Market Reports European Union

According to CONEBI investments remained strong at over € 1.9 billion in 2023, slightly below the € 2.1 billion recorded in 2022. – Photo Bike Europe

E-bike market share in Europe reaches 30%, but industry struggles

BRUSSELS, Belgium - E-bikes have become the top electric vehicle choice for European consumers, offering mobility, leisure, and health benefits. The e-bike also brought the much-wanted reshoring of production: e-bikes for European markets are predominantly made locally. While the e-bike continues to gain ground, bicycle sales have slipped away.

All former top-10 exporters lost huge volumes in 2023. - Photo Shutterstock

Bicycle import in Europe drops to lowest level in decade

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The bicycle industry is eagerly waiting better times. Although some insiders noted slight changes in the market in a positive direction at Taipei Cycle Show this month, leading indicators are not showing any sign of that. The ratio of bicycles shipped to Europe from various countries has changed significantly in 2023 as a result of the current market conditions.

Despite a dip in volume, Taiwan retains its dominance of e-bike imports into the European Union. – Photo Shutterstock

European e-bike imports in downward freefall

ZEIST, the Netherlands - "The market is returning back to a normal situation of pre-2020." This is a much heard comment on the current disruption of the market. The European e-bike import statistics show the market is currently in a free fall downwards, indicating that its worse than "going back to normal."

The export market for regular bicycles has been hit hard by excess inventory. – Photo Bike Europe

Europe's bicycle imports hit hard by excess inventory

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The sudden increase in bicycle imports by EU countries in 2022 has come to an abrupt ending. Since the rising popularity of the e-bike, bicycle sales have decreased step-by-step and this process continues in 2023, as the latest import statistic show.

According to Eurostat the e-bike import volume between January and July declined. – Photo Bike Europe

EU e-bike import volume declines as expected

BRUSSELS, Belgium - For the first time, the total value of e-bikes imported into the European Union exceed €0.5 billion between January and July this year. Contrary to all outlooks and forecasts the market performance of the high-end segment was very good.

Cambodia stepped up its market share in bicycle export to the European Union. - Photo

Europe's bicycle import value surged by 30%

ZEIST, the Netherlands - In a year the market was troubled by supply chain shortages, the bicycle import value saw a remarkable increase seldomly seen before. In 2022 the price per unit was pushed up even more and recorded a growth of 38.2%. These figures mark a turn-around of the market value which has seen a slow but steady decline since e-bike sales gained momentum.

In general the e-bike market share is growing steadily and average prices are going up boosting the market value. - Photo Bike Europe

E-bike sales thrives, amidst market slowdown in Europe

ZEIST, the Netherlands - The European bicycle market ended up in the inevitable correction phase after the corona related sales boom. It goes without saying that this situation was expected, the question was only, when? While 2022 sales are lower than 2021 throughout the Europe's main markets, the e-bike continues to drive the market. What's happening?

Overseas production is still very relevant to cater for the demand for e-bikes in Europe. – Photo Bike Europe

EU import value of e-bikes up one third in 2022

BRUSSELS, Belgium – A major hike in the average import price of e-bikes into the European Union, in combination with a double digit increase in the number of e-bikes shipped to Europe gave a remarkable push to the market value in 2022. Also, the average import price of mechanical bicycles to the EU soared last year.

European bicycle and e-bike sales have surpassed 22 million units for the first time since CONEBI started to collect the figures back in 2000. – Photo CONEBI

European bicycle and e-bike sales hike to 22 million units, a record

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Despite the supply chain problems, all signs are still on green for the bicycle industry. The industry confederation CONEBI, reports record sales levels for e-bike and bicycles in their annual European Bicycle Industry and Market Profile.

Despite the supply chain issues the total volume of bicycles from  Asian exporting countries increased sharply. – Photo Shutterstock

Major changes in Europe's top-10 bicycle supplying countries

BRUSSELS, Belgium - China's position as bicycle supplier for the European Union is rising rapidly. Last year the import of bicycles from China increased by more than 23% to almost 960,000 units. The latest 2021 EU imports statistics show some more remarkable shifts.