Good times continue for Swiss watch industry

Watchmakers are set to outstrip last year's record exports Keystone Archive

Switzerland's watchmakers are set for another record sales year with most export markets in better shape this year than last.

The President of the Swiss Watchmaking Industry, Francois Habersaat, told the organisation’s annual meeting in Geneva that exports were set to grow even though sales were down in the main market, the United States.

Habersaat told delegates that in the first five months of the year, 23 of the 30 most important markets for the industry had shown positive growth.

Exports to the United States, however, were down more than five per cent compared to the previous year. But Habersaat said he was confident of a recovery across the Atlantic.

The most important export destinations in the first three months of the year were Hong Kong, the United States, Japan and France.

Habersaat said exports for 2001 should outstrip last year’s record performance by a few per cent. Exports in 2000 passed the magical figure of SFr10 billion ($5.6 billion) for the first time, an increase of more than 14 per cent on the previous year.

swissinfo with agencies