Switzerland’s trade surplus reached a record high of CHF 6.0 billion in October 2024, up from a revised CHF 4.0 billion in September.
Swiss trade surplus hits record high
On a monthly basis, exports surged by 10.2% to CHF 24.4 billion, driven by strong sales of jewelry (+28.8%), vehicles (+23.7%), chemical and pharmaceutical products (+15.6%), and watches (+5.1%). Demand from key trading partners rose significantly, with notable increases in Slovenia (+105.3%), Brazil (+29.4%), South Africa (+22.2%), and Japan (+20.1%). Meanwhile, imports grew more slowly by 1.8%, reaching CHF 18.4 billion, with higher purchases of chemical and pharmaceutical products (+6.6%), jewelry (+5.7%), and paper and graphic products (+1.9%).
Import details
Imports primarily increased from Slovenia (+54.6%), Hong Kong (+30.7%), Egypt (+29.4%), and the Netherlands (+21.3%). For the January-to-October period, the trade surplus expanded to CHF 39.5 billion, compared to CHF 31.8 billion in the same period last year.
