Switzerland Balance of Trade

Switzerland reported a trade surplus equivalent to 1.3 Billion CHF in April of 2012. Historically, from 1989 until 2012, Switzerland Balance of Trade averaged 0.4600 Billion CHF reaching an all time high of 3.2900 Billion CHF in May of 2011 and a record low of -1.6700 Billion CHF in March of 1989. Trade has been the key to prosperity in Switzerland. Switzerland's annual trade balance is habitually in arrears, owing to the economy's reliance on large quantities of imported raw materials for industry. Swiss main exports are: medicinal and pharmaceutical products, watches and clocks, machinery for special industry and tools. The country imports mostly machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products and textiles. European Union is by far its largest trading partner accounting for about 62% of exports and 79% of imports. This page includes a chart with historical data for Switzerland Balance of Trade.

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Swiss Trade Surplus Narrows in April
Published on 5/24/2012 3:36:57 PM | By TradingEconomics.com, Federal Customs Administration

Switzerland's trade surplus fell unexpectedly in April due to a fall in exports, the Federal Customs Administration reported.

The surplus decreased to CHF 1.33 billion in April from CHF 1.58 billion in March.

Exports dropped by real 0.9 percent from a month ago, following a 2.4 percent decline in March. At the same time, monthly increase in imports slowed to 2.6 percent from 5.9 percent.

In the first quarter, the trade balance showed a surplus of CHF 5.84 billion compared to a surplus of CHF 6.94 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Balance of Trade
The balance of trade is the difference between the monetary value of exports and imports in an economy over a certain period of time. A positive balance of trade is known as a trade surplus and consists of exporting more than is imported; a negative balance of trade is known as a trade deficit or, informally, a trade gap. The balance of trade forms part of the current account, which also includes other transactions such as income from the international investment position as well as international aid. If the current account is in surplus, the country's net international asset position increases correspondingly. Equally, a deficit decreases the net international asset position. The Balance of Trade is identical to the difference between a country's output and its domestic demand - the difference between what goods a country produces and how many goods it buys from abroad; this does not include money respent on foreign stocks, nor does it factor the concept of importing goods to produce for the domestic market.

SWITZERLAND NEWS

Swiss Trade Surplus Narrows in April
Published: 5/24/2012 3:36:57 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Federal Customs Administration
Switzerland's trade surplus fell unexpectedly in April due to a fall in exports, the Federal Customs Administration reported.

Swiss Trade Surplus Widens in February
Published: 3/22/2012 12:50:26 PM By: TradingEconomics.com
Switzerland's trade surplus reached 2.7 billion francs in February, up from the 1.6 billion francs in January, with the watch industry leading export growth.

Swiss National Bank Keeps Minimum Exchange Rate Unchanged
Published: 3/15/2012 5:18:30 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, SNB
The Swiss National Bank will continue to enforce the minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20 per euro with the utmost determination. It is prepared to buy foreign currency in unlimited quantities for this purpose. The target range for the three-month Libor will remain unchanged at 0.00–0.25%. The SNB will continue to maintain liquidity on the money market at an exceptionally high level.

Swiss Inflation Falls In February
Published: 3/8/2012 12:34:56 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Swiss Federal Statistical Office
Consumer prices in Switzerland fell 0.9 percent year-on-year in February, after 0.8 percent decline in January. In February 2011, prices rose 0.5 percent on an yearly basis.

Swiss Economy Expands In Q4
Published: 3/1/2012 11:38:28 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bloomberg
The Swiss economy unexpectedly expanded in the fourth quarter, bolstered by strong private consumption, foreign trade and gross fixed investments.

Swiss Exports Declines in December
Published: 2/2/2012 2:55:20 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, ABS
Exports from Switzerland fell in December, hurt by turmoil in the Euro Zone which slashed demand for Swiss goods and drove the franc currency to unfavorably strong levels as investors looked for a safe place to park their money.

Swiss Trade Surplus Rises In November
Published: 12/20/2011 1:58:45 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Federal Customs Administration
The Swiss trade surplus hit CHF 3 billion in November, the second largest on record, up from CHF 2.16 billion during October.

SNB Holds Franc Peg at 1.20 to the Euro
Published: 12/15/2011 12:52:14 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, SNB
The Swiss National Bank kept the minimum floor unchanged at 1.20 Swiss francs against the euro, even as it warned of a highly uncertain international economic outlook, saying that a further escalation of the European sovereign debt crisis can't be ruled out.

Swiss Inflation Rate Declines in November
Published: 12/6/2011 12:36:39 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, SECO
The Swiss consumer price index fell 0.2% on the month, and 0.5% on the year in November, as the strong franc pushed automobile and food costs lower, outweighing higher energy and accommodation costs.

Swiss GDP Growth Slows to 0.2% in Q3
Published: 12/1/2011 1:42:47 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bloomberg
Switzerland’s economy grew at the slowest pace in more than two years in the third quarter as companies cut spending and exports slumped.

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