Switzerland flag Switzerland: Economic and Political Overview

Foreign trade figures of Switzerland

Foreign Trade in Figures

The Swiss economy is extremely open to foreign trade, which represents 140% of the country’s GDP (World Bank – latest data available). According to official figures from the Federal Statistical Institute, in 2022, exports were led by chemical and pharmaceutical products (35,2%), precious metals and gemstones (26,9%), machines, appliances, electronics (8,7%), watches (6,5%), precision instruments and equipment (4,7%). As per imports, precious metals and gemstones were the main category (30.6%), followed by chemical and pharmaceutical products (19.1%), machines, appliances, electronics (10.6%), energy sources (6.5%), and metals (5.5%).

At the country level, the United States absorbed 16.3% of Swiss exports, ahead of Germany (13.3%), China (11%), Italy (6.2%), France (5.2%), and India (3.7%). Germany (19.5%), the U.S. (11%), China (6.9%), Italy (6.5%) and France (6%) were Switzerland's principal procurement markets in 2022. Overall, Europe accounted for 45.5% of total exports and 50.1% of imports (Federal Statistical Office data).

Switzerland has a structurally large trade surplus. Exports rely mostly on high-tech sectors, which are less dependent on the international economic situation than other industries. According to WTO data, in 2022, Switzerland's exports of goods amounted to USD 401.7 billion while imports stood at USD 356.4 billion (+5.6% and +10% compared to one year earlier, respectively). As with regard to services, Switzerland exported USD 148 billion (+6.4%), while it imported USD 157.5 billion (+9.9%). The country’s trade surplus was estimated at 13.7% of GDP in 2022 by the World Bank (was 12.3% one year earlier).  According to preliminary figures from the Federal Customs Administration, after a spring marked by a decline in exports, Swiss foreign trade recovered in the third quarter of 2023, with the trade balance closing with a surplus of CHF 10.5 billion.

 
Foreign Trade Values 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 277,830291,981324,069357,115364,098
Exports of Goods (million USD) 313,934319,318380,194400,693420,170
Imports of Services (million USD) 141,919139,896158,899160,673191,523
Exports of Services (million USD) 135,632120,582140,510151,696169,979

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20182019202020212022
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 124.4124.1122.2130.9137.7
Trade Balance (million USD) 72,51771,38863,482116,618117,913
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) 70,98665,10143,94596,786108,372
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 0.80.3-3.25.05.9
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 3.4-0.7-5.212.45.5
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 57.057.257.959.562.7
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 67.567.064.371.475.0

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20232024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 2.73.23.34.23.4
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 3.72.93.74.04.0

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
Switzerland is a member of the following international economic organisations: IMF, European Free Trade Association (EFTA), ICC, Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) (observer), G-10, WTO, OECD, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates Switzerland click here. International organisation membership of Switzerland is also outlined here.
Free Trade Agreements
The complete and up-to-date list of Free Trade Agreements signed by Switzerland can be consulted here.
 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
United States 15.0%
Germany 12.2%
China 10.8%
Italy 6.4%
France 4.8%
See More Countries 50.9%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
Germany 18.1%
United States 9.0%
Italy 7.8%
France 5.9%
China 5.6%
See More Countries 53.5%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

419.9 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 25.5%
Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic...Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic uses; antisera and other blood fractions and immunological products, whether or not modified or obtained by means of biotechnological processes; vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excl. yeasts) and similar products 12.5%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 10.8%
Heterocyclic compounds with nitrogen hetero-atom[s...Heterocyclic compounds with nitrogen hetero-atom[s] only 6.0%
Wrist-watches, pocket-watches and other watches,...Wrist-watches, pocket-watches and other watches, incl. stop-watches (excl. of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal) 4.3%
See More Products 40.9%
365.4 bn USD of products imported in 2023
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 28.0%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 11.0%
Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic...Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic uses; antisera and other blood fractions and immunological products, whether or not modified or obtained by means of biotechnological processes; vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excl. yeasts) and similar products 4.8%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 3.8%
Articles of jewellery and parts thereof, of...Articles of jewellery and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal (excl. articles > 100 years old) 2.6%
See More Products 49.8%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

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Latest Update: July 2024