Editing Economy of Switzerland (section)

==Economic sectors==
{{Pie chart
| caption= Origin of the capital at the 30 biggest Swiss corporations, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/foreign-investors-own-60--of-swiss-corporations/44880256 |title=Fewer Swiss shares: Foreign investors own 60% of Swiss corporations |author=SDA-Keystone/NZZ/ds |date=4 April 2019 | publisher=swissinfo.ch – a SRG SSR Swiss Broadcasting Corporation |location=Berne, Switzerland}}</ref> The majority of large Swiss companies have foreign [[CEO]]s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/majority-of-swiss-company-ceos-are-foreign--/44624210 | title=Majority of Swiss company CEOs are foreign | date=17 December 2018 }}</ref>
| label1 = Switzerland
| value1 = 39
| color1 = red
| label2 = North America
| value2 = 33
| color2 = yellow
| label3 = Europe
| value3 = 24
| color3 = blue
| label4 = Rest of the world
| value4 = 4
| color4 = brown
}}
The Swiss economy follows the typical [[developed country]] model with respect to the economic sectors. Only a small minority of the workers are involved in the [[Primary sector of the economy|primary or agricultural sector]] (1.3% of the population, {{as of|2006|alt=in 2006}}) while a larger minority is involved in the [[Secondary sector of the economy|secondary or manufacturing sector]] (27.7% {{as of|2012|alt=in 2012}}). The majority of the working population are involved in the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary or services sector]] of the economy (71.0% {{as of|2012|alt=in 2012}}).<ref name="Swiss"/>{{Dead link|date=June 2021}}

While most of the Swiss economic practices have been brought largely into conformity with the [[European Union]]'s policies, some [[trade protectionism]] remains, particularly for the small agricultural sector.<ref name=CIA>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/switzerland/ Switzerland]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].</ref>

In 2022, the sector with the highest number of companies registered in Switzerland is Services with 230,494 companies followed by Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate and Retail Trade with 107,547 and 45,935 companies respectively.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hithorizons.com/eu/analyses/country-statistics/switzerland | title=Industry Breakdown of Companies in Switzerland | website=HitHorizons}}</ref>

===Watches===
Switzerland is a leading exporter of high-end watches and clocks. Swiss companies produce most of the world's high-end watches: in 2011 exports reached nearly 19.3 billion CHF, up 19.2% over the previous year. Watch manufacturing is mostly located around the Jura mountains, in the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Bern, and Jura. Notable watchmaking firms include [[Rolex]], [[Patek Philippe]], [[Swatch]], and [[Richemont]].

The watches go to Asia (55%), Europe (29%), Americas (14%), Africa and Oceania (both 1%).<ref name="Fédération de l'industrie horlogère suisse FH">{{cite web|url=http://www.fhs.ch/en/statistics.php |title=The Swiss Watch Industry - Facts and figures |access-date=February 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218231647/http://www.fhs.ch/en/statistics.php |archive-date=February 18, 2013 }}</ref>

In 2011, Switzerland led the world by exporting over US$20 billion value of all types of watches, followed by Hong Kong, at under US$10 billion. China exported the highest number of watches by far in 2011.<ref name="Fédération de l'industrie horlogère suisse FH"/>

In July 2024, the Swatch Group loses 70% of its profit.<ref>{{cite news |title=Swatch, l'utile crolla (-70%) a 147 milioni di franchi svizzeri. Il titolo cade in borsa |url=https://www.milanofinanza.it/fashion/swatch-l-utile-crolla-70-a-147-milioni-di-franchi-svizzeri-il-titolo-cade-in-borsa-202407151328515728 |access-date=15 July 2024 |agency=milanofinanza.it |publisher=milanofinanza.it |date=15 July 2024}}</ref>

===Industrial sector===
{{See also|Healthcare in Switzerland|Pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland}}

Switzerland has an extensive industrial sector, with globally competitive companies in various industrial sectors. Most noticeably, food processing like [[Nestlé]], machines and robot manufacturers such as [[ABB]], [[Bobst SA]] and [[Stadler Rail]], chemicals for industrial and construction use like [[Sika AG]], or military equipment such as [[Ruag]].

Switzerland also has one of the most competitive pharmaceutical industries in the world. Major Swiss pharmaceutical companies include [[Novartis]] and [[Hoffmann-La Roche|Roche]].

===Agriculture===
{{main|Agriculture in Switzerland}}
[[File:Swiss landscape with cows.JPG|thumb|250px|Swiss free-range cattle]]
[[File:Emmentaler.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Emmentaler]] cheese. While some Swiss types are [[Appellation d'origine protégée (Switzerland)|AOP]] restricted, generic Emmentaler is produced around the world.]]

Switzerland is highly protective of its agricultural industry. High tariffs and extensive domestic subsidisations encourage domestic production, which currently produces about 60% of the food consumed in the country. [[Swiss cheeses and dairy products|Cheeses and dairy]] are emblematic products of Swiss agriculture. [[Swiss wine|Wine is another]].

