Usa: data on import/export of sunglasses

According to Vision Council of America report, following a depressing market in 2002, U.S. sunglass imports, based on volume, remained fairly flat in 2003, increasing by just 0.2 percent to 376.8 million pairs.

Sunglasses imported from China, however, convey a different story. Among the top ten source countries of sunglasses, only China recorded a bright spot, expanding by nearly 2 percent.

Based on value, on the other hand, sunglass imports were up 3.4 percent to a total of $646.3 million. The growth in value was driven by the increase in the average price to $1.72 per pair, a 3.3 percent increase from last year.

The U.S. sunglass exports appear to be slowing even more. Following a struggling market performance in 2002, sunglasses exported from the U.S. further declined by a significant 39.8 percent to 17.3 million pairs. The average price increased sharply, by 59.3 percent to $8.33 per pair, but was not enough to offset the declining export value. The total value of sunglass exports stood at $144.2 million, a 4.1 percent contraction.

Canada remained the largest market for U.S. exported sunglasses based on volume and value and emerged as the only country, among the top U.S. sunglass destination countries, that consistently grew in export value. Mexico, on the other hand, led the export market in terms of steady volume growth.