The latest news and analysis about trade, imports, exports, tariffs and sourcing.
VeneVision looks to launch new eyewear brands, scouting for opportunities
VeneVision is looking to increase the weight of its own brands in its sales mix as it moves to further expand its offering across the supply chain, Nicola Belli, CEO of the Italian eyewear manufacturer, told Eyewear Intelligence in a recent interview.
IOT aims for last-mile manufacturing with new, sustainable lens tech
If you have never heard about frontal photopolymerization, you are not alone. We too never had. However, if the promise made by Indizen Optical Technologies (IOT) with its new Light-Form Technology is fulfilled – no less than “a true paradigm shift in prescription lens manufacturing” – the industry may soon ...
Menicon turns 75 with brand new dailies factory in Malaysia
Menicon inaugurated yesterday its new daily contact lenses manufacturing facility in Kedah, Malaysia, in presence of officials from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). The building of the factory was first announced in 2022, and commercial production is now starting, only a few days before the 75th anniversary of the ...
Italian eyewear exports fall 4% in 2025 as sales to US tumble, industry pivots to other markets
The value of Italian eyewear exports slipped by 3.9 percent to €5.021 billion in 2025, as sales to the US tumbled by 34.0 percent but growth was seen throughout Europe as well as in China and other emerging markets, according to preliminary data released by the Italian eyewear association ANFAO. ...
Italy’s eyewear sector ramps up export promotion efforts
Italy’s eyewear industry has ramped up efforts to promote its products overseas, as tariffs, geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty bite, but new markets also provide opportunities.
Meta and Essilux reported AI glasses capacity doubling no easy task
Meta and EssilorLuxottica are discussing boosting their Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses annual production capacity to 20-30 million units to address growing demand, Bloomberg reported yesterday. The leak came from people familiar with the matter who asked to remain anonymous, which may also mean that it is a deliberate communication strategy ...
Meta pauses international Ray-Ban Display launch amid AR supply-chain crunch
Meta has postponed the international launch of its Ray-Ban Display AR glasses, citing overwhelming US demand and waitlists extending into 2026. The delay highlights critical supply chain bottlenecks in waveguide production and memory chips, as the smart eyewear market reaches a tipping point for consumer adoption.
Italian eyewear exports slip 3% in first eight months as US struggles, other markets improve
The value of Italian eyewear exports in the first eight months of 2025 fell by3.4 percent to €3,519 million as sales in the US continued to suffer in the wake of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump earlier this year but markets in Europe and elsewhere showed signs of ...
Italian H1 eyewear down 4% as Europe, China and others partially offset US collapse
The value of Italian eyewear exports in the first half of 2025 fell by 3.7 percent to €2,779 million, dragged down by the collapse of the US market in the wake of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, data from eyewear trade association ANFAO showed.
Italy Q1 eyewear exports fall 1.5% as industry braces for higher US tariffs
The value of Italian eyewear exports in the first quarter of 2025 fell by 1.5 percent compared to the year earlier to €1,427 million, as the market’s contraction deepened following a 0.6 percent fall in exports in 2024, according to data from eyewear trade association ANFAO.