After February’s decline, Swiss watch sales abroad rebounded by 1.5% in value in March. However, this rebound, driven in particular by very strong sales across the Atlantic, remains fragile: professionals probably anticipated the increase in customs duties by speeding up their deliveries.
You need to have a strong stomach when you’re a Swiss watchmaker…
Swiss watch exports continue to yo-yo, with another rebound in March of 1.5% to 2.38 billion Swiss francs (2.55 billion euros). There had already been one in January, after four consecutive months of decline at the end of 2024. But February saw a new downturn, against a backdrop of a reversal in the US and Japan.
March therefore brings a new note of hope. Even if “over the first quarter as a whole, however, the trend remains slightly negative, with a decline of 1.1%,” observes the Swiss Watch Federation, which publishes these statistics every month.
Growth in value, but decline in volume
However, March’s growth was observed in value terms, but not in volume. Switzerland exported 55,000 fewer pieces than in February, weighed down by a sharp decline in the “Other metals” category (-23.6% in volume and -23.7% in value to 108.2 million Swiss francs) and “Other materials” (-17.8% in volume but +10.8% to 89.1 million Swiss francs, editor’s note). “These declines were not offset by the 4.2% increase in volume (and 5% to 722.3 million Swiss francs, editor’s note) in steel watches.”
Discover our plans Subscribe for 1€ Become an active member of the community of luxury leaders.
To continue reading this article, subscribe or log in to your account
Read also > Swiss watch exports fall again in February
Featured photo: © Rolex
