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RAPAPORT... Swiss watch exports rose 6.3 percent year on year to $1.8 billion (CHF 1.753 billion) in March, according to the Federation of Swiss Watches. The group noted that watch exports for the first quarter of 2015 rose 3.1 percent to more than $5.2 billion (CHF 5 billion). Watch exports by volume in March rose 13.2 percent to 2.3 million units. The federation explained that watch exports priced less than $209 (CHF 200) grew 22.9 percent by value and 22.5 percent by volume, while price points of $3,141 (CHF 3,000) and above increased 8.3 percent by value and 5.5 percent by volume. However, exports with price points between $210 and $523 (CHF 201 and CHF 500), fell 6.1 percent by value and 2.9 percent by volume, while watches priced between $524 and $3,140 (CHF 501 and CHF 2,999) rose 1.4 percent by value and fell 1.4 percent by volume. Of the top six destinations for Swiss watches, exports to Hong Kong, the largest market, fell 13.8 percent in March; however, exports to the U.S., the second- largest market, jumped 22.4 percent. Exports to China fell 2.4 percent, but they surged 27.2 percent to Singapore. Exports to Japan dropped 5.1 percent while those to Italy rose 13.4 percent.
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