140,000 visitors at SIOF 2025
The 23rd China (Shanghai) International Optics Fair (SIOF2025) took place from February 20 to 22, 2025 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. This year’s theme, “New Quality Productivity, New Growth Drivers, New Vision” aimed to drive the optics industry toward a future characterized by innovation, efficiency, and excellence.
60% increase in space
The exhibition featured 971 exhibitors, including 340 international brands from 23 countries and regions, occupying a 115,000 square meter exhibition area across 10 halls, an increase of nearly 60% compared to last year. Attendees had the opportunity to explore six main categories: frames, lenses, international brands, contact lenses, instruments and machinery, and optometric services.
The total number of visits to this exhibition exceeded 140,000, representing a 37% increase compared to last year, with attendees from 95 countries and regions. Exhibitors welcomed trade visitors from across China and abroad, particularly from Asia, Russia, and Africa.
As always, SIOF inherits the innovative genes, and brings a new upgrade in terms of exhibition form, exhibition service and exhibition experience. SIOF 2025 serves not only as a platform for displaying the latest eyewear products and technology from China and all over the world, but also as a platform for the innovation and development of the eyewear industry but also as a vital opportunity to promote the industry’s shift toward high-end, intelligent, and sustainable practices.
With a broader scale and more diverse exhibits, this year’s exhibition showcases the industry’s robust vitality and ongoing innovative potential, creating a more convenient and efficient communication experience for exhibitors and buyers alike.
Many well-known exhibitors like Marchon, Safilo, and Chang’s participated in SIOF 2025 to exploit new business opportunities. In addition, Marcolin returned to SIOF this year and displayed their BMW, Tom Ford, ic!Berlin and Zegna. According to the organizers it can be seen that SIOF is a trading platform that cannot be missed.
This year, SIOF continued to form an oversea designer brand pavilion with over 35 famous brands from China, Japan, France, HKSAR, Canada, USA, Portugal, Korea and UK.
Two International Pavilions made a return to the China (Shanghai) International Optics Fair. Among them, the Fukui Optical Association from Japan showcased 10 member companies, featuring a total of 20 eyewear brands designed in Fukui Prefecture. Additionally, the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association organized an exhibition group with six member companies participating across halls E1, E2, and E5 (Equipment Hall).
Strengthen international brand cooperation
To enhance direct communication between exhibitors and buyers, the organizers invited professional overseas buyers from 13 countries and regions including Pakistan, Poland, Canada, India, Turkey, Morocco, the United States, Kyrgyzstan, Ecuador, Egypt, Turkmenistan, Yemen, and Russia. All of them were invited to participate in a business matching program on the first day of the exhibition. This initiative aims to strengthen international trade cooperation.
In addition, the organizer hosted over 300 visitors from Korea, including leaders and chairpersons from local optical associations, retail stores, and wholesalers. On the second day of the fair, two business matching sessions were arranged for Korean and Russian buyer delegations with Chinese exhibitors. The buyer delegation expressed satisfaction with the programme, noting that it saved them time in identifying target products and facilitated meetings with relevant suppliers.
Alongside with the exhibition, a series of seminars and conferences focused on the latest developments in the optical industry were concurrently held, including:
China Eyewear Brand Upgrading Forum with the theme “Usher in The New Era of Brand Evolution”, as one of the highlights of this exhibition, the forum attracted the participation of many industry elites and technology pioneers, and provided more diversified ideas and directions for the development of Chinese eyewear brands through in-depth discussions on the future development trends and innovative technologies of the eyewear industry.
Apart from forum, it was first time SIOF 2025 debut, the new “potential” station at Hall W4, takes the three themes of “New fashion, New consumption and New technology” with the events like, brand launch conferences, seminars and conferences, model catwalks, etc., and provides new ideas and directions for the development of the eyewear industry.
Media-wise, SIOF 2025 collaborated with Chinese and international optical publications, optical associations and optical show organizing counterparts to enhance the media exposure, including the following:
20/20 Europe (Italy), China Glasses Science-Technology (China), DIOPS (Korea), Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association (Hong Kong), Hong Kong Trade Development Council (Hong Kong), The Indian Optician (India), Loop (Taiwan), MAFO (Germany), Vision Biz (Italy), Optical World (UK), SILMO (France), TEF Magazine (The Netherlands) and VEKO (Russia).
CIOF and SIOF dates
The 36th China International Optics Fair (CIOF 2025) is held on September 9 – 11, in Beijing. CIOF 2025 is one of Asia’s leading annual optical exhibitions and a significant event in the global optical industry. It provides an excellent opportunity to learn about future trends for the upcoming winter and spring seasons from top eyewear forecasters. The fair serves as a prime platform for global suppliers to showcase their latest products and technologies, while buyers can explore the latest eyewear styles and upcoming autumn trends.
The next SIOF, the 24th China (Shanghai) International Optics Fair, is set to take place in March 2026. This event will mark another major occasion in the optical industry, coinciding with the start of the buying season in spring.