Business · Trade · 7 hrs ago
India could become a top Swiss watch export market next year
Swiss watch exports to India rose 28.5% from January to September 2026, even as demand weakened in China and the United States.
India ranked 14th among export markets, but could rise to seventh or eighth next year, according to Erol Baliyan, a Franck Muller executive.
Swiss watch exports to India were worth 265 million Swiss francs, while exports to China and the US fell by 5.9% and 4.1%.
Franck Muller has tailored collections to Indian sports, history and religion, and plans to announce its first Indian real estate project within a month.
The Swiss luxury watch brand is focusing more on India and France as tourist arrivals and sales have declined in the Middle East.
India's rising exports make it a growing market for Swiss watches as some established markets slow, though the ranking change is only a possibility.
India could rise from 14th to seventh or eighth among Swiss watch export markets next year, Franck Muller executive Erol Baliyan said.
Swiss watch exports to India increased 28.5% from January to September 2026, reaching 265 million Swiss francs.
Exports to China and the US fell during the same period, while demand in those markets weakened.
Franck Muller plans to announce its first real estate project in India within the next month.
The company is focusing more on markets including India and France as tourist arrivals and sales decline in the Middle East.
- Who
- Erol Baliyan, chief executive for the Middle East, Africa and India at Franck Muller, said India could become a leading export market.
- What
- India could rise from 14th to seventh or eighth among Swiss watch export markets next year.
- When
- Baliyan made the comments in an interview published on October 21, 2026. The export figures cover January to September 2026.
- Where
- India; the figures concern Swiss watch exports to the country.
- Why
- Strong sales growth in India is driving the outlook, while demand weakened in China and the US.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Swiss watch exports to India rose 28.5% to 265 million Swiss francs, while exports to China and the US fell.
The Economic Times published Baliyan’s comments on India’s growth as an export market.
Franck Muller plans to announce its first real estate project in India.
India could become the seventh or eighth largest Swiss watch export market, Baliyan said.
- India's current rank
- 14th among Swiss watch export markets
- India's possible rank next year
- Seventh or eighth
- India export growth
- 28.5% from January to September 2026
- India export value
- 265 million Swiss francs
- China export change
- Down 5.9% from January to September 2026
- US export change
- Down 4.1% from January to September 2026
What people are saying
India is the rising star in the watch industry
While other markets are struggling, India saw a 28.5% increase in Swiss watch exports from January to September, which is very encouraging.
We have built our India strategy across three pillars: culture, tradition and religion
In the Middle East, we don't have tourists coming in like before. There is a decline.