What has been circulating among industry experts for some time is now confirmed by the latest Eurostat statistics: bicycle production in the European Union saw a sharp decline in 2023.
The European bicycle industry has faced a significant setback, with Eurostat reporting a 24% decline in production in 2023 compared to the previous year. Output dropped to 9.7 million bicycles (12.7 million in 2022) despite the continued popularity of cycling as a sustainable and health-conscious mode of transport. The message of these numbers is clear: Rising production costs, ongoing supply chain disruptions, and economic uncertainties have significantly impacted the industry.
EU bicycle production decline: conformation of Roland Berger study
This production decline aligns with broader challenges outlined in a recent Roland Berger study, which notes that the recovery for the European bicycle industry is taking longer than expected. The study highlights supply chain inefficiencies and shifting market dynamics as key factors affecting the sector. Read the full study here.
Portugal is Europe’s leading bicycle producer
According to publicly available data, Portugal led the EU in bicycle production in 2023, manufacturing 1.8 million units. It was followed by Romania with 1.5 million, Italy with 1.2 million, and Poland with 0.8 million bicycles. However, 14 of the 17 EU countries reporting data experienced a decline in production compared to 2022. The most significant drop was observed in Romania, which produced 1 million fewer bicycles, followed by Italy with a decrease of 700,000 units, and Portugal with a reduction of nearly 400,000 units.
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- Eurostat: EU bicycle production declined in 2023