Portugal bate recorde de importações de relógios suíços em 2010

Os dados da Federação Relojoeira suíça, hoje divulgados, demonstram aquilo que Estação Cronográfica já vinha anunciando nos últimos meses - apesar da quebra em Dezembro, Portugal fecha o ano com um recorde absoluto nas importações de relógios suíços. Um mercado que valeu 120 milhões de francos.
As exportações relojoeiras suíças cresceram de forma notória no último mês de 2010, para se cifrarem num total de 1,5 mil milhões de francos, ou seja, mais 25,8 por cento que em Dezembro de 2009.

Mesmo assim, 2010 termina ligeiramente aquém dos resultados obtidos em 2007, ano recorde.

Quanto a Portugal, registou em Dezembro uma natural e acentuada quebra nas importações relojoeiras helvéticas - sendo nesse mês o 23º mercado de destino dos relógios suíços, o valor decresceu 14 por cento face a Dezembro de 2009, embora tenha ficado 38,7 por cento acima do ano de 2008, quando a crise afundou todos os mercados, a partir de Outubro.

Em termos do acumulado, ficando como 21º mercado, Portugal importou em 2010 algo como 120 milhões de francos suíços em relógios, mais 27,8 por cento que em 2009 e mais 30,8 por cento que em 2008, o que faz do ano passado um ano recorde de sempre em importações de relógios suíços.

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A análise da Federação Relojoeira:

The year 2010 saw a very clear-cut recovery after the significant downturn recorded in 2009. The sector exported the equivalent of 16.2 billion francs, i.e. 2.9 billion more than the previous year. This growth of 22.1% clearly indicates a return to a healthy and robust situation for Swiss watchmaking, with a level slightly higher than the 2007 result, which was considered at the time to be excellent.

The recovery took effect from the month of January 2010. All months in 2010 showed an upward trend, often in excess of 20%, or even 30% in March and June. Growth accelerated each quarter, finally bringing watch exports to a rate of increase of 24.3% in the second half-year, compared to 19.6% in the first.

The decline in 2009 has not been fully erased, since the sector has still to return to its level of 2008. The latest results indicate however that the recovery is based on firm foundations and is set to continue in 2011, even though as yet not all players and regions are benefiting to the same extent.

Products
Wristwatches accounted for nearly 94% of the value of exports by Swiss watch manufacturers in 2010, recording an increase of 22.7% to 15.1 billion francs. The corresponding number of timepieces also increased sharply, rising to 26.1 million units. This is the highest level achieved since 2002, thanks to growth of 20.4%.

Steel – the material of choice for more than one in two timepieces – set the pace, both in value and volume terms. Gold watches were also close to the yearly average. Bimetallic timepieces recorded particularly strong growth (+50.7% by value). In volume terms, the category of other materials strongly influenced the overall result with an increase of 30.6%.

Growth was apparent in all price segments. Watches costing less than 200 francs (export price) were largely responsible for the rise in the total number of timepieces, with an increase of 18.5%. Representing around 10% of the total, the 200-500 francs category registered the sharpest increase, in excess of 30%. Timepieces between 500 and 3,000 francs were situated slightly below the average, while watches costing more than 3,000 francs recorded an increase of 24.2% by value and 29.8% by volume.

In addition to watches, the sector exported other watchmaking products with a value of one billion francs. This value rose by 13.7% compared to 2009. It includes in particular components undergoing operations abroad before returning to Switzerland (enhancements trade).

Markets
During the year 2010, the fifteen main markets showed the following trend (total value in million francs and % variation by comparison with 2009):

1. Hong Kong 3,185.5 +46.9%
2. USA 1,674.4 +13.8%
3. France 1,167.0 +20.5%
4. China 1,099.5 +57.0%
5. Italy 923.3 +2.6%
6. Singapore 899.3 +33.4%
7. Japan 806.3 +4.9%
8. Germany 768.4 -3.2%
9. United Kingdom 596.5 +9.6%
10. United Arab Emirates 578.5 +31.9%
11. Spain 343.7 +7.8%
12. Taiwan 308.9 +26.4%
13. South Korea 305.2 +36.8%
14. Saudi Arabia 256.2 +34.2%
15. Thailand 205.6 +27.2%

Asia absorbed more than half the total value of exports in 2010 and recorded growth well above that of other regions. With a rate of increase of 34.6%, it easily outstripped America (+14.5%) and Europe (+10.4%).

Hong Kong, secure in its role as a re-export centre, consolidated its position as the leading direct market for Swiss watch exports by achieving one of the highest increases in the analysis. The United States continued their recovery, but in a more modest way and starting from a lower level. Standing out from other European markets, France registered strong growth, thanks in particular to numerous purchases by tourists. Other destinations on the Old Continent showed more modest increases and even a decline in the case of Germany. In fourth position, China proved particularly dynamic and moved up three places in the ranking compared to 2009. After around three years on a downward spiral, Japan recovered remarkably well and ended the year on a positive note. The other main Asian markets all recorded growth above the world average.