Empty order books, recovery later than expected in January or even recourse to partial unemployment (RHT): industrial companies in the region are in the dark and are looking ahead to the year 2025 with concern. “Luckily, we have enough orders to work until March. But the big drop in activity is there. Our customers have stock so are ordering less,” notes Benoît Marchand, Prévôtois at the head of a company with around thirty employees in Court. “In recent years we have been used to entering orders six months in advance. However, in 2025, the uncertainty is such that no one is investing. I cannot see a recovery before the beginning of 2026.”
From high activity to slowdown
Indeed, the past year has been one of transition, going from intense industrial activity to an abrupt slowdown. This is particularly due to the global watch market where demand is low and there is too much cyclical stock effect, which causes a drop in orders. In short: few watches are sold, stocks of mechanical parts are high so watch manufacturers order few.
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