Watches from Switzerland are still in great demand internationally. In the first half of the current year, exports rose sharply again “despite a high basis for comparison”, the Association of the Swiss Watch Industry announced on Tuesday. According to the industry organization, the total value of the watches exported in the period from January to June was 13.3 billion Swiss francs (13.9 billion euros), exceeding the corresponding level of the previous year by 11.8 percent.
“The industry benefited from positive momentum in the luxury goods market while at the same time meeting high demand for entry-level watches,” the association said in a statement. “This enabled her to greatly increase her sales volumes.”
Watch exports to Germany are growing by almost 12 percent
Around half of Swiss watch exports went to the Asian markets in the first six months of the year. The corresponding prior-year level was exceeded there by 14.3 percent, which was not least due to above-average growth in China (+25.4 percent) and Hong Kong (+28.8 percent).
Exports to European countries increased by 9.7 percent. Exports to Germany rose by 11.9 percent to a total value of 686.5 million Swiss francs. In America, the industry achieved a plus of 8.1 percent. With a total value of 2.05 billion Swiss francs (+9.9 percent), the USA remained the world’s most important sales market for Swiss watches.