US imports of Swiss watches down 5 percent
michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com
Bienne, Switzerland--Statistics for the months of January through July show that the U.S. demand for Swiss watches is down slightly year-to-date.
According to figures recently released by The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH), U.S. imports of Swiss wristwatches in volume terms declined 5 percent between January and July when compared with the same period last year. In value terms, exports rose 1 percent.
Including Canada, demand for Swiss watches was down 6 percent in volume terms and essentially flat in value terms. The American market as a whole, comprised of both North and South America, currently accounts for 14 percent of total global demand for Swiss watches.
Worldwide, FH statistics show a 6 percent decline in volume terms and a 2 percent increase in value terms for Swiss watch exports in the January-July period. Demand in volume terms fell 15 percent in Europe while increasing 15 percent in Africa and 2 percent in Asia, the world’s largest market for the timepieces.
Looking at the month of July, FH data shows that Swiss watch exports grew 4 percent in volume terms and 2 percent in value terms year-over-year. Demand in the U.S. market was essentially flat, rising less than 1 percent year-over-year in the period.
There was a “sharp” slowdown in demand for gold watches, with exports down 11 percent year-over-year.
However, exports of watches created in other metals increased. Demand for platinum (up 17 percent year-over-year), gold-plated (up 101 percent) and steel watches (up 4 percent) rose, helping to buoy exports as a whole.
Price-wise, watches priced between 200 and 500 Swiss francs (about $217 to $541) were most in demand, with exports in the segment rising 21 percent in value terms and 25 percent in volume terms.
Headquartered in Bienne, the FH is a private, nonprofit trade association that represents the interests of watchmakers in Switzerland.
According to figures recently released by The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH), U.S. imports of Swiss wristwatches in volume terms declined 5 percent between January and July when compared with the same period last year. In value terms, exports rose 1 percent.
Including Canada, demand for Swiss watches was down 6 percent in volume terms and essentially flat in value terms. The American market as a whole, comprised of both North and South America, currently accounts for 14 percent of total global demand for Swiss watches.
Worldwide, FH statistics show a 6 percent decline in volume terms and a 2 percent increase in value terms for Swiss watch exports in the January-July period. Demand in volume terms fell 15 percent in Europe while increasing 15 percent in Africa and 2 percent in Asia, the world’s largest market for the timepieces.
Looking at the month of July, FH data shows that Swiss watch exports grew 4 percent in volume terms and 2 percent in value terms year-over-year. Demand in the U.S. market was essentially flat, rising less than 1 percent year-over-year in the period.
There was a “sharp” slowdown in demand for gold watches, with exports down 11 percent year-over-year.
However, exports of watches created in other metals increased. Demand for platinum (up 17 percent year-over-year), gold-plated (up 101 percent) and steel watches (up 4 percent) rose, helping to buoy exports as a whole.
Price-wise, watches priced between 200 and 500 Swiss francs (about $217 to $541) were most in demand, with exports in the segment rising 21 percent in value terms and 25 percent in volume terms.
Headquartered in Bienne, the FH is a private, nonprofit trade association that represents the interests of watchmakers in Switzerland.
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