EU produced 13.5 million bicycles in 2021, exports worth €921 million

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, has reported “the EU exported €921 million worth of bicycles (both electric and non-electric) to countries outside of the EU, in 2021, whilst importing €1 896 million worth of bicycles from outside the EU.”

Exploring the numbers in detail:

Non eBikes: “Data for 2021 show that the EU exported 1 487 700 non-electric bicycles, worth €433 million, and imported 5 743 700, worth €1 046 million. Compared with 2020, the number of non-electric bicycles exported increased by 16% in 2021 and imports increased by 17%.”

EBikes: “In 2021, 315 800 electric bicycles worth €488 million were exported by the EU. Meanwhile, the EU imported 1 148 600 electric bicycles, worth €849 million, from countries outside of the EU. Compared with 2020, the number of electric bicycles exported increased by 15% in 2021, while imports of electric bicycles increased by 37%.

Geographic data and trend analysis:

UK and Switzerland lead destinations for exports

“In 2021, the United Kingdom was the main destination for EU exports of non-electric bicycles (30% of the extra-EU total, measured in value), followed by Switzerland (21%), the United States (6%), Norway and Australia (both 5%).”

“Meanwhile, Switzerland and the United Kingdom were also the main destinations for EU exports of electric bicycles (38% and 27% of total extra-EU electric bicycle exports, respectively), followed by Norway (13%) and the United States (8%).”

Taiwan the main source of electric bicycle imports

“In 2021, imports of non-electric bicycles from non-EU countries came mainly from Cambodia (27% of total extra-EU bicycle imports), Taiwan (26%), China (10%), Bangladesh (8%) and Turkey (5%). Meanwhile, imports of electric bicycles into the EU came primarily from Taiwan (57% of total extra-EU electric bicycle imports), followed by Switzerland (13%), Vietnam (11%), China (7%) and Turkey (6%).”

In a separate announcement the body also reported, “In 2021, a total of 13.5 million bicycles were produced in the EU, indicating a 11% increase compared with 2020.”

Whilst “the sold production of bicycles greatly varies among EU Member States for which data are available. The largest number of bicycles produced was reported in Portugal (2.9 million), Romania (2.5 million), Italy (1.9 million), Germany (1.4 million) and Poland (1.2 million).”

For readers interested in exploring import / export data, and the reshoring trend, CI.N has a number of articles available:

Reshoring: How far has the trend come and what obstacles remain?

Portugal’s electric bike exports breaking records, €258 million investment incoming.

Data from the Taiwan Bicycle Association has revealed the extent of the growth in orders for bicycles. (Though electric bike orders remain the main driver of the international trade growth.)

Electric bike exports to UK from Taiwan surge 66%, U.S.A 69%