According to the Fédération de l’industrie horlogère suisse (FH) the exports of the Swiss watch industry in July amounted to 1.4 billion Swiss francs, 19.9% more than in the same month last year.
This brings the total exports for the first seven months of 2010 to 8.7 billion francs (+19.6%). The detailed figures shows some interesting trends. For starters, 421,866 mechanical wrist watches were exported July 2010, with a mean value of 2,368 francs, and 2,017,841 quartz watches (on average 181 francs). Also exported were 57,582 mechanical movements (average price 110 francs) and 373,617 quartz movements (average price only 21 francs).
The value of exports of mechanical wrist watches of less than 200 francs grew with the same percentage as the overall exports, watches in the (small) price segment of 200-500 francs with more than 40%, in the segment 500-3,000 francs with only c. 10% and in the segment of 3,000 francs and more with 23.3% (and 28,9% in number).
The most important by far are steel watches: 1,216,800 watches (mechanical and quartz) were exported in July (+20.6%), worth 542,9 million francs (+24.8%).Much less in number were gold watches (38,300 pieces, +9,6%), but these were worth no less than 452.5 million francs (+18.9%). Bimetallic watches constitute the third most important segment, with 417.700 pieces (+31.5%) and 204.0 million francs (+32.1%).
Most important by far is Hong Kong, which imported for 269.9 million francs in July, even more than the 254.3 million in July of the record year 2008. The USA at #2 imported for 136.1 million, slightly more than in 2009, but much less than the 223.2 million in 2008. The second place of the USA is now threatened by third-placed France (111.7 million this year, 102.3 million in 2009 and 113,0 million in 2008). Singapore is fourth (90,5 million), China fifth (87.9 million) and Italy sixth (80.4 million). Japan has dropped to seventh place (76.8 million). Of course, many Chinese watch lovers buy their watches in Hong Kong, or during trips to the Middle East or Switzerland.
And the Netherlands? Our country is found in the 22th place (between Australia and Qatar) and imported for 10.6 million francs in July, more than the 9.3 million of 2009 and also more than the 9.2 million in 2008.
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