Finance
Swiss Watch Exports Return to Growth in February Before Middle East Conflict
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 19, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 19, 2026
Quick Summary
Swiss watch exports rebounded in February 2026 with a 9.2% year‑on‑year increase to CHF 2.2 bn, driven by strong demand from the U.S., Japan and France, ahead of any impact from Middle East tensions.
Swiss Watch Exports Rise in February as US, Japan, and France Drive Growth
Swiss Watch Export Performance and Market Drivers
March 19 (Reuters) - Watch exports from key producer Switzerland returned to growth in February driven by demand in the United States, Japan and France, data from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) showed on Thursday.
Overall Export Growth
Overall, Swiss watch exports came in at 2.2 billion francs ($2.77 billion), a 9.2% increase compared with February 2025.
Key Markets Fueling Growth
United States
Exports to the U.S. picked up pace again after see-sawing against the backdrop of President Donald Trump's trade war. They were up 26.8% in February in terms of value from the same month last year.
France
The uptick in France - to which watch exports increased 57.1% on last year, making it the third largest market - is likely due to the fact that it is being used more frequently as a point of transit to other locations, the FH said.
Other Notable Markets
United Arab Emirates and Singapore
While the United Arab Emirates and Singapore also took in slightly more watches in February from last year, the effects of the Iran war have not yet manifested themselves, the FH said.
Currency Exchange Rate
($1 = 0.7935 Swiss francs)
(Reporting by Marleen Kaesebier, Editing by Friederike Heine)
Key Takeaways
- •Exports rose 9.2% in February 2026 to CHF 2.2 bn compared with February 2025, supported by gains in the US, Japan and France (France partly benefiting from transit trade).
- •This rebound follows a weak start to 2026 (January exports down 3.6% YoY, led by declines in the US and Japan) (insight-luxury.com).
- •While exports to the UAE and Singapore also ticked up in February 2026, the effects of the Middle East conflict have not yet materialized (insight-luxury.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Swiss watch exports return to growth in February before Middle East conflict
1How much did Swiss watch exports increase in February?
Swiss watch exports rose by 9.2% in February 2025 compared to the same month the previous year.
2Which countries drove the growth in Swiss watch exports?
The United States, Japan, and France were the main countries driving the growth in Swiss watch exports.
3Why did watch exports to France see a significant increase?
Exports to France increased by 57.1%, likely due to France being used more as a transit point to other destinations.
4Have Middle East conflicts affected Swiss watch exports?
According to the Swiss Watch Industry Federation, the effects of the Iran war had not yet impacted exports by February.
5What caused the rise in US Swiss watch imports?
US imports of Swiss watches rose as the market picked up pace, increasing in value by 26.8% year-on-year in February.
