Bicycle production in the EU saw a significant decline in 2023, with output falling by 24% compared to the previous year, according to new data from Eurostat. The total number of bicycles produced dropped to just 9.7 million units, a sharp contrast to the 12.8 million produced in 2022.
Among the countries most affected by this downturn were Romania, Italy, and Portugal. Romania, in particular, recorded the steepest drop, producing 1 million fewer bikes than in 2022. Despite this, Portugal remained the EU leader in bicycle production with 1.8 million units, followed by Romania at 1.5 million and Italy with 1.2 million. Poland also contributed 0.8 million units to the total output.
Bike production in these countries has been driven by factors such as “labour cost” and “environmental laws,” according to cycling industry expert Mike Defresne. However, the downturn was widespread, with 14 out of 17 reporting EU countries experiencing a decline in bicycle manufacturing.
Experts are concerned about the potential impact of the drop in production, with warnings of possible layoffs within the European cycling industry, which currently supports over 1 million jobs across more than 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises.
Defresne pointed out that “bicycle production is difficult to predict,” but suggested that initiatives such as bike-sharing schemes and urban cycling projects could provide support. “Everything could help,” he added, emphasizing the need for creative solutions to revive the industry.
