% respectively, lens exports grew by 6.0%. The sector showed improving monthly trends, moving from a 14.3% drop in January to positive growth of 3.0% in April and 3.7% in June. The US market remained a significant burden, with frame and sunglasses exports there falling 25.1% to approximately €320 million; ANFAO stated that without this decline, overall exports would have grown. Europe served as a key growth driver, with frame and sunglasses exports rising 4.4%, led by Poland (+20.9%), Portugal (+13.4%), Germany (+7.1%), and Spain (+3.5%). Other regions saw mixed results, including strong growth in Hong Kong (+72.9%) and Turkey (+7.8%), but declines in China (-22.8%), Mexico (-20.0%), and the UAE (-20.9%). ANFAO expressed cautious optimism for the second half of 2026, citing ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainties.