The market has finally reached a renewed level of stability. Despite global economic uncertainty and disruptions in recent months, overall confidence remains stable to moderately positive, as shown by the latest Global Bicycle Purchasing Index (GBPI). Following several years of exceptional volatility, the industry can once again look ahead with greater confidence and focus on sustainable growth and future development.

The spike in oil prices has drastically changed the market outlook. Raw material prices plus the costs of production and logistics have been affected by the geopolitical situation. The high fuel prices worldwide could also attract more people to start cycling. Are you prepared to adapt to the new situation? The Global Bicycle Purchase Index (GPBI) will provide you with these insights next month.

As the bicycle industry strives to better synchronise supply chains with market demand, access to reliable market intelligence has become increasingly important. The Global Bicycle Purchasing Index (GBPI) addresses this need by providing sourcing insights and a medium-term market outlook through an indicator that anticipates future industry trends. In a conversation with Bike Europe, Orbea Supply Chain Chief Officer Pablo Trujillo, explains how they manage the challenge of forecasting.

As expected, the financial performance of leading industry companies shows that 2025 was a challenging year for the bicycle industry. Especially the leading bike manufacturers were down as they had to continue discounting to bring their inventory levels back to healthy levels. Component manufacturers reported stable sales as replacement parts remain in demand, and the OEM order books for 2026 show a moderate increase again.

Although the March Global Bicycle Purchasing Index (GBPI) data points to sustained improvements in new incoming order levels and the own purchasing levels of bicycles, the assessment of the current industry situation remains poor or average at best. Business sentiment has failed to recover from the drop following Eurobike 2025.

As the industry seeks to align the supply chain and match demand more effectively, reliable market data becomes essential. To provide the much-needed sourcing information and mid-term outlook, the Global Bicycle Purchasing Index (GBPI) serves as an indicator that anticipates future trends. Bike Europe discussed with Schwalbe's Head of Supply Chain Management, Vanessa Schulte, how the GBPI supports Schwalbe in the planning process.