EU Flooded by Import Bikes from Asia; Up 26% in 2003

MAARSSEN, Netherlands (February 10) - Europe is rapidly becoming swamped in imported bikes from Asia. Eurostat, the EU's customs data bureau, recorded a growth of 30% in 2002, in the number of bikes imported from the various Asian countries; 2003 is hard on it's way in showing that same staggering growth again. During the first eight months of 2003 3.5 million bikes were imported into the EU; 26.4% more compared to the same period in 2002. In the January - August period almost all Asian bike-exporting countries managed to increase their export to the EU with major double digit figures. Vietnam turned into the 'king of growth' with an 61% plus! Looking at the 810,000 bicycles that Vietnam exported to the EU during the first eight months of 2003; it is expected to break the one million units mark for the whole year. India came second in the race for the biggest growth figures with a plus of 59.7%. However, maybe the most interesting figures stem from China. Despite the 30.6% anti-dumping duty, bicycle imports from the Peoples Republic increased by 42.6%. An extensive report about the EU import from Asia is in Bike Europe's February edition; publication date February 20. (MH)