2026.06.1806:29:08UTC+00Swiss Trade Surplus Widens to Over 1-Year High

Switzerland’s trade surplus widened sharply to CHF 5.6 billion in May 2026, up from an upwardly revised CHF 3.3 billion in April, marking the largest surplus since April 2025. Exports rose 3.4% month-on-month to CHF 25.4 billion, the highest level in over a year. Growth was driven mainly by chemical and pharmaceutical products (up 25.7%) and jewellery and precious metal goods (up 14.7%), which more than offset a 4% decline in watch exports. Exports to Europe recorded the strongest increase, advancing 18.5%, with shipments to Slovenia more than doubling (up 111.8%). Exports to North America also grew solidly, rising 10.3%, led by an 11.5% increase in exports to the United States.

On the import side, purchases from abroad increased 3.4% from the previous month to CHF 19.8 billion, a three-month high. The rise was driven by higher imports of chemical and pharmaceutical products (up 11.7%) and of machinery, electronics and equipment (up 1.1%). By region, imports grew from Europe (up 5.9%) and the United States (up 11.2%). In contrast, imports from Asia fell 2.6%, with notable declines in purchases from China (down 4.3%), Japan (down 19.6%), and Hong Kong (down 24.4%).