China: growth of eyewear market

The production of made in China eyewear has reached a value of over 1.5 billion euros (16 billion yuan in 2004), 10% higher than in 2003.

In 2004, the value of eyewear exports was 915 million US dollars (+18% compared to 2003) and imports stood at 111 million US dollars (+35.7%). According to Xu Yunyuan, President of China Optometric & Optical, the eyewear industry has grown by 17% in the last 5 years.

Today, China has 4,000 eyewear companies and around 20,000 opticians stores. The areas affected by the production phenomenon are the cities of Dongguan, in Guandog province, and Xiamen, Wenzhou and Danyang in eastern China.

About 300 million Chinese wear glasses and renew them every three years; consequently, every year the demand is for 100 million pairs of glasses.

Hong Kong, the second largest producer of eyewear at world level, has transferred 80% of its industrial plant to Dongguan; whereas Taiwan, leader for the production of sunglasses, has moved production to Xiamen.

(Source: Ice)