0024watchworld.com

During the first six months of 2010 the Swiss watch industry has exported for 7.3 billion Swiss francs, 19.7% and 1.2 billion francs more than during the same period of 2009. Exports are back at the level of 2007.
Most important by far, with 6.8 billion francs and 11.4 million pieces, are wrist watches (+20.2% and +18.5%, respectively); other watch products accounted for 465.9 million francs, (+12.2%). All price segments showed growth rates of 17% or higher. Spectacular were bimetallic watches: +80.6% in value and +62.1% in numbers.
Hong Kong is the most important market by far: 1,409 billion francs (+37.9%). Second are the USA, with 757.7 million francs (+12.5%. France is third (504.3 million, +7.5%). China overtook Italy and is now in fourth place, with 482.7 million francs, an increase of no less than 90.6%. Italy is now fifth, with 469.7 million francs (+3.0% only). Of the first 15 export markets, only Japan (#7, with 361.3 million francs) and Germany (#8, with 356.4 million francs) imported less than last year (-8.6 and –5,3%, respectively).
The figures indicate that, indeed, the worst is over!