ZURICH: Swatch Group AG, the largest maker of Swiss watches, forecast a rebound in U.S. and European markets as well as higher demand for components sold to rival watchmakers, a further signal the industry’s longest slump on record may be ending.
The first months of 2017 have been “encouraging,” the Biel-based company said in its annual report Thursday. Swatch fleshed out its forecast for “healthy growth” in local currencies this year, saying it applies to the U.S. and European markets as well as total sales, and that Asian and Mideast markets have particularly improved.
Switzerland’s exports of timepieces have dropped for 19 months, the longest downturn on record, and Swatch’s operating profit slumped 45 percent last year. Still, Chief Executive Officer Nick Hayek has repeatedly said the industry is not in a crisis. Swatch also said Thursday it expects improvement at its unit that sells watch components to rivals, a positive sign for the entire industry, as Bank Vontobel analyst Rene Weber estimates that revenue from selling such mechanisms fell 50 percent last year.
Hayek’s total pay was cut 12 percent to 6.1 million francs ($6.1 million) last year, according to the annual report.
