MILAN—The business atmosphere was subdued at the 39th edition of Mido, the ophthalmic product exhibition held here for the first time in early March instead of its traditional timing in May.

Exhibitors and attendees acknowledged that buying activity was impacted by the global economic situation as buyers throughout the supply chain were cautious and uncertain. At midpoint of the four-day show, exhibitors' opinions, expressed to VMail, varied as to the degree to which attendance was off, with estimates ranging from 10 percent to as high as 30 percent; organizer's attendance numbers were not yet available at presstime.

Prior to the start of this month's show, executives of Mido said that the 2010 exhibition, which will be the 40th anniversary of Mido, will be held March 5 to 7, on a Friday-Saturday-Sunday timing. The decision to reduce the show from its historical Friday through Monday days, they said, was based on surveys of exhibitors and attendees. This year's show timing placed Mido during the 15 days that Milan dedicates to the fashion industry, including the Milan collections and Micam, Mipel, Mifur and, Mido.

The Italian eyewear industry, according to Vittorio Tabacchi, president of Mido, reported production in 2008 totaled €2.597 million , down by 6.4 percent over the previous year. Both the fall in exports (-4.7 percent over 2007) and a downturn in the domestic market (-7.3 percent) caused production to slow, leading to a reduction in the number of companies and people employed.

"While small companies, especially in the Cadore eyewear district, had to close, the difficulty being experienced by medium and large companies could be seen in the temporary closure of production facilities, a reduction in working hours, temporary layoffs and the non-renewal of fixed-term employment contracts," he stated.

The year 2008 closed with 1,005 companies, 4 percent less than in 2007, mainly in the Belluno eyewear district, and with 17,500 people employed, down by 5.4 percent over the previous year. Exports of frames, sunglasses and lenses, which account for approximately 85 percent of production by the industry, fell by 4.7 percent compared to 2007. Exports of sunglasses fell by 6.9 percent in 2008 over 2007, settling at more than €1.422 million. Exports of frames fell by a lesser extent (-0.5percent), settling at almost €735 million.