Taiwan's Bike Exports up 8% in Volume, 18.5% in Value

TAIPEI, Taiwan (December 9) - Taiwan exported 2.71 million bicycles in the first eight months of the year, up 7.9% from one year earlier, and the export value posted a much higher annual growth of 18.5% to reach US$ 424 million (€ 318.5mn), according to statistics compiled by the Taiwan Bicycle Exporters' Association (TBEA). This is reported by the China Economic News Service. TBEA chairman Ike Tseng attributed the strong growth in export value to the rising average selling price of Taiwan-exported bikes. This value rose to US$156.48 (€ 117.57) in the first eight months of the year, indicating that makers' efforts on upgrading their products have paid off. Tseng predicted the island's annual bike export volume to hit four million units this year. Tseng, who is chairman of Taiwan's No. 2 bike maker Merida Industry Co., Ltd., claimed that Taiwan's bicycle industry is rapidly developing ‘3N’ products, namely products featuring new functions, new materials and new applications, thus making the island a supply base of high value-added bike products in the world. (JO)