According to the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD), Switzerland is subsidising more than 70% of its agriculture compared to 35% in the EU. The ''2007 Agricultural Program'' increased subsidies by CHF 63 million to CHF 14.092 billion.

Protectionism acts to promote domestic production, but not to reduce prices or the cost of production, and there is no guarantee the increased domestic production is actually consumed internally; it may simply be exported, to the profit of the producers. 90 to 100% of potatoes, vegetables, pork, veal, cattle and most milk products are produced in the country. Beyond that, Swiss agriculture meets 65% of the domestic food demand.<ref name=urs>[http://www.organic-europe.net/country_reports/pdf/2000/switzerland.pdf Organic Farming in Switzerland] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326211404/http://www.organic-europe.net/country_reports/pdf/2000/switzerland.pdf |date=2009-03-26 }} By Urs Niggli.</ref> In 2016 the Swiss government spent about 5.5% of its total budget (over CHF 3.5 billion) on supporting food production.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/agriculture-forestry/food.html |title=Food and Agriculture - Pocket Statistics 2017 |date=2017 |website=Federal Statistical Office}}</ref>

The first reform in agricultural policies was in 1993. Among other changes, since 1998 Switzerland has linked the attribution of farm subsidies with the strict observance of good environmental practice. Before farmers can apply for subsidies, they must obtain certificates of environmental management systems (EMS) proving that they: "make a balanced use of fertilizers; use at least 7% of their farmland as ecological compensation areas; regularly rotate crops; adopt appropriate measures to protect animals and soil; make limited and targeted use of pesticides."<ref name = bsf>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/themen/02/22/publ.Document.77351.pdf |title=SWISS ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS : 2006 |website=Bfs.admin.ch |access-date=2016-03-31}}</ref> 1,500 farms are driven out of business each year. But the number of organic farms increased by 3.3 percent between 2003 and 2004, and organic sales increased by 7 percent to $979 million.<ref name=ustrswitzerland>{{cite web |url=http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Reports_Publications/2005/2005_NTE_Report/asset_upload_file119_7500.pdf |title=MAX - Unsupported Browser Warning |website=Ustr.gov |access-date=2016-03-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506051604/http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Reports_Publications/2005/2005_NTE_Report/asset_upload_file119_7500.pdf |archive-date=2009-05-06 }}</ref> Moreover, Swiss consumers consider less important the drawback of higher prices for organic food compared to conventional locally produced food.<ref name = urs/>

===Trade===
The [[The World Factbook|CIA World Factbook]] estimates Switzerland's 2011 exports at $308.3 billion and the 2010 exports at $258.5 billion. Imports are estimated to be $299.6 billion in 2011 and $246.2 billion in 2010. According to the World Factbook numbers, Switzerland is the 20th largest exporter and the 18th largest importer.<ref name=CIA/>

The United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database has lower numbers for Switzerland's exports and imports. The UN calculates exports at $223.5 billion in 2011 and $185.8 billion in 2010. The value of all imports in 2011 was $197.0 billion and in 2010 it was $166.9 billion.<ref name=UN_comtrade>{{cite web|url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/trade/imts/analyticaltradetables.htm |title=United Nations Statistics Division - Trade Statistics |website=Unstats.un.org |date=2014-08-01 |access-date=2016-03-31}}</ref>

Switzerland's largest trading partner is Germany. In 2017, 17% of Switzerland's exports and 20% of its imports came from Germany. The United States was the second largest destination of exports (10% of total exports) and the second largest source of imports (7.8%). China was the third largest destination of exports (9.2%) but only provided 4.8% of imports.<ref name=Observatory>{{Cite web |url=https://oec.world/en/ |title=OEC: The Observatory of Economic Complexity |first1=AJG |last1=Simoes |first2=CA |last2=Hidalgo |website=oec.world |language=en |publisher=[[The Observatory of Economic Complexity]] |access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref>

The next largest destinations of exports include India (7.3%), France (5.4%), Hong Kong (5.4%), the United Kingdom (4.5%) and Italy (4.4%). Other major sources of imports include: Italy (7.6%), the United Kingdom (7.1%), France (6.0%), China (mentioned above), the United Arab Emirates (3.7%) and Hong Kong (3.4%).<ref name="Observatory"/>

As a developed country with a skilled labor force, the majority of Swiss exports are precision or 'high tech' finished products. Switzerland's largest specific [[Standard International Trade Classification|SITC]] categories of exports include [[medicaments]] (13%), [[heterocyclic compound]]s (2.2%), watches (6.4%), orthopaedic appliances (2.1%), and precious jewellery (2.5%). While watches and jewellery remained an important part of the economy, in 2017 about 24% of Swiss exports were gold bullion or coins. Agricultural products that Switzerland is famous for such as cheese (0.23%), wine (0.028%), and chocolate (0.35%) all make up only a small portion of Swiss exports.<ref name=Observatory/> Switzerland is also a significant exporter of arms and ammunition, and the third largest for small calibers<ref>C.G. Schmutz (18 August 2015) [http://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/unternehmen/wenn-die-armee-immer-weniger-munition-kauft-1.18597603?extcid=Newsletter_18082015_Top-News_am_Morgen Wenn die Armee immer weniger Munition kauft] ('''German''') Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Wirtschaft) accessed 18 August 2015</ref> which accounted for 0.33% of the total exports in 2012.<ref>[http://www.seco.admin.ch/aktuell/00277/01164/01980/index.html?lang=en&msg-id=52154 Seco - Ausfuhr von Kriegsmaterialien im Jahr 2013] ('''German''') accessed 18 August 2015</ref>

Switzerland's main imports include gold (21%), medicaments (7.4%), cars (4.0%), precious jewellery (3.7%), and other unclassified transactions (18%). While Switzerland has a long tradition of manufacturing cars,<ref>[http://www.swisscarregister.ch/en/a_fahrzeug.html Swiss car register] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607000711/http://www.swisscarregister.ch/en/a_fahrzeug.html |date=2013-06-07 }} accessed 7 May 2012</ref> there are currently no large-scale assembly line automobile manufacturers in the country.

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" 
|-
! colspan="2" | Top 25 imports and exports for Switzerland for 2017<ref name=Observatory/>
|-
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" class="unsortable" | Top 25 Imports into Switzerland for 2017
|-
! Ranking || style="text-align:center;"| SITC4 || style="text-align:center;"| Product names (SITC)|| style="text-align:center;" |Value (billion USD) || style="text-align:center;"| % 
|-
| 1 || style="text-align:center;" | 9710 || style="text-align:center;" | Gold || style="text-align:center;" | 52.96  || style="text-align:center;" | 21.0%
|-
| 2 || style="text-align:center;" | 9310 || style="text-align:center;" | Unclassified Transactions || style="text-align:center;" | 46.33  || style="text-align:center;" | 18.0%
|-
| 3 || style="text-align:center;" | 5417 || style="text-align:center;" | Medicaments || style="text-align:center;" | 18.69  || style="text-align:center;" | 7.4%
|-
| 4 || style="text-align:center;" | 7810 || style="text-align:center;" | Cars || style="text-align:center;" | 9.98  || style="text-align:center;" | 4.0%
|-
| 5 || style="text-align:center;" | 8973 || style="text-align:center;" | Precious Jewellery || style="text-align:center;" | 9.19  || style="text-align:center;" | 3.7%
|-
| 6 || style="text-align:center;" | 6672 || style="text-align:center;" | Diamonds || style="text-align:center;" | 3.13  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.2%
|-
| 7 || style="text-align:center;" | 8960 || style="text-align:center;" | Artwork || style="text-align:center;" | 3.05  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.2%
|-
| 8 || style="text-align:center;" | 5156 || style="text-align:center;" | Heterocyclic Compounds || style="text-align:center;" | 2.59  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.0%
|-
| 9 || style="text-align:center;" | 8851 || style="text-align:center;" | Watches || style="text-align:center;" | 2.47  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.0%
|-
| 10 || style="text-align:center;" | 7643 || style="text-align:center;" | TV and Radio Transmitters || style="text-align:center;" | 2.38  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.0%
|-
| 11 || style="text-align:center;" | 8510 || style="text-align:center;" | Footwear || style="text-align:center;" | 2.12  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.8%
|-
| 12 || style="text-align:center;" | 7721 || style="text-align:center;" | Circuit Breakers and Panels || style="text-align:center;" | 2.02  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.8%
|-
| 13 || style="text-align:center;" | 8996 || style="text-align:center;" | Orthopedic Devices || style="text-align:center;" | 1.91  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.8%
|-
| 14 || style="text-align:center;" | 8720 || style="text-align:center;" | Medical Instruments || style="text-align:center;" | 1.72  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.7%
|-
| 15 || style="text-align:center;" | 7284 || style="text-align:center;" | Machinery for Specialized Industries || style="text-align:center;" | 1.71  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.7%
|-
| 16 || style="text-align:center;" | 8219 || style="text-align:center;" | Miscellaneous Furniture || style="text-align:center;" | 1.67  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.7%
|-
| 17 || style="text-align:center;" | 8939 || style="text-align:center;" | Miscellaneous Articles of Plastic || style="text-align:center;" | 1.61  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.6%
|-
| 18 || style="text-align:center;" | 3510 || style="text-align:center;" | Electric Current || style="text-align:center;" | 1.58  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.6%
|-
| 19 || style="text-align:center;" | 3330 || style="text-align:center;" | Crude Petroleum || style="text-align:center;" | 1.56  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.6%
|-
| 20 || style="text-align:center;" | 5989 || style="text-align:center;" | Chemical Products || style="text-align:center;" | 1.51  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.6%
|-
| 21 || style="text-align:center;" | 5530 || style="text-align:center;" | Perfumery and Cosmetics || style="text-align:center;" | 1.23  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.5%
|-
| 22 || style="text-align:center;" | 6842 || style="text-align:center;" | Processed Aluminium || style="text-align:center;" | 1.23  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.5%
|-
| 23 || style="text-align:center;" | 7821 || style="text-align:center;" | Trucks and Vans || style="text-align:center;" | 1.19  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.5%
|-
| 24 || style="text-align:center;" | 7932 || style="text-align:center;" | Ships and Boats || style="text-align:center;" | 1.15  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.5%
|-
| 25 || style="text-align:center;" | 7924 || style="text-align:center;" | Large Aircraft || style="text-align:center;" | 1.10  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.4%
|-

|}
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" class="unsortable" | Top 25 exports from Switzerland for 2017
|-
! Ranking || style="text-align:center;"| SITC4 || style="text-align:center;"| Product names (SITC)|| style="text-align:center;" |Value (billion USD) || style="text-align:center;"| % 
|-
| 1 || style="text-align:center;" | 9710 || style="text-align:center;" | Gold || style="text-align:center;" | 69.04  || style="text-align:center;" | 24.0%
|-
| 2 || style="text-align:center;" | 9310 || style="text-align:center;" | Unclassified Transactions || style="text-align:center;" | 54.97  || style="text-align:center;" | 19.0%
|-
| 3 || style="text-align:center;" | 5417 || style="text-align:center;" | Medicaments || style="text-align:center;" | 36.64  || style="text-align:center;" | 13.0%
|-
| 4 || style="text-align:center;" | 8851 || style="text-align:center;" | Watches || style="text-align:center;" | 18.63  || style="text-align:center;" | 6.4%
|-
| 5 || style="text-align:center;" | 8973 || style="text-align:center;" | Precious Jewellery || style="text-align:center;" | 7.27  || style="text-align:center;" | 2.5%
|-
| 6 || style="text-align:center;" | 5156 || style="text-align:center;" | Heterocyclic Compounds || style="text-align:center;" | 6.29  || style="text-align:center;" | 2.2%
|-
| 7 || style="text-align:center;" | 8996 || style="text-align:center;" | Orthopedic Devices || style="text-align:center;" | 5.99  || style="text-align:center;" | 2.1%
|-
| 8 || style="text-align:center;" | 7284 || style="text-align:center;" | Machinery for Specialized Industries || style="text-align:center;" | 4.24  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.5%
|-
| 9 || style="text-align:center;" | 7721 || style="text-align:center;" | Circuit Breakers and Panels || style="text-align:center;" | 3.45  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.2%
|-
| 10 || style="text-align:center;" | 8720 || style="text-align:center;" | Medical Instruments || style="text-align:center;" | 2.74  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.0%
|-
| 11 || style="text-align:center;" | 711 || style="text-align:center;" | Coffee || style="text-align:center;" | 2.34  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.8%
|-
| 12 || style="text-align:center;" | 8960 || style="text-align:center;" | Artwork || style="text-align:center;" | 2.02  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.7%
|-
| 13 || style="text-align:center;" | 7492 || style="text-align:center;" | Valves || style="text-align:center;" | 1.82  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.6%
|-
| 14 || style="text-align:center;" | 6672 || style="text-align:center;" | Diamonds || style="text-align:center;" | 1.78  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.6%
|-
| 15 || style="text-align:center;" | 5514 || style="text-align:center;" | Scented Mixtures || style="text-align:center;" | 1.68  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.6%
|-
| 16 || style="text-align:center;" | 5530 || style="text-align:center;" | Perfumery and Cosmetics || style="text-align:center;" | 1.67  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.6%
|-
| 17 || style="text-align:center;" | 1110 || style="text-align:center;" | Miscellaneous Beverages || style="text-align:center;" | 1.58  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.6%
|-
| 18 || style="text-align:center;" | 6842 || style="text-align:center;" | Processed Aluminium || style="text-align:center;" | 1.49  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.5%
|-
| 19 || style="text-align:center;" | 7149 || style="text-align:center;" | Parts of Gas Turbines and Reaction Engines || style="text-align:center;" | 1.37  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.5%
|-
| 20 || style="text-align:center;" | 7849 || style="text-align:center;" | Vehicles Parts and Accessories || style="text-align:center;" | 1.32  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.5%
|-
| 21 || style="text-align:center;" | 5147 || style="text-align:center;" | Amide Function Compounds || style="text-align:center;" | 1.30  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.5%
|-
| 22 || style="text-align:center;" | 7452 || style="text-align:center;" | Miscellaneous Non-Electrical Machines || style="text-align:center;" | 1.28  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.4%
|-
| 23 || style="text-align:center;" | 8939 || style="text-align:center;" | Miscellaneous Articles of Plastic || style="text-align:center;" | 1.27  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.4%
|-
| 24 || style="text-align:center;" | 5989 || style="text-align:center;" | Chemical Products || style="text-align:center;" | 1.23  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.4%
|-
| 25 || style="text-align:center;" | 5413 || style="text-align:center;" | Antibiotics || style="text-align:center;" | 1.14  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.4%
|}
|}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" 
|-
! colspan="2" | Top 25 trading partners for Switzerland for 2017<ref name=Observatory/>
|-
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" class="unsortable" | Top 25 trading partners importing into Switzerland for 2017
|-
! Ranking || style="text-align:center;"| Country || style="text-align:center;"|Value (billion USD) || style="text-align:center;"| % 
|-
| 1 || style="text-align:center;" | Germany || style="text-align:center;" | 54.61  || style="text-align:center;" | 20.0%
|-
| 2 || style="text-align:center;" | USA || style="text-align:center;" | 21.30  || style="text-align:center;" | 7.8%
|-
| 3 || style="text-align:center;" | Italy || style="text-align:center;" | 20.70  || style="text-align:center;" | 7.6%
|-
| 4 || style="text-align:center;" | United Kingdom || style="text-align:center;" | 19.26  || style="text-align:center;" | 7.1%
|-
| 5 || style="text-align:center;" | France || style="text-align:center;" | 16.45  || style="text-align:center;" | 6.0%
|-
| 6 || style="text-align:center;" | China || style="text-align:center;" | 13.22  || style="text-align:center;" | 4.8%
|-
| 7 || style="text-align:center;" | United Arab Emirates || style="text-align:center;" | 9.98  || style="text-align:center;" | 3.7%
|-
| 8 || style="text-align:center;" | Hong Kong || style="text-align:center;" | 9.34  || style="text-align:center;" | 3.4%
|-
| 9 || style="text-align:center;" | Ireland || style="text-align:center;" | 7.73  || style="text-align:center;" | 2.8%
|-
| 10 || style="text-align:center;" | Austria || style="text-align:center;" | 7.70  || style="text-align:center;" | 2.8%
|-
| 11 || style="text-align:center;" | Belgium-Luxembourg || style="text-align:center;" | 5.76  || style="text-align:center;" | 2.1%
|-
| 12 || style="text-align:center;" | Japan || style="text-align:center;" | 5.69  || style="text-align:center;" | 2.1%
|-
| 13 || style="text-align:center;" | Spain || style="text-align:center;" | 5.37  || style="text-align:center;" | 2.0%
|-
| 14 || style="text-align:center;" | Netherlands || style="text-align:center;" | 5.24  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.9%
|-
| 15 || style="text-align:center;" | Thailand || style="text-align:center;" | 4.32  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.6%
|-
| 16 || style="text-align:center;" | Uzbekistan || style="text-align:center;" | 3.68  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.3%
|-
| 17 || style="text-align:center;" | Zambia || style="text-align:center;" | 3.64  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.3%
|-
| 18 || style="text-align:center;" | Czech Republic || style="text-align:center;" | 2.54  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.9%
|-
| 19 || style="text-align:center;" | Peru || style="text-align:center;" | 2.47  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.9%
|-
| 20 || style="text-align:center;" | Poland || style="text-align:center;" | 2.39  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.9%
|-
| 21 || style="text-align:center;" | Russia || style="text-align:center;" | 2.32  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.9%
|-
| 22 || style="text-align:center;" | South Africa || style="text-align:center;" | 2.32  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.9%
|-
| 23 || style="text-align:center;" | Singapore || style="text-align:center;" | 2.01  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.7%
|-
| 24 || style="text-align:center;" | Canada || style="text-align:center;" | 1.98  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.7%
|-
| 25 || style="text-align:center;" | Ghana || style="text-align:center;" | 1.84  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.7%
|}
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" class="unsortable" | Top 25 trading partners exporting from Switzerland for 2017
|-
! Ranking || style="text-align:center;"| Country || style="text-align:center;"|Value (billion USD) || style="text-align:center;"| % 
|-
| 1 || style="text-align:center;" | Germany || style="text-align:center;" | 48.15  || style="text-align:center;" | 17.0%
|-
| 2 || style="text-align:center;" | USA || style="text-align:center;" | 28.37  || style="text-align:center;" | 10.0%
|-
| 3 || style="text-align:center;" | China || style="text-align:center;" | 26.15  || style="text-align:center;" | 9.2%
|-
| 4 || style="text-align:center;" | India || style="text-align:center;" | 20.89  || style="text-align:center;" | 7.3%
|-
| 5 || style="text-align:center;" | Hong Kong || style="text-align:center;" | 15.52  || style="text-align:center;" | 5.4%
|-
| 6 || style="text-align:center;" | France || style="text-align:center;" | 15.27  || style="text-align:center;" | 5.4%
|-
| 7 || style="text-align:center;" | United Kingdom || style="text-align:center;" | 12.91  || style="text-align:center;" | 4.5%
|-
| 8 || style="text-align:center;" | Italy || style="text-align:center;" | 12.56  || style="text-align:center;" | 4.4%
|-
| 9 || style="text-align:center;" | Austria || style="text-align:center;" | 8.81  || style="text-align:center;" | 3.1%
|-
| 10 || style="text-align:center;" | Japan || style="text-align:center;" | 7.58  || style="text-align:center;" | 2.7%
|-
| 11 || style="text-align:center;" | Singapore || style="text-align:center;" | 7.45  || style="text-align:center;" | 2.6%
|-
| 12 || style="text-align:center;" | Turkey || style="text-align:center;" | 6.73  || style="text-align:center;" | 2.4%
|-
| 13 || style="text-align:center;" | Belgium-Luxembourg || style="text-align:center;" | 6.45  || style="text-align:center;" | 2.3%
|-
| 14 || style="text-align:center;" | Israel || style="text-align:center;" | 4.67  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.6%
|-
| 15 || style="text-align:center;" | Spain || style="text-align:center;" | 4.31  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.5%
|-
| 16 || style="text-align:center;" | Netherlands || style="text-align:center;" | 4.00  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.4%
|-
| 17 || style="text-align:center;" | United Arab Emirates || style="text-align:center;" | 3.98  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.4%
|-
| 18 || style="text-align:center;" | Thailand || style="text-align:center;" | 3.59  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.3%
|-
| 19 || style="text-align:center;" | Canada || style="text-align:center;" | 3.39  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.2%
|-
| 20 || style="text-align:center;" | South Korea || style="text-align:center;" | 2.93  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.0%
|-
| 21 || style="text-align:center;" | Malaysia || style="text-align:center;" | 2.72  || style="text-align:center;" | 1.0%
|-
| 22 || style="text-align:center;" | Russia || style="text-align:center;" | 2.29  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.8%
|-
| 23 || style="text-align:center;" | Brazil || style="text-align:center;" | 1.98  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.7%
|-
| 24 || style="text-align:center;" | Other Asia || style="text-align:center;" | 1.86  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.7%
|-
| 25 || style="text-align:center;" | Saudi Arabia || style="text-align:center;" | 1.84  || style="text-align:center;" | 0.7%
|}
|}

===Tourism===
{{Main|Tourism in Switzerland}}
[[File:Mont Cervin Palace at night in Zermatt.jpg|thumb|250px|The Mont Cervin Palace in [[Zermatt]]]]
Switzerland has highly developed tourism infrastructure, especially in the [[Swiss Alps|mountainous regions]] and cities, making it a good market for tourism-related equipment and services.

14% of hotels were in [[Grisons]], 12% each in the [[Valais]] and [[Eastern Switzerland]], 11% in [[Central Switzerland]] and 9% in the [[Bernese Oberland]]. The ratio of lodging nights in relation to resident population ("tourism intensity", a measure for the relative importance of tourism to local economy) was largest in Grisons (8.3) and Bernese Oberland (5.3), compared to a Swiss average of 1.3. 56.4% of lodging nights were by visitors from abroad (broken down by nationality: 16.5% Germany, 6.3% UK, 4.8% USA, 3.6% France, 3.0% Italy)
<ref>Switzerland Tourism, "Swiss Tourism in Figures - 2007 [http://www.swisstourfed.ch/Files/infothek/Vademecum/2007/Def%20Version%20englisch.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331073046/http://www.swisstourfed.ch/Files/infothek/Vademecum/2007/Def%20Version%20englisch.pdf|date=2012-03-31}}"</ref>

The total financial volume associated with tourism, including transportation, is estimated to [[Swiss franc|CHF]] 35.5 billion (as of 2010) although some of this comes from fuel tax and sales of motorway vignettes. The total [[gross value added]] from tourism is 14.9 billion. Tourism provides a total of 144,838 [[full time equivalent]] jobs in the entire country. The total financial volume of tourist lodging is 5.19 billion CHF and eating at the lodging provides an additional 5.19 billion. The total gross value added of 14.9 billion is about 2.9% of Switzerland's 2010 nominal [[gross domestic product|GDP]] of 550.57 billion CHF.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/10/02/blank/key/01.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Tourism] accessed 7 May 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00374/00456/00458/index.html?lang=en SECO Gross domestic product - quarterly estimates] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923194412/http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00374/00456/00458/index.html?lang=en |date=September 23, 2010 }} accessed 7 May 2012</ref>

===Banking and finance===
{{Main|Banking in Switzerland}}
[[File:BIZ Basel.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Bank for International Settlements]] in Basel]]
[[File:Switzerland bonds.webp|thumb|250px|Switzerland bonds
{{legend-line|#00A2FF solid 3px|30 year}}
{{legend-line|#61D836 solid 3px|10 year}}
{{legend-line|#929292 solid 3px|2 year}}
{{legend-line|#FF95CA solid 3px|1 year}}
{{legend-line|#F8BA00 solid 3px|3 month}}
{{legend-line|#DA291C solid 3px|Overnight}}
]]
In 2003, the financial sector<ref>[[Swiss Bankers Association]] - [http://www.swissbanking.org/en/media/positions-and-press-releases/swiss-financial-sector-remains-an-important-pillar-of-the-economy-despite-the-challenging-business-environment ''Positions and press-releases''] Accessed January 12th, 2018 (content added at an earlier date)</ref> comprised an estimated 11.6% of Switzerland's GDP and employed approximately 196,000 people (136,000 of whom work in the banking sector); this represents about 5.6% of the total Swiss workforce.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swissbanking.org/en/20091119-2400-factsheet_finanzplatz_schweiz_de-rva.pdf |title=The economic significance of the Swiss financial centre |publisher=Swiss Bankers Association |access-date=2010-05-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217030120/http://www.swissbanking.org/en/20091119-2400-factsheet_finanzplatz_schweiz_de-rva.pdf |archive-date=2010-02-17 }} [http://www.kww-naumann.ch/fokusiertes-angbotspektrum Kommunikation Unternehmen] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122002316/http://www.kww-naumann.ch/fokusiertes-angbotspektrum |date=2014-01-22 }}</ref>

[[Swiss neutrality]] and [[national sovereignty]], long recognized by foreign nations, have fostered a stable environment in which the banking sector was able to develop and thrive. Switzerland has maintained neutrality through both [[World War]]s, is not a member of the [[European Union]], and was not even a member of the [[United Nations]] until 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sz.html#Intro |title=The World Factbook - Switzerland - Introduction |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |date=2006-06-13 |access-date=2006-06-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060705163224/http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sz.html#Intro |archive-date=2006-07-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1035212.stm |title=Country profile: Switzerland |work=BBC News |date=2006-03-26 | access-date = 2006-06-17}}</ref> Currently an estimated 28 percent of all funds held outside the country of origin (sometimes called "[[Offshore bank|offshore]]" funds) are kept in Switzerland.<ref>The Boston Consulting Group "Global Wealth 2009"</ref> In 2009 Swiss banks managed 5.4 trillion Swiss Francs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swissbanking.org/en/20091119-2400-factsheet_finanzplatz_schweiz_de-rva.pdf |title=The economic significance of the Swiss financial centre |publisher=Swiss Bankers Association |access-date=2010-05-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217030120/http://www.swissbanking.org/en/20091119-2400-factsheet_finanzplatz_schweiz_de-rva.pdf |archive-date=February 17, 2010 }}</ref>

Most of the financial sector is centred in Zürich and Geneva. Zürich specialises in banking ([[UBS]], [[Credit Suisse]], [[Julius Baer]]) as well as insurance ([[Swiss Re]], [[Zurich Insurance]]), whilst Geneva specialises in wealth management ([[Pictet Group]], [[Bank Lombard Odier & Co|Lombard Odier]], [[Union Bancaire Privée]]), and commodity trading, trade finance, and shipping ([[Cargill]], [[Mediterranean Shipping Company]], [[Louis Dreyfus Company]], [[Mercuria Energy Group]], [[Trafigura]], Banque de Commerce et de Placements).

The [[Bank of International Settlements]], an organization that facilitates cooperation among the world's [[central bank]]s, is headquartered in the city of [[Basel]]. Founded in 1930, the BIS chose to locate in Switzerland because of the country's neutrality, which was important to an organization founded by countries that had been on both sides of [[World War I]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bis.org/about/origins.htm |title=Origins: Why Basel? |publisher=Bank of International Settlements |access-date=2006-06-16 |archive-date=9 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609010907/http://www.bis.org/about/origins.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In May 2006, foreign banks operating in Switzerland managed 870&nbsp;billion Swiss francs worth of assets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://story.europesun.com/p.x/ct/9/id/325aca900d830bd6/cid/88176adfdf246af5/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120703031751/http://story.europesun.com/p.x/ct/9/id/325aca900d830bd6/cid/88176adfdf246af5/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 July 2012 |title=Foreign Banks In Switzerland Manage CHF870 Billion In Assets |publisher=Dow Jones |date=2006-05-29 |access-date=2006-06-15 }}</ref> In 2014, this number was estimated to be 960&nbsp;billion Swiss francs.<ref>{{cite news|author=Giles Broom |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-05-20/foreign-banks-in-switzerland-increase-client-assets-group-says |title=Foreign Banks in Switzerland Increase Client Assets, Group Says |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |publisher=Bloomberg |date=2014-05-20 |access-date=2016-03-31}}</ref>

In 2023, Switzerland lost credibility as a banking system after the collapse of [[Credit Suisse]], acquired by the Swiss competitor [[UBS]], and the way the affair was handled by the [[Swiss National Bank]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Credit Suisse collapse: consequences and open questions |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/credit-suisse-collapse-consequences-and-open-questions/48375346 |website=swissinfo.ch |date=20 March 2023 |access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Credit Suisse: the rise and fall of the bank that built modern Switzerland |url=https://www.ft.com/content/072dd83d-232d-4223-9428-801d4437b4f6 |access-date=6 July 2024 |agency=ft.com |publisher=ft.com |date=6 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Credit Suisse collapse threatens Switzerland's wealth management crown |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/credit-suisse-collapse-threatens-switzerlands-wealth-management-crown-2023-03-22/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |agency=reuters.com |publisher=reuters.com |date=6 July 2024}}</ref>

====Connection to illegal activities====
{{See also|Crime in Switzerland#Money laundering}}
[[List of banks in Switzerland|Swiss banks]] have served as [[Tax haven|safe havens]] for the wealth of [[dictator]]s, [[despotism|despots]], [[mobster]]s, [[arms dealer]]s, [[political corruption|corrupt officials]], and [[tax evasion|tax cheat]]s of all kinds.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/banking-a-crack-in-the-swiss-vault/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031943/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/banking-a-crack-in-the-swiss-vault/ |work=[[60 Minutes]] |publisher=[[CBS]] |title=Banking: A Crack In The Swiss Vault |date=December 30, 2009 |archive-date=May 21, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/891d5eea-e222-11e1-8e9d-00144feab49a |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/891d5eea-e222-11e1-8e9d-00144feab49a |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Swiss banks accused over tax evasion|newspaper=Financial Times|date=12 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/01/22/swiss-banking-secrecy/4390231/|title=Secret's out on the Swiss bank account|first=Kim|last=Hjelmgaard|website=USA TODAY}}</ref>

=== Commodities trading ===
{{seealso|Crime in Switzerland#Sanctioned countries}}
Switzerland is a major hub for [[commodities trading]], globally. Commodities trading represents 4% of Swiss GDP (2022).<ref name=Swiss1>{{cite web | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/-it-has-become-very-difficult-to-finance-trading-with-russia-/47633862 | title='It has become very difficult to finance trading with Russia' | date=June 2022 }}</ref> The range of products traded either physically or [[Financial trading|financially]] include agriculture, minerals, metals and oil/energy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/commodity-trading-in-switzerland--explained/46748874|title=Commodity trading in Switzerland, explained|date=5 July 2021 }}</ref> Some 40% of all oil shipments are traded through Switzerland, along with 60% of metals and grains (2022).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/sberbank-s-swiss-operations-remain-open-despite-european-pullout/47398490 | title=Sberbank says Swiss operations unaffected by sanctions | date=3 March 2022 }}</ref>

10,000 persons work in the commodity trade business in Switzerland (& 35,000 indirectly).<ref name="exp">{{Cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220305-neutral-switzerland-s-economy-shaken-by-sanctions-on-russia |title=Neutral Switzerland's economy shaken by sanctions on Russia |date=2022-03-05 |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=France24}}</ref> Mostly around [[Lake Geneva]], [[Zug]] and [[Lugano]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/swiss-trading-hub-adapts-to-new-wartime-reality/47395138 | title=Swiss trading hub adapts to new wartime reality | date=2 March 2022 }}</ref><ref name=Swiss1/>

Corporate loans and revolving credit facilities granted to the five main Swiss energy trading houses ([[Glencore]], [[Mercuria]], [[Gunvor]], [[Vitol]] and [[Trafigura]]) between 2013 and 2019 exceeded $360 billion.

Switzerland is also a major hub for [[gold trading]] with some of the largest refiners including [[Valcambi]], [[PAMP (company)|PAMP]]/[[MKS (Switzerland)|MKS]], [[Heraeus|Argor-Heraeus]] and [[Métaux Précieux SA Métalor|Metalor]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/precious-goods_switzerland--the-world-s-gold-hub/33706126 | title=Switzerland: The world's gold hub | date=12 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/international-trade_counting-gold-in-switzerland/41417986 | title=Counting gold in Switzerland | date=8 May 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/-swiss-gold-imports-come-under-scrutiny-as-g7-targets-russia/47707048 | title=Swiss gold imports come under scrutiny as G7 targets Russia | date=27 June 2022 }}</ref>

Agricultural commodities trading is dominated by [[ADM (company)|ADM]], [[Bunge Limited|Bunge]], [[Cargill]], [[COFCO Group|Cofco]] and [[Louis Dreyfus Company|Louis Dreyfus]]. Shipping firm [[Mediterranean Shipping Company|MSC]], logistics company [[Kuehne + Nagel|Kühne + Nagel and Danzas]] and [[quality control]] firm [[SGS S.A.]] are also major players in this sector.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/switzerland-must-regulate-its-opaque-shipping-industry/47483160 | title=Switzerland must regulate its opaque shipping industry | date=5 April 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/-it-has-become-very-difficult-to-finance-trading-with-russia-/47633862 | title='It has become very difficult to finance trading with Russia' | date=June 2022 }}</ref><ref name="SWI swissinfo.ch 2023 g775">{{cite web | title=Russia-Iran: how the wheat trade is flourishing despite sanctions | website=SWI swissinfo.ch | date=2023-07-13 | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/russia-and-iran-under-sanctions---daily-bread-from-a-fellow-pariah/48653614 | access-date=2023-07-16}}</ref>

This situation has enabled some types of organization in commodities trading to [[Corruption in Switzerland#Business|be involved in corruption]] and [[Exploitation colonialism|exploitation]] and operate with little or no transparency or oversight.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-glencore-probe/glencore-probed-by-u-s-cftc-for-corrupt-practices-idUSKCN1S12CR|title = Glencore probed by U.S. CFTC for 'corrupt practices'|newspaper = Reuters|date = 25 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/commodities-cleanup_trafigura-ends-use-of-middlemen-after-corruption-probes/45096874|title = Trafigura ends use of middlemen after corruption probes| date=15 July 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/trafigura-paid--390m-in-share-deal-with-angola-s--general-dino-/46984516|title=Trafigura paid $390m in share deal with Angola's 'General Dino'|date=28 September 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.letemps.ch/opinions/ne-suffit-plus-faire-profit-justifier-existence|title=Il ne suffit plus de faire du profit pour justifier son existence|newspaper=Le Temps|date=7 October 2021}}</ref>