The latest data released by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry shows that export value declined again in March, falling 1% year-on-year to CHF 2.12 billion, mainly due to a 1.6% decrease in the US market. However, exports to the Chinese Mainland increased by 4.2% year-on-year.
Since December last year, the French market has recorded an exceptionally high growth rate (+72.4%). However, this figure does not reflect actual market growth, but rather re-exports to other destinations. In addition, the war in the Middle East has not affected watch exports to the United Arab Emirates (+0.7%), while exports to Saudi Arabia fell by 16.8%.
Overall, in the first quarter, Swiss watch exports increased by 1.4% year-on-year to CHF 6.2 billion. Several major markets appear to have bottomed out, including Japan (-0.4%), Hong Kong, China (-0.8%), and the Chinese Mainland (-0.7%).
In March 2026, Swiss watch exports to major global markets performed as follows:
- Exports to the Chinese Mainland increased by 4.2% year-on-year to CHF 147 million
- Exports to Hong Kong increased by 0.5% year-on-year to CHF 147 million
- Exports to the United States decreased by 1.6% year-on-year to CHF 399 million
- Exports to Japan decreased by 12.6% year-on-year to CHF 140 million
- Exports to Singapore increased by 4.9% year-on-year to CHF 144 million
- Exports to the United Kingdom increased by 3.2% year-on-year to CHF 155 million
- Exports to Germany decreased by 8.5% year-on-year to CHF 104 million
- Exports to Italy decreased by 16.8% year-on-year to CHF 76.8 million
- Exports to South Korea increased by 6.0% year-on-year to CHF 67.6 million
- Exports to France increased by 72.4% year-on-year to CHF 158 million
- Exports to the United Arab Emirates increased by 0.7% year-on-year to CHF 90.5 million
In March, total exports to six key markets, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China, the Chinese Mainland, and Singapore, increased by 7.3% year-on-year to CHF 1.15 billion, accounting for 54.4% of total global exports.
In March, exports to the world’s top 30 markets increased by 0.2% year-on-year to CHF 1.992 billion, representing 94.3% of total exports.
Beyond the above eleven major markets, India (+56.6%), Mexico (+16.4%), Türkiye (+23.7%), Ireland (+16.3%), and Brazil (+73.1%) achieved double-digit growth; while Taiwan (-24.6%), Australia (-27%), Spain (-44%), Saudi Arabia (-16.1%), the Netherlands (-20%), Qatar (-24.8%), Austria (-20.4%), and Belgium (-15.8%) recorded double-digit declines.
In March, export performance by material was as follows:
- Watches made of precious metals: export volume decreased by 5% year-on-year; export value decreased by 4%
- Steel watches: export volume increased by 5.8% year-on-year; export value decreased by 9%
- Steel and gold watches: export volume increased by 5.9% year-on-year; export value increased by 17.8%
- Watches made of other metals: export volume increased by 23.9% year-on-year; export value increased by 31.8%
- Watches made of other materials: export volume decreased by 2.5% year-on-year; export value decreased by 17.7%
In March, export performance by price segment was as follows:
- Watches priced below CHF 200: export volume increased by 6.8% year-on-year; export value decreased by 0.3%
- Watches priced between CHF 200 and CHF 500: export volume increased by 15.4% year-on-year; export value increased by 15.4%
- Watches priced between CHF 500 and CHF 3,000: export volume decreased by 2.1% year-on-year; export value decreased by 3.7%
- Watches priced above CHF 3,000: export volume decreased by 0.5% year-on-year; export value decreased by 0.5%
Detailed Report on Swiss Watch Exports for March 2026
(Charts source: Official website of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry)
- By watch material
- By watch price segment (currency: Swiss franc)
- Change in the rolling average over the past 12 months
(1 Swiss franc is currently approximately USD 1.27)
| Source: Official website of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry
| Image Credit: Official website of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry
| Editor: Luxeplace
