The latest data released by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH shows that exports grew for the fifth consecutive month in September, rising 11.7% year on year to CHF 2.259 billion. Who are we ?
Cumulative exports for the first nine months of the year rose 2.7% year on year, reaching the CHF 19.5 billion mark.
Exports to the United States surged in September (+85.7%), supported by a low comparison base a year earlier. Japan (+12.3%) and Hong Kong, China (+3.0%) also recorded growth, but most of the other top ten destination markets declined. Among them, the Chinese Mainland (-14.2%) and the United Kingdom (-5.2%) faced high comparison bases from a year earlier, while exports to Singapore (-8.3%) and the UAE (-9.0%) also fell. Performance across EU markets still requires careful interpretation. France’s sharp increase of 128.2% largely reflected a shift in trade flows within the region, benefiting France at the expense of other EU countries. Overall, exports to the EU still rose 15.5%.
Meanwhile, the export value of wristwatches with an export price above CHF 3,000 rose 9.9%, contributing significantly to the overall recovery. All other price segments also grew, with wristwatches priced below CHF 500 recording particularly strong growth (+39.5%).
Swiss watch exports to major global markets in September 2026 performed as follows:
- Exports to the Chinese Mainland fell 14.2% year on year to CHF 130 million, compared with growth of 15.8% in August
- Exports to Hong Kong, China rose 3% year on year to CHF 161 million, outpacing August’s growth of 1.4%
- Exports to the United States rose 85.7% year on year to CHF 293 million
- Exports to Japan rose 12.3% year on year to CHF 177 million
- Exports to Singapore fell 8.3% year on year to CHF 122 million
- Exports to the United Kingdom fell 5.2% year on year to CHF 164 million
- Exports to Germany fell 4.1% year on year to CHF 99.3 million
- Exports to Italy fell 16.9% year on year to CHF 76.5 million
- Exports to South Korea rose 15% year on year to CHF 74.6 million
- Exports to France rose 128.2% year on year to CHF 247 million
- Exports to the UAE fell 9.0% year on year to CHF 91.6 million
In September, Swiss watch exports to six major markets – the United States, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China and the Chinese Mainland – rose by a combined 29.5% year on year to CHF 1.172 billion, accounting for 52.6% of global exports.
Swiss watch exports to the world’s top 30 markets rose 12.5% year on year to CHF 2.066 billion in September, accounting for 92.8% of total exports.
Beyond the top eleven markets listed above, Qatar (+92.2%), India (+12%), Saudi Arabia (+14.9%), Taiwan, China (+12.1%), Turkey (+19.1%), Kuwait (+21.6%), Bahrain (+47.3%), Denmark (+50%) and Indonesia (+482.4%) recorded double-digit growth or higher. Australia (-21.4%), Mexico (-22.5%), Canada (-19.5%), Spain (-46.9%), the Netherlands (-27.4%), Belgium (-55.2%) and Brazil (-37.8%) recorded double-digit declines.
Swiss watch exports by material in September performed as follows:
- Precious-metal watches: export volume fell 1.0% year on year; export value rose 1.3%
- Steel watches: export volume rose 21.5% year on year; export value rose 13%
- Steel-and-gold watches: export volume rose 11.8% year on year; export value rose 29.3%
- Watches made from other metals: export volume rose 29.9% year on year; export value rose 29.4%
- Watches made from other materials: export volume rose 17.9% year on year; export value rose 3.6%
Swiss watch exports by price segment in September performed as follows:
- Watches priced below CHF 200: export volume rose 19.9% year on year, while export value rose 30.2%
- Watches priced between CHF 200 and CHF 500: export volume rose 56.5% year on year, while export value rose 52.1%
- Watches priced between CHF 500 and CHF 3,000: export volume rose 7.3% year on year, while export value rose 11.8%
- Watches priced above CHF 3,000: export volume rose 6.1% year on year, while export value rose 9.9%
Detailed Report on Swiss Watch Exports in September 2026
(Chart source: Official website of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH)
- By wristwatch material
- By wristwatch price segment (currency: Swiss francs)
- Year-on-year change in the 12-month moving average
(CHF 1 is currently equivalent to approximately RMB 8.08)
| Source: Official website of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH
| Image Credit: Official website of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH
| Editor: Luxeplace
