In a sector where the majority of products sold are imported, purchases abroad increased 19%, and the main countries of origin for imports were Italy, with a total share of 24% in 2024, France (18%), Spain (14%), Germany (14%), the Netherlands (9%), and China (8%).

Italy primarily imported sunglasses and frames, while ophthalmic and contact lenses predominated among products imported from France, Spain, and Germany.

Approximately 97% of the sector's revenue (€826 million) comes from optical stores integrated with large retail chains.

Informa D&B points out that "increased competition in recent years has led to more aggressive promotions and discounts by operators, aiming to maintain sales," which, consequently, has led to "the disappearance of independent establishments, most of them family-owned, unable to survive in a scenario of intense rivalry and pressure on margins."

It is in this context that the five main chains in the sector accounted for 54.3% of the market share in 2024, when, according to data from May of this year, there were approximately 2,290 optical stores in Portugal—of which more than half were concentrated in just four districts: Lisbon, Porto, Braga, and Aveiro.

"The aging population and the increasingly widespread use of electronic devices will continue to increase the need for vision-enhancing devices in the short and medium term. However, slower price growth and a less favourable macroeconomic environment will lead to a slowdown in the growth rate of revenue in this sector," anticipates Informa D&B.