GENEVA: Swiss watch exports posted the biggest quarterly drop since 2009 in the third quarter as plummeting sales in China spread to other Asian markets in September.
“After May and July, September is the third month to show a marked decline in Swiss watch exports,” the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) said yesterday.
“This negative change has spread to other, hitherto more robust Asian markets, and casts something of a shadow over prospects for the year 2015.”
Watch exports were down a real 8.5 percent for the third quarter after falling 9.9 percent in September and 10 percent in July, the Federal Customs Office said yesterday.
Sales in Asia declined 12.7 percent in September, as continued drops in China’s mainland, Hong Kong and Singapore were compounded by sharp turnarounds in Taiwan and Emirati sales and a dive in South Korean sales from negative 3.7 percent in August to negative 35 percent in September.
Analysts at Kepler Cheuvreux said the poor performance could be pegged to tough comparables in the previous year and continuing effects of a deadly MERS virus outbreak earlier this year.
Apple Watch threat
At 1.81 billion Swiss francs (US$1.91 billion), September watch sales abroad significantly undershot analysts’ expectations, posting declines that were double to triple what analysts had forecast.
Timepieces in all price segments were impacted, but watches in the low-to-mid segment suffered the biggest hit. The 200-500 franc export category slipped 14.5 percent, igniting concerns that the Apple Watch could finally be taking a bite out of the Swiss industry’s stake.
On Friday, Bank Vontobel released a sector report highlighting Swatch Group’s particular smartwatch exposure, with its mid-range brand Tissot and lower range own label, Swatch.
“Swatch Group is the only (Swiss) player which also has a strong position in low to mid-end segments,” Vontobel said. “Swatch Group has a market share of 60-65 percent in the low to mid-end,” accounting for 25 percent of sales.
But Vontobel analysts remained optimistic that, due to the group’s technology know-how, it would offer its own smartwach offerings to compete with the Apple Watch and its likes.
Last week, Swatch launched its first payment watch in China, beating Apple to the plate. Earlier this year, it launched a beach volleyball-themed smartwatch.
