Shanghai (February 13, 2018) – As China is welcoming the Year of the Dog, Swiss business leaders in China look back to a successful 2017. And they are confident about this years’ operations: 72% expect “higher” or “substantially higher” sales in 2018 compared to 2017, with only 5% expecting lower sales, according to the recent “2018 Swiss Business in China Survey”, conducted by the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS, the premier business school in Asia), the Swiss Centers China (SCC), the Swiss Embassy in China, Swissnex, SwissCham, Switzerland Global Enterprise and China Integrated.

The key findings:

1. While Swiss exports in 2017 to key markets such as Germany, Italy and France did not yet rebound to their 2008 levels, the exports to China and Hong Kong grew by an astonishing 66% in the same period. Exports to the USA increased even higher, by +73%.
2. In 2017, China and Hong Kong bought watches and precision instruments in the value of 7.2 billion CHF from Switzerland, making China again the largest world market for Swiss products of this segment.
3. Swiss exports to China will certainly continue to increase: 72% of decision makers in China expect “higher” or “substantially higher” sales in 2018 compared to 2017, according to the 2018 Swiss Business in China Survey.

The comprehensive survey – the full results are going to be published in March 2018 – comprises responses from 108 Swiss enterprises. It is believed to be representative of the approximately 600 Swiss companies in China. Besides Swiss companies, the survey also includes responses from Chinese (440) and other foreign companies (70).

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