Strategically located in central west Europe, Switzerland shares its land borders with Austria, France, Germany and Liechtenstein.

Switzerland shipped US$554 billion worth of exported products around the world in 2025.

That dollar amount results from a 45.6% advance compared to $380.6 billion five years earlier during 2021.

Year over year, the overall value of goods exported from Switzerland were boosted by 24% from $446.8 billion in 2024.

That dollar figure also represents roughly 2.3% of the world’s exports one year earlier in 2024 estimated at $23.9 trillion. Switzerland’s global percentage improved from 1.9% for 2024.

Switzerland’s biggest 5 export customers in 2025 were the United States of America, Germany, United Kingdom, mainland China and France. Collectively, that quintet of major purchasers of exported Swiss goods bought over half (55.8%) of Switzerland’s global revenue.

Applying a continental lens, nearly half (49.6%) of Switzerland exports by value was delivered to fellow European countries while 24.5% was sold to importers in Asia. Switzerland shipped another 23.4% worth of goods to customers in North America.

Smaller percentages went to buyers in Latin America (1.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.7%) then Oceania (0.6%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Switzerland has continued to vote against joining the European Union in referendums. However, Switzerland sold 38% of its total exports to EU member states.

Switzerland’s Top 25 Trading Partners

Below is a list showcasing 25 of Switzerland’s top trading partners in terms of customers for Swiss exports during 2025. That is, countries that imported the most Swiss shipments by dollar value. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Swiss exports.

1. United States: US$121.4 billion (21.9% of total Swiss exports)
2. Germany: $60.9 billion (11%)
3. United Kingdom: $58.4 billion (10.5%)
4. mainland China: $36 billion (6.5%)
5. France: $32.5 billion (5.9%)
6. Slovenia: $31.7 billion (5.7%)
7. Italy: $29.3 billion (5.3%)
8. India: $16.3 billion (2.9%)
9. Türkiye: $13.1 billion (2.4%)
10. Austria: $11.64 billion (2.1%)
11. United Arab Emirates: $11.62 billion (2.1%)
12. Japan: $9.7 billion (1.7%)
13. Hong Kong: $7.8 billion (1.4%)
14. Netherlands: $7.8 billion (1.4%)
15. Singapore: $7.2 billion (1.3%)
16. Spain: $7 billion (1.3%)
17. Saudi Arabia: $6.7 billion (1.2%)
18. Thailand: $6.2 billion (1.1%)
19. Belgium: $5.8 billion (1%)
20. Canada: $5.3 billion (1%)
21. South Korea: $4.4 billion (0.8%)
22. Poland: $4.2 billion (0.7%)
23. Taiwan: $3.9 billion (0.7%)
24. Brazil: $3.6 billion (0.7%)
25. Australia: $3 billion (0.5%)

Nine-tenths (91.2%) of Swiss exports in 2025 was delivered to the above 25 trade partners.

The United Kingdom increased its import purchases from Switzerland at the fastest rate, up 159.6% in value from 2024 to 2025.

Swiss exports to the United States of America grew in total value by 64.8% trailed by France’s 54% gain then Türkiye (up 43.8%) then Austria (up 33.2%).

Posting double-digit percentage declines for buying Swiss exports were importers based in Hong Kong (down -36.4% from 2024), India (down -28%) and mainland China (down -15.2%).

Countries Causing the Greatest Trade Deficits for Switzerland

As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.

It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.

In 2025, Switzerland incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.

1. United Arab Emirates: -US$36.3 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2025)
2. Germany: -$15.8 billion
3. Italy: -$9.7 billion
4. Indonesia: -$5.4 billion
5. South Africa: -$5.3 billion
6. Ghana: -$4.7 billion
7. Canada: -$4.4 billion
8. Ivory Coast: -$4.2 billion
9. Burkina Faso: -$4.1 billion
10. Australia: -$4 billion

Among Switzerland’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Swiss deficits with the United Arab Emirates (up 1,910%), Italy (up 300.6%) and Indonesia (up 266.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Switzerland’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Switzerland to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.

Countries Generating the Largest Trade Surpluses for Switzerland

Switzerland posted an overall US$48.3 billion trade surplus for 2025. That positive balance represents a -37.4% reduction from the $77.2 billion in black ink one year earlier in 2024.

Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.

Switzerland incurred the highest trade surpluses with the following countries.

1. United States: US$53.7 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2025)
2. United Kingdom: $48 billion
3. India: $13.3 billion
4. mainland China: $10 billion
5. Türkiye: $9.6 billion
6. France: $7.9 billion
7. Saudi Arabia: $5.5 billion
8. Singapore: $4.2 billion
9. Hong Kong: $2.49 billion
10. Taiwan: $2.48 billion

Among Switzerland’s trading partners that cause the greatest positive trade balances, Swiss surpluses with France (up 25,297%), United Kingdom (up 243.8%) and Singapore (up 60.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate Switzerland’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Switzerland to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.

Main Swiss Export Companies

Forty-eight corporations based in Switzerland rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of the major Swiss companies that Forbes included.

• ABB Group (automation technology)
• Glencore International (diversified metals)
• Holcim (construction materials)
• Nestlé (food processing)
• Novartis (pharmaceuticals)
• Roche Holding (pharmaceuticals)
• Schindler Group (escalators, elevators)
• Swatch Group (clothing, watches)
• Syngenta (pesticides, specialized chemicals)
• TE Connectivity (electronics)
• Transocean (offshore drilling equipment)
• Weatherford International (oil field equipment)

Global trade intelligence firm Zepol also documents the following companies as examples of Swiss exporters.

• Baselux Sa Lugano Branch (heterocyclic compounds, printed documents)
• Novametal Sa Switzerland (stainless steel wire, plastic bobbins, aluminum wire)
• Olivado Tanlay (vegetable oil, honey, coconut oil)
• Polarome Switzerland (ketones, acetic acid esthers, acyclic polyhyric acids)
• Starbucks Coffee Trading (coffee, tea, paper bags)

 

See also Switzerland’s Top 10 Major Export Companies, Switzerland’s Top 10 Imports, Switzerland’s Top 10 Exports and Top EU Export Countries

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on March 16, 2026

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on March 16, 2026

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (National Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on March 16, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 16, 2026

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 16, 2026

Wikipedia, List of Companies of Switzerland. Accessed on March 16, 2026

X-rates.com, Exchange Rates: US Dollar to Swiss Franc (monthly average 2025)

. Accessed on March 16, 2026

Zepol’s company summary highlights by country. Accessed on March 16, 2026