In 2022, the EU exported 1.1 billion euros worth of bicycles (both electric and non-electric) more than a fifth more than the previous year.
The imports amounted to more than double the exports, with 2.5 billion euros worth of bicycles 32% more than in 2021.
The overall increase in the trade value of bicycles can be attributed to an increase in the trade of electric bicycles, which are typically more expensive.
Portugal was the leading bicycle producer in 2021 followed by Romania, according to data published by Eurostat. Roughly 2.5 million units were produced by Romanian manufacturers that year.
Eurostat has not released the statistics for 2022 yet.
Portugal produced 2.9 million units in 2021. After Romania, came Italy, Germany and Poland. Overall, 13.5 million bicycles were produced in the EU in 2021.
World Bicycle Day was celebrated last week.
In 2022, the EU exported 365,000 electric bicycles (+16% compared with 2021) and imported 1.2 million electric bicycles (+16%).
Meanwhile, the EU exported 1 million non-electric bicycles which was 31% less than in 2021 and imported 5.2 million, 9% drop.
In 2022, Switzerland was the main destination for EU exports of non-electric bicycles (25% of the extra-EU total, measured in value), followed by the United Kingdom (23%), and the United States (7%).
For exports of electric bicycles, Switzerland and the UK were also the main destinations (38% and 27% of total extra-EU electric bicycle exports, respectively), followed by the United States (13%) and Norway (9%).
