A strategically located country at the intersection of Western, Central and Southern Europe, the Swiss Confederation imported US$291 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount reflects a 5% increase from $277.2 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Switzerland’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Switzerland is landlocked, surrounded by many of its top trading partners. Switzerland shares its southern border with Italy, its western border with France, its northern border with Germany, and its eastern border with Austria and Liechtenstein.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Swiss imports during 2020 for each of Switzerland’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for roughly two-thirds (66.1%) of total Swiss import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Swiss imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Switzerland’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Switzerland amounted to $56.7 billion or 19.5% of overall Swiss imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 78.9% of Switzerland’s imports from Germany.

Pharmaceuticals: $10.3 billion
Machinery: $6.4 billion
Vehicles: $5.4 billion
Gems, precious metals: $4 billion
Electronic equipment: $3.6 billion
Plastics: $2.6 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $2.5 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $2.2 billion
Furniture, lighting, signs: $1.6 billion
Iron or steel products: $1.5 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.2 billion
Aluminum: $1 billion
Wood: $822.7 million
Iron and steel: $819.3 million
Other chemical goods: $768.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Swiss imports from Germany under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 18.5% gain in revenue then gems and precious metals (up 17.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Switzerland’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -38.8%), iron and steel as materials (down -14%) and aluminum (down -13.8%).

Switzerland’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Switzerland amounted to $23.7 billion or 8.1% of overall Swiss imports.

That dollar amount represents a 5.8% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.4% of Switzerland’s imports from Italy.

Gems, precious metals: $6.4 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $3.8 billion
Machinery: $1.9 billion
Vehicles: $1 billion
Electronic equipment: $710 million
Beverages: $655.9 million
Plastics: $608.5 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $602.4 million
Iron and steel: $485.6 million
Organic chemicals: $460.4 million
Iron or steel products: $452 million
Leather, animal gut articles: $444.1 million
Footwear: $432.3 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $429.9 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $402.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Swiss imports from Italy under the gems and precious metals product category via a 35.3% gain in revenue then organic chemicals (up 9.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Switzerland’s top 15 imported products were footwear (down -26.4%), mineral fuels including oil (down -23%), iron and steel as materials (down -15.7%), unknitted and crocheted clothing (down -14.6%), products made from iron or steel (down -10.9%) and articles of leather or animal gut (down -10.6%).

Switzerland’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Switzerland amounted to $21 billion or 7.2% of overall Swiss imports.

That dollar amount represents a 10.9% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94.3% of Switzerland’s imports from America.

Gems, precious metals: $8.9 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $3.9 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.8 billion
Vehicles: $987.1 million
Machinery: $955 million
Electronic equipment: $562.4 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $516.3 million
Organic chemicals: $495.5 million
Collector items, art, antiques: $395 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $342.5 million
Plastics: $294.4 million
Other chemical goods: $263.6 million
Clocks, watches: $193.9 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $147.9 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $95.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Swiss imports from the United States under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 86.9% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 58.3%), organic chemicals (up 28.2%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 22.9%) and tanning or dyeing extracts (up 21.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Switzerland’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -63.6%), clocks and watches (down -23.5%), machinery (down -15%), vehicles (down -13%), medical or technical equipment (down -11.5%) then perfumes and cosmetics (down -10.8%).

Switzerland’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Switzerland amounted to $17.7 billion or 6.1% of overall Swiss imports.

That dollar amount represents a 16.6% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.4% of Switzerland’s imports from the mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $4 billion
Machinery: $3 billion
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $1.4 billion
Knit or crochet clothing: $1.05 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.02 billion
Other textiles, worn clothing: $930 million
Gems, precious metals: $826.4 million
Footwear: $593.8 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $568.2 million
Toys, games: $477.6 million
Medical, technical equipment: $477.2 million
Clocks, watches: $467.8 million
Plastics: $384.6 million
Leather, animal gut articles: $299.9 million
Vehicles: $269.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Swiss imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 533.7% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 55.1%), footwear (up 45.4%), knitted and crocheted clothing (up 42.8%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (up 32%) and vehicles (up 31.1%).

Posting the severest decline among Switzerland’s top 15 imported products was the clocks and watches product category (down -39.4%).

Switzerland’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Switzerland amounted to $17.4 billion or 4.1% of overall Swiss imports.

That dollar amount represents a -8.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 78.9% of Switzerland’s imports from France.

Gems, precious metals: $5.1 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $1.7 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.2 billion
Vehicles: $836.7 million
Machinery: $817 million
Beverages: $540.7 million
Electronic equipment: $518.7 million
Collector items, art, antiques: $444.3 million
Clocks, watches: $443.2 million
Plastics: $442.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $417.5 million
Organic chemicals: $399.2 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $372.3 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $266.8 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $203.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Swiss imports from France under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 53.2% gain in revenue and organic chemicals (up 7.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Switzerland’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -39%), collector items, art and antiques (down -37.8%), clocks and watches (down -24.5%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -15.7%) then gems and precious metals (down -12.4%).

Switzerland’s Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, United Kingdom’s exports to Switzerland amounted to $16.7 billion or 5.7% of overall Swiss imports.

That dollar amount represents a 1.1% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 95.7% of Switzerland’s imports from Britain.

