Swiss Watch Exports Up 9.2% in February to 2.2 Billion Francs

Swiss watch exports rebounded in February, rising 9.2 percent from the previous year to reach 2.2 billion Swiss francs, or about $2.77 billion, according to data released Thursday by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.

The growth, reported on March 19, marked a return to expansion after recent volatility, fueled primarily by stronger demand from the United States, Japan and France. Exports to the United States, the industry's largest market, surged 26.8 percent in value terms compared with February 2025, rebounding from an earlier decline. This uptick followed months of fluctuations tied to trade tariffs imposed during the administration of former President Donald Trump, which had disrupted shipments before a retroactive easing in November.

Japan saw a robust 23.7 percent increase in imports, while exports to France jumped 57.1 percent, elevating it to the third-largest market for Swiss timepieces. However, the federation noted that the French gains likely stemmed from increased use of the country as a transit hub for shipments destined elsewhere, rather than heightened local consumption. Shipments of higher-end watches, those priced above 500 Swiss francs, drove much of...