After strong growth in December 2017, exports slid seasonally in January 2018 clearly negative (- 4.2 percent, real: - 5.1 percent). Nevertheless, the Exports the second highest monthly result, thereby increasing the overall positive trend the past months confirmed. Meanwhile, imports increased to the previous month 7.5 percent (real: + 3.8 percent) and reached an all-time high. This is the last since the end In 2016, the upward trend continued to register. The contrasting course between Exports and imports resulted in the lowest surplus (1323 million Francs) in the trade balance since January 2012.