Swiss watchmakers are braced for a record year in exports this year and again in 2008 as surging demand for luxury goods continues unabated, the head of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said on November 20. "We are certain that 2008 will be even better," Federation head Jean-Daniel Pasche told Reuters in an interview.
Pasche expects exports to exceed the 14 billion Swiss franc ($12.52 billion) level in 2007, a new record, and continue to rise in 2008.
Earlier on November 20, the Federation published data showing that exports of Swiss timepieces rose 12 percent to 1.685 billion Swiss francs ($1.51 billion) in October, a new monthly record. For the 10-month period to end-October, Swiss watch exports hit 12.7 billion francs, a rise of 16.3 percent, the Federation said.