Geneva  - Swiss watch exports in July were 25.9 per cent lower than in the same period last year and stood at 1.2 billion francs (1.13 billion dollars), the Federation of the Swiss Watch industry reported Thursday.

The decline in watch exports was in line with the average for the first half.

The higher-priced timepieces dropped steepest in relation to all watch exports, data showed.

Watches worth 200-500 francs showed the smallest decline, with a fall of around 7 per cent. Medium ranged pieces fell by some 20 per cent. The volume of watches costing over 3,000 francs fell by more than 30 per cent.

Swiss government statistics, also released Thursday, showed that overall trade was not bouncing back, but was in line with previous months' declines, when compared to periods before the economic crisis hit.

Exports fell by 16 per cent and imports by 18 per cent. Trade with the European Union, Switzerland's main trading partner, fell by one fifth in both directions.

Data showed that most exporters were seeing double digit declines in turnover. Exports remain a backbone of the Alpine land's economy.

The Swiss still maintained a significant trade surplus of 2.34 billion francs.

The World Trade Organization has predicted a 10-per-cent drop in global trade in 2009, owing to the credit crunch and global economic crisis. (dpa)