Gems, precious metals: $11.6 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $867.7 million
Organic chemicals: $706.2 million
Vehicles: $631.4 million
Machinery: $469.6 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $338.6 million
Electronic equipment: $244.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $208 million
Collector items, art, antiques: $196.6 million
Clocks, watches: $167.3 million
Plastics: $142.3 million
Books, newspapers, pictures: $128.1 million
Other chemical goods: $110.2 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $88 million
Beverages: $76.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Swiss imports from the United Kingdom under the books, newspapers and pictures product category via a 152.6% gain in revenue, aircraft and spacecraft (up 67.7%), gems and precious metals (up 52%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 17.8%) then perfumes and cosmetics (up 10.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Switzerland’s top 15 imported products were organic chemicals (down -80.7%), collector items, art and antiques (down -52.8%), pharmaceuticals (down -32.1%), vehicles (down -28.6%) then clocks and watches (down -27.4%).

Switzerland’s Main Imports from Hong Kong

In 2020, Hong Kong’s exports to Switzerland amounted to $12.1 billion or 4.1% of overall Swiss imports.

That dollar amount represents a 215% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.8% of Switzerland’s imports from Hong Kong.

Gems, precious metals: $11.6 billion
Clocks, watches: $241.8 million
Electronic equipment: $68.6 million
Machinery: $18.2 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $15 million
Medical, technical equipment: $12.6 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $11.4 million
Collector items, art, antiques: $8.7 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $8.6 million
Leather, animal gut articles: $6.6 million
Plastics: $4.7 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $4.2 million
Other base metal goods: $3.4 million
Footwear: $2.8 million
Toys, games: $2.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Swiss imports from Hong Kong under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 1,428% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 254.5%), footwear (up 91.9%), articles of leather or animal gut (up 42.5%), machinery (up 26.8%) and medical or technical equipment (up 21%).

Posting the severest declines among Switzerland’s top 15 imported products were collector items, art and antiques (down -76.8%), miscellaneous base metal goods (down -33%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -26.9%), clocks and watches (down -26.3%), electronic equipment (down -20.2%) and knitted or crocheted clothing (down -11.5%).

Switzerland’s Main Imports from the UAE

In 2020, the United Arab Emirates’ exports to Switzerland amounted to $10.1 billion or 3.5% of overall Swiss imports.

That dollar amount represents a -32.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.9% of Switzerland’s imports from the United Arab Emirates.

Gems, precious metals: $9.9 billion
Clocks, watches: $108.8 million
Aluminum: $12.6 million
Machinery: $11 million
Electronic equipment: $5 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $4.3 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $3.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $3.7 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $2.5 million
Iron or steel products: $2.1 million
Collector items, art, antiques: $1.9 million
Pharmaceuticals: $1.3 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $1.2 million
Organic chemicals: $1.2 million
Footwear: $993,000

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Swiss imports from the United Arab Emirates under the organic chemicals product category via a 1,021% gain in revenue, perfumes and cosmetics (up 158.8%), machinery (up 123%), footwear (up 68%), medical or technical equipment (up 55.3%) and electronic equipment (up 47.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Switzerland’s top 15 imported products were aluminum (down -80.8%), gems and precious metals (down -33%) and pharmaceuticals (down -24.7%).

Switzerland’s Main Imports from Austria

In 2020, Austria’s exports to Switzerland amounted to $9 billion or 3.1% of overall Swiss imports.

That dollar amount represents a 5.5% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 84.6% of Switzerland’s imports from Austria.

Pharmaceuticals: $3.1 billion
Machinery: $971.4 million
Electronic equipment: $489.2 million
Vehicles: $394.4 million
Wood: $352.3 million
Plastics: $338.2 million
Paper: $322.9 million
Iron or steel products: $304.9 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $259.6 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $259.3 million
Aluminum: $200.6 million
Iron and steel: $190.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $162.9 million
Organic chemicals: $117.7 million
Gems, precious metals: $116 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Swiss imports from Austria under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 21.8% gain in revenue and electronic equipment (up 5.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Switzerland’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -15%), gems and precious metals (down -14.5%) then medical or technical equipment (down -8.1%).

Switzerland’s Main Imports from Thailand

In 2020, Thailand’s exports to Switzerland amounted to $8.2 billion or 2.8% of overall Swiss imports.

That dollar amount represents a 45.7% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 98.2% of Switzerland’s imports from Thailand.

Gems, precious metals: $7.3 billion
Clocks, watches: $154.8 million
Machinery: $145 million
Electronic equipment: $120.9 million
Vehicles: $52.1 million
Meat, seafood preparations: $40.1 million
Leather, animal gut articles: $35.3 million
Other food preparations: $35.1 million
Plastics: $34.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $27.1 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $25.8 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $22.4 million
Cereals: $17.9 million
Rubber: $17.3 million
Vegetable/fruit preparations: $14.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Swiss imports from Thailand under the gems and precious metals product category via a 56.7% gain in revenue, rubber (up 52.2%), miscellaneous food preparations (up 39.9%), knitted and crocheted clothing (up 14%), meat or seafood preparations (up 11.1%) and vegetable or fruit preparations (up 9.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Switzerland’s top 15 imported products were clocks and watches (down -29%), articles of leather or animal gut (down -14.8%), electronic equipment (down -11%) and plastics (down -9.6%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Switzerland, Borders of Switzerland

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Switzerland’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries