Switzerland's trade surplus increased unexpectedly in January, figures from the Swiss Federal Customs Administration revealed Thursday.
The trade surplus grew to CHF 3.43 billion in January from CHF 1.51 billion in December. Economists had forecast the surplus to decrease to CHF 1.2 billion.
Exports rose a seasonally adjusted 2.9 percent month-on-month in January, reversing a 2.9 percent fall in December. Year-on-year, exports fell by a real 6.2 percent after a 2.3 percent rise in the previous month.
Imports dropped 2.2 percent from December, when they grew 0.7 percent. Annually, imports decreased 9.4 percent in real terms after a 1 percent climb in the previous month.
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