Swiss Trade Surplus Narrows in August

Switzerland's trade surplus narrowed to CHF 3.9 billion in August 2025 from CHF 4.2 billion in July, the lowest in three months. Exports slipped 1.0% month-on-month to CHF 22.0 billion, weighed down by lower sales of watches (-8.6%) and jewelry (-7.5%). Exports to the US plunged 22.1% (-CHF 873 million), its weakest level since late 2020, as the impact of Washington’s 39% tariff on Swiss goods—one of the highest globally—continued to curb demand. By contrast, exports to Europe rose 1.6%, boosted by Austria (+43.2%), Poland (+37.2%), and France (+23.9%). Meanwhile, imports rose 0.4% to CHF 18.1 billion, supported by higher purchases of energy (+11.6%), vehicles (+2.7%), and chemical-pharmaceutical products (+0.5%). Among suppliers, Austria (+13.9%) and Slovenia (+23.7%) recorded notable increases, while Germany posted a sharp decline of 6.8%, its steepest since December 2020.