------ Kunden Online-Shop für Uhren in einem Geschäft der Schweizer Uhrenmarke Rado und Tissot am Changsha Huanghua International Airport in Changsha City, ce
--FILE--Customers shop for watches at a store of Swiss watch brand Rado and Tissot at the Changsha Huanghua International Airport in Changsha city, central Chinas Hunan province, 17 July 2013. Switzerlands exports of watches to mainland China plunged by 26.8% year-on-year in December 2013, according to the latest statistics released by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. The European country sold watches worth a total of 2.15 billion Swiss francs (US$2.4 billion in the overseas market in November, a 0.5% dip compared with a year ago. The market on mainland China also slipped two spots from its earlier position as the third largest importer of Swiss watches. As a major market for Swiss watches, Hong Kong also saw sales decline as the export volume dropped by 6.5% in November. After years of rapid development, mainland Chinas watch market, which used to enjoy a 40% growth rate, witnessed a downtrend during the second half of 2012. The Federation pointed out that the decline had been particularly evident in the Chinese market. In December of 2012, in particular, exports of Swiss watches to mainland China fell by 32% and those to Hong Kong fell 15%.The downtrend continued in 2013. In February of 2013, Switzerlands watch exports to mainland China fell by 33.6%, those to Hong Kong fell 24.4% and those to Taiwan fell 10.7%.
