Swiss watch export figures at end June 2000 show exceptional growth

For the first half of this year, the export figures of the Swiss watch industry show a 17,2% growth reaching 4,72 billion Swiss Francs. Swiss manufacturers exported 2,1 million finished watches in May and in consequence have increased their components import, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.
Steel (up 12,5%) and 18 carat gold (up 10,1%) appear to be the winning materials in watch manufacturing, before plastic (-11,3%), aluminum (-16,3%) and plated items (-11,9). (Read more in Europastar magazine, September 4/00 issue; how to get it, click here)