The European bicycle industry continues to develop. According to the latest Eurostat figures published this Monday, in 2021, 13.5 million bicycles were produced in the European Union. A record volume that rises 11% compared to 2020 and 12.5% compared to 2019.
In five years, European bicycle production has even increased by 36%, a sign of the emergence of a real industrial ecosystem in the EU. With 2.9 million units produced last year, Portugal remains the main producer on the Old Continent ahead of Romania (around 2.5 million), Italy (1.9 million), Germany (1.4 million) and Poland (1.16 million). France ranks seventh (472,084 units).
More than 22 million bicycles sold in 2021
The growth of bicycle production in Europe has been fueled in recent years by the policy of the European Commission, which in the 1990s introduced anti-dumping duties of 30.6%, later raised to 48.5%, on imported bicycles. from China, then from other Asian countries. 2013.
Portugal, whose production has increased by 40% in five years, has been one of the main beneficiaries. With the appearance to the south of Porto of a “Bicycle Valley” that brings together the main manufacturers of the country that has become the main European exporter.
But the growth of the European bicycle industry has also been supported more recently by the success of electric bicycles. More than 5 million units were sold last year, according to the Confederation of European Bicycle Industries.
More generally, ecological awareness and the Covid-19 crisis have reignited enthusiasm for cycling in recent months. To the point that European production does not currently cover the demand of consumers who bought more than 22 million bicycles last year.
Source: BFM TV
