Facts & Figures

BRUSSELS, Belgium - For several years in a row, the Belgian bicycle import was growing explosively. In 2003, for the very first time ever, imports exceeded 1 million. In 2005 an absolute record of 1.775 million bikes was reached. Last year the tide turned.

 

The changes in the Belgian import and export statistics of the last few years were not really related to developments in the home market but had rather to do with Belgium being a transit country. Decathlon recently opened a regional distribution centre near Antwerp, whereas Scott has its European distribution centre in the south of the country.

Country	Volume			Average Value (in €)
	2005	2006	Difference	2005	2006	Difference
Taiwan	446,890	325,681	-27.2%	119.61	139.45	+16.6%
China	347,005	131,264	-62.2%	35.72	43.54	+21.9%
Italy	144,006	98,006	-31.9%	80.16	94.37	+17.7%
Holland	127,831	133,941	+4.8%	305.39	314.88	+3.1%
Philippines	120,891	100,289	-17.0%	32.31	33.06	+2.3%
France	120,158	239,383	+99.2%	96.38	95.77	-0.6%
Sri Lanka	54,393	161,482	+196.9%	37.61	41.17	9.5%
Indonesia	46,152	51,381	+11.3%	98.53	112.16	13.8%
Bulgaria	25,331	32,752	+29.3%	54.09	58.03	7.3%
Bangladesh	13,422	36,428	+171.4%	45.16	63.28	+40.1%
Total	1,775,303	1,412,392	-20.4%	93.69	111.16	18.6%

After several years of growth, last year, the tide turned. Imports shrunk by more than 20% to 1.4 million bikes. At the same time, exports decreased by 1/3 to some 865,000 units. It is very probable, that this evolution was mainly due to a change in the transit. Average values on the other hand increased: 18.6% to just over € 111 for imported bikes and 20.2% to just under € 145 for exported ones.

 

In 2005, Taiwanese imports had nearly doubled, whereas the average value of the bikes plunged. Last year, volume shrunk back by more than 27% to 325,000, whereas value recovered by 16.6% to just under € 140. In 2005 imports from China and Vietnam had very seriously increased despite the extra European taxes to counteract dumping. In 2006,

 

Vietnam disappeared from the import top ten, whereas Chinese imports were diminished by 62 % to some 130,000 units. Probably, the anti-dumping duties had a delayed effect and part of those imports shifted to Bangladesh, Indonesia and above all Sri Lanka, which is completely exempted from import duties. Last year, the bicycle import from Sir Lanka into Belgium almost tripled to well over 160,000 units.

 

Apart from Vietnam, in 2006 Poland also disappeared from the Belgian import top ten list. For a short while, the country served as an intermediary for the import of Chinese bicycles. Since Poland has become a EU member state that role is now finished. Instead, another Eastern European country is climbing the ladder. Last year, Bulgaria became the 10^th biggest importer with almost 30% increase amounting to just under 33,000 bicycles. The average value is quite low: € 58.03

 

The only import result that probably says something about the Belgian market is the one from Holland. The volume grew by 4.8 % to almost 134,000 bikes. The average value which has already been the highest for years, increased slightly by 3.1 % to € 314.88 per unit. Holland exports high quality bicycles to Belgium that are mainly sold through IBDs. Therefore, from the statistics it could be concluded that IBD sales have grown a little bit in 2006, whereas the average prices of their sales were probably somewhere between € 525 and € 630.

 

Velo Pro Europe, the Belgian trade association for IBDs has recently rung the alarm bell. Federvelo estimates that the number of IBDs in 2004 was just under 1,300. There are no more recent numbers. It is expected that in the next 2 years, in Flanders, more than 100 IBDs will have to close their shops. As a result, more than 1,000 jobs are jeopardized. Velo Pro Europe has detected one of the causes of this problem.

 

A growing number of public welfare organisations, local councils and other government institutions discover the possibilities of the bicycle business for social employment. Sheltered workshops and newly established non-profit organisations assemble, re-assemble, repair, hire and sometimes also sell bicycles. Since they are subsidised, Velo Pro Europe argues that any commercial activities come down to unfair competition for regular dealers.

 

The city of Ghent for instance is considering buying 150 bicycles from the local dealers with a view to hire them out. That fleet would be serviced by a non-profit organisation that would employ long-term unemployed people. Velo Pro Europe is scrutinizing the project to assure that it will not harm the bicycle dealers in Ghent.

 

  

 BRUSSELS, Belgium - The Belgian motorcycle market is in top form. After stagnation in 2005, the trend of increasing new registrations, which has been going on since 2002, resumed Last year 27,269 new vehicles were registered, that is 9.3% more than the year before.

 

The biggest growth is in the scooter segment. An increasing number of these vehicles are put into circulation to escape traffic problems. What’s more, they are financially attractive. In Belgium, scooters and motorcycles up to 250cc are exempted from the yearly road tax. If you use them for commuting or for professional purposes, you are allowed to declare all costs in your tax return. And, they are economical and cheap as far as servicing is concerned.

 

Last year, the scooters +125cc made the biggest leap forward: 55.5% up to more than 1,800 registrations. Quite a number of people, who start on a 125cc scooter, feel like riding a bigger machine after a few years. Nevertheless, the 125cc scooters are still very successful: +40.6% for a total of 3,428 registrations.

The 125cc motorcycles have finally recovered from the heavy blow they suffered in 2002 and 2003. After the transport minister did away with the equivalence between driving licences C and A1 in 2002, the current minister reinstated it last year. That had an immediate effect on the registrations.

 

The success of the scooters had a considerable effect on the brand ranking. Piaggio increased its market share by progressing 2.3% to a share of 6.3%. As a result, the Italian brand chased Kawasaki from 5^th position. Evidently, the take-over of Aprilia had an effect on Piaggio’s results. Kymco and Sym, two Taiwanese scooter manufacturers increased their market shares with 0.3% and 0.8% respectively which put them in 8^th and 9^th position.

 

Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki all suffered from the fact that they focus to a large extent on the bigger motorcycles, whereas the categories 501 to 750 cc lose popularity. Still, Honda was able to slightly increase sales as a result of which it only lost 1% market share. Yamaha and Suzuki both lost 1.5% and BMW 1.7%.

 

Last year, Kawasaki was the big exception. Despite the fact that the brand’s core business is in the categories 501 to 750cc, it increased registrations by more than 25%, which in turn resulted in 0.6% more market share. Still that was not good enough to prevent Piaggio from taking over 5^th position.

 

 As for the types of motorcycles, the naked bikes are really on the way up. The biggest decline occurs in the super-sport segment, which was until a few years, one of the most important categories.

Registrations of trail and enduro bikes are also dropping because of political opposition. Following a ministerial circular letter, it has become very difficult to organise off-road events.

 

Quads on the other hand or clearly coming on. In 5 years’ time, their registrations have more than tripled. Last year, 4,456 units were sold, which made this category the second largest after basic/roadsters.