Global Swiss watch exports rebounded slightly in May, arresting months of steady decline. Figures released by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) reveal shipments edged up by 0.4 percent to CHF 2.11 billion, a welcome turnaround following April's bruising 17 percent collapse.
The marginal recovery was largely driven by robust Western demand, helping mitigate the industry's cumulative five-month downturn, which now stands at 3.1 percent. Shipments to the United States grew by 12.3 percent to CHF 301.5 million, whilst the United Kingdom advanced 24.9 percent to CHF 162.9 million. France witnessed a remarkable 57-percent spike to CHF 190.7 million, bolstered by its expanding role as a regional logistics hub.
However, Asian markets painted a highly fractured picture. Hong Kong showed tentative signs of a gradual recovery, rising 3.4 percent. Conversely, Japan slipped 3.5 percent, and mainland China plummeted a further 21.4 percent to CHF 130.1 million, highlighting ongoing volatility in the world's second-largest economy.
Performance also diverged sharply across price points. Luxury timepieces priced over CHF 3,000 grew by 3.7 percent, and entry-level items between CHF 200 and CHF 500 surged 23.6 percent. Meanwhile, mid-range watches between CHF 500 and CHF 3,000 plummeted by 17.2 percent. Despite the modest monthly reprieve, overall exports from January to May remain down 3.1 percent year-on-year at CHF 10.44 billion.
03-08-2026
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