BRUSSELS, Belgium (BRAIN)—A newly published economic study compiles hard data on the state of the bicycle industry in Europe for the first time.
The 52-page study, completed in December 2009 by Colibi, the Association of the European Bicycle Industry, and Coliped, the Association of the European Two-Wheeler Parts and Accessories Industry, gives an overview of the European bicycle industry including highlights on production, employment and sales numbers.
The study is based on figures provided by member associations in 12 states—Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands—as well as data from non-member associations.
It primarily covers statistics for 2008 and also runs some comparisons dating back to 2000.
The study starts by examining production levels in the European Union, which came in at 13.2 million units in 2008. That number is up slightly from 2007, but down quite a bit from 2000’s output of 14.5 million units. Of that production, 70 percent of bikes are made by six countries—Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal.
“Despite big competition with Asian imports, the European bicycle industry is still strong producing more than 60 percent of the market consumption,” the report said.
In 2008, the production value of bicycle parts and accessories was 1.6 million euros. More than 80 percent of the Bicycle Parts and Accessories production were made by Italy, Germany, Romania, France, Portugal and the Netherlands.
European Union countries sold 20.4 million units of bicycles to consumers in 2008, with the average price ranging from 100 euros in several Eastern European countries to 688 euros in the Netherlands.
“The high value place of the bicycle as a means of transport is the main reason for the high average price in the first eight countries (the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg and Sweden),” the report said.
It concluded with figures on industry employment. The bicycle industry employs nearly 21,000 people in the European Union, not including indirect employment through distribution or subcontractors.
For a full look at the study, click on the link above.
