TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) Jan 20, 17:42 MT — Bikes exported from Taiwan returned to 2009 levels last year, dropping 13.7 percent in units from 2010. But the value of those exports rose 10.7 percent an indicator of the island’s ongoing shift to higher quality, innovative products.
“Overall 2011 was a good year globally,” noted Tony Lo, chairman of the Taiwan Bicycle Exporters Association (TBEA), the group that tracks exports numbers. Lo is also CEO of Giant Manufacturing, Taiwan’s largest producer of bikes.
Taiwan manufacturers exported 4.37 million units in 2011 compared with 5.07 million in 2010, and 4.3 million in 2009. The average selling price was $379.95 and increase of 28 percent over 2010’s $296 average. Total export value in 2011 was $1.662 billion, up from $1.5 billion the year before, and $1.25 billion in 2009.
Lo remained optimistic about this year despite a looming recession in Europe, Taiwan’s largest export market.
“2012 will have some uncertainty with the European market. Fortunately, North America seems stable and Asia and other emerging markets are growing so overall, 2012 could be another good year,” Lo said.
The latest numbers from the TBEA don’t include the value of bicycle parts exported from Taiwan, or break down the units by country. Those details are generally released at the Taipei Cycle tradeshow in March.
—Nicole Formosa
nformosa@bicycleretailer.com
