EU bicycle production, employment and sales up in 2014
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
2014 was a very positive year for the European bicycle industry according to an economic study carried out by CONEBI, the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry.
Bicycle employment, production and sales within the bicycle industry grew in 2014, compared to the 2013 figures.
Increased sales
According to the study, ‘European Bicycle Industry & Market Profile (BIMP) 2015 with 2014 statistics', bicycle sales in the 28 EU member states was up 2.3%. A total of 20,234,000 bicycles (including e-bikes) were sold throughout the European Union last year. Great Britain accounted for 18% of these sales, second to Germany which generated 20% of overall sales. However, when it came to average price of bikes sold, GB sits at 10th place with a price of €345 compared to the Netherlands average price €844.
Greater bicycle production
Production in 2014 increased also; with 5.1% according to the CONEBI study to a total of close to 12 million bikes; again including electric bicycles. With regard to e-bikes the Federation states that sales in this category grew with 25.6% to 1,139,000 units. This total is a low estimate. In its June/July edition, which contained a 2014 Market Report for EU e-bike imports and sales, this trade journal concluded that the 2014 volume of the e-bike, e-MTB and speed e-bike market in Europe stood at 1,325,000 units.
More workers in the trade
The 5% growth in production is also reflected in an increased number of EU workers employed in the European bicycle, e-bike and bicycle parts & accessories industries. 27,670 EU workers were employed by the industry in 2014 compared to 26,569 EU workers employed in 2013 - an increase of 4.1%.
The full report can be viewed here