Bhutan-Switzerland Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $1.97M total volume •Bhutan deficit: $1.86M

BhutanSwitzerland

$57,507

Exports (2023)

SwitzerlandBhutan

$1.91M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$1.86M

Deficit for Bhutan

Total Trade

$1.97M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Bhutan and Switzerland. Green line shows exports from Bhutan, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Bhutan-Switzerland commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

BhutanSwitzerland Exports

$57,507
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
32.8% top product
1Cereals: husked (brown) rice
$18,866
32.8% of exports
2Jewellery: of precious metal (excluding silver) whether or not plated or clad with precious metal, and parts thereof
$9,006
15.7% of exports
3Silk: woven fabrics n.e.c. in heading no. 5007
$6,305
11.0% of exports
4Iron or steel: articles n.e.c. in heading 7326
$5,991
10.4% of exports
5Spices: ginger, crushed or ground
$5,220
9.1% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Bhutan's export portfolio to Switzerland demonstrates strategic specialization, with cereals: husked (brown) rice representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

SwitzerlandBhutan Imports

$1.91M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
48.3% concentration
1Cranes: overhead travelling cranes on fixed support
$924,994
48.3% of imports
2Cranes: self-propelled derricks and cranes, not on tyres, n.e.c. in heading no. 8426
$693,745
36.2% of imports
3Iron or steel: threaded screws, bolts and nuts n.e.c. in item no. 7318.1
$59,739
3.1% of imports
4Hearing aids (excluding parts and accessories)
$35,602
1.9% of imports
5Wrist-watches: electrically operated, with or without a stop-watch, (other than those of heading no. 9101) with mechanical display only
$33,147
1.7% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Bhutan's import pattern from Switzerland reveals significant dependencyin cranes: overhead travelling cranes on fixed support, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Bhutan demonstrates competitive strength in exportingcereals: husked (brown) rice to Switzerland, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $1.97M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Bhutan-Switzerland Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $1.97 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Bhutan maintains a deficit of $1.86 million
  • Export Focus: Bhutan's primary exports include cereals: husked (brown) rice, jewellery: of precious metal (excluding silver) whether or not plated or clad with precious metal, and parts thereof, silk: woven fabrics n.e.c. in heading no. 5007
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Switzerland include cranes: overhead travelling cranes on fixed support, cranes: self-propelled derricks and cranes, not on tyres, n.e.c. in heading no. 8426, iron or steel: threaded screws, bolts and nuts n.e.c. in item no. 7318.1

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $1.97M represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Bhutan leveraging its comparative advantages in cereals: husked (brown) rice.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Bhutan's specialization in cereals: husked (brown) ricecomplements Switzerland's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in cranes: overhead travelling cranes on fixed support.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $1.97M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $1.97M bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $1.97 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in cereals: husked (brown) rice and cranes: overhead travelling cranes on fixed support demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Bhutan's trade deficit of $1.86 million impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in jewellery: of precious metal (excluding silver) whether or not plated or clad with precious metal, and parts thereof present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on cranes: overhead travelling cranes on fixed support, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in cereals: husked (brown) rice may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Bhutan and Switzerland represents a total trade volume of $1.97 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Bhutan, with imports exceeding exportsby $1.86 million.

Export Strengths

Bhutan's exports to Switzerland total $57.51 thousand, with competitive advantages in cereals: husked (brown) rice, representing $18,866 or32.8% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Switzerland amount to $1.91 million, highlighting economic interdependence in cranes: overhead travelling cranes on fixed support, with Cranes: overhead travelling cranes on fixed support comprising48.3% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Bhutan's strategic sourcing from Switzerland. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Bhutan and Switzerland in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023