Data released by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry earlier this week (November 21) shows that watch exports grew 9.3% year-on-year, totaling CHF 1.8 billion ($1.86 billion). Over ten months, exports rose 2.4%.
According to the federation, most of the 30 main markets proved positive in the month of October. Hong Kong (+15.8%) and China (+18.2%) continued to grow strongly. Japanese exports grew +21.7%. Exports to the US (-7.3%) remained negative, while growth in the UK (+1.2%) “continued to run out of steam”. Exports to Italy remained flat (-0.7%). Overall growth in Europe stood at 5.9%.
In September, Swiss watch sales totaled $1.82 billion (CHF 1.8 billion) – a 3.7% rise year-on-year. According to the Federation, “The trend over a twelve months period therefore shows a continuing recovery with positive variations expected again in the near future”.
