Bicycle manufacturing is measured differently across major markets. The European Union reports non-motorised production and extra-EU trade, China reports bicycle and electric-bicycle output alongside export throughput, and Japan reports production plus imports supplied to its domestic market.
Key Bicycle Manufacturing Statistics
The most useful figures span factory output, cross-border trade, electric-bicycle fleets and domestic supply:
- In 2023, the European Union produced 9.7 million non-motorised bicycles and other cycles.
- In 2022, EU non-motorised bicycle production was 12.7 million units.
- From 2022 to 2023, EU non-motorised bicycle production fell 24%.
- In 2023, Portugal produced 1.8 million bicycles.
- In 2023, Romania produced 1.5 million bicycles.
- In 2023, Italy produced 1.2 million bicycles.
- In 2023, Poland produced approximately 0.8 million bicycles.
- Between 2022 and 2023, 14 of 17 reporting EU countries recorded lower bicycle production.
- In 2023, EU bicycle exports were worth €1.03 billion.
- In 2023, EU bicycle imports were worth €1.98 billion.
- In 2023, the EU exported 293,000 electric bicycles.
- In 2023, the EU imported 867,000 electric bicycles.
- In 2023, China manufactured 48.83 million bicycles.
- In 2023, China exported nearly 39.65 million bicycles.
- In Q1 2024, China exported nearly 11 million bicycles.
- In 2023, China produced 50.35 million electric bicycles, according to a preliminary industry estimate.
- By April 2024, China had approximately 350 million electric bicycles in social stock.
- In 2023, Japan’s production-plus-import supply of fully assembled bicycles was 4,361,945 units.
- In 2023, Japan’s production-plus-import supply included 577,729 electric-assist bicycles.
- In 2023, Japan’s supply included 1,065,294 light bicycles.
Contents
- Key Bicycle Manufacturing Statistics
- EU Bicycle Manufacturing Output
- EU Bicycle Trade Statistics and Supplier Mix
- China Bicycle Production and Export Data
- China Electric-Bicycle Manufacturing and Fleet Scale
- Japan Bicycle Domestic-Supply Statistics
- Japan Electric-Assist and Bicycle Segment Mix
EU Bicycle Manufacturing Output
Eurostat recorded 9.7 million non-motorised bicycles and other cycles produced in the European Union in 2023, compared with 12.7 million units in 2022. The published series therefore shows a 24% fall from 2022 to 2023.
| EU measure | Period | Reported output |
|---|---|---|
| Non-motorised bicycles and other cycles | 2022 | 12.7 million units |
| Non-motorised bicycles and other cycles | 2023 | 9.7 million units |
| Published change | 2022–2023 | 24% decrease |
Portugal, Romania, Italy and Poland were among the largest reporting producers in 2023.
| EU producer | 2023 reported production |
|---|---|
| Portugal | 1.8 million bicycles |
| Romania | 1.5 million bicycles |
| Italy | 1.2 million bicycles |
| Poland | approximately 0.8 million bicycles |
Fourteen of 17 reporting EU countries recorded lower production in 2023 than in 2022. Romania’s reported production decreased by 1.0 million units, Italy’s by 0.7 million, and Portugal’s by almost 0.4 million.
These are available non-confidential PRODCOM figures for non-motorised bicycle code 30921000. Eurostat notes reporting and confidentiality exclusions, including unavailable 2023 data for France, Germany, Belgium, Latvia and Slovenia; the series is not a complete census of every EU factory.
Eurostat, “EU production of bicycles down to 9.7 million in 2023”
EU Bicycle Trade Statistics and Supplier Mix
EU extra-EU trade statistics valued bicycle exports at €1.03 billion in 2023, down 10% from 2022. Imports were worth €1.98 billion, down 21% over the same period.
| EU extra-EU trade measure | 2023 result | Change from 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Bicycle exports | €1.03 billion | 10% decrease |
| Bicycle imports | €1.98 billion | 21% decrease |
| Electric-bicycle exports | 293,000 units | 21% decrease |
| Electric-bicycle imports | 867,000 units | 27% decrease |
| Non-electric bicycle exports | 852,000 units | 17% decrease |
| Non-electric bicycle imports | 3.5 million units | 34% decrease |
The trade series separates electric bicycles under CN 87116010 from non-electric bicycles under CN 87120030 and CN 87120070. These are customs-classification measures, not a single production estimate.
For non-electric bicycle exports by value, Switzerland accounted for 30% in 2023, the United Kingdom for 20%, and the United States for 6%. Electric-bicycle exports were more concentrated: Switzerland received 46% by value, the United Kingdom 26%, the United States 10%, and Norway 9%.
| 2023 extra-EU trade category | Partner | Share by value |
|---|---|---|
| Non-electric bicycle exports | Switzerland | 30% |
| Non-electric bicycle exports | United Kingdom | 20% |
| Non-electric bicycle exports | United States | 6% |
| Electric-bicycle exports | Switzerland | 46% |
| Electric-bicycle exports | United Kingdom | 26% |
| Electric-bicycle exports | United States | 10% |
| Electric-bicycle exports | Norway | 9% |
On the import side, Taiwan supplied 32% of EU non-electric bicycle imports by value in 2023, Cambodia supplied 28%, China 8%, and Bangladesh 8%. These shares describe extra-EU trade by value and do not identify the manufacturing origin of every component.
Eurostat, “Decrease in trade of bicycles in 2023”
China Bicycle Production and Export Data
China Bicycle Association figures reported by Xinhua put China’s 2023 bicycle manufacturing at 48.83 million bicycles and exports at nearly 39.65 million bicycles. Manufacturing and exports describe different stages and should not be treated as a direct domestic-consumption calculation.
| China bicycle measure | Period | Reported result |
|---|---|---|
| Manufactured bicycles | 2023 | 48.83 million units |
| Exported bicycles | 2023 | nearly 39.65 million units |
| Exported bicycles | Q1 2024 | nearly 11 million units |
China exported nearly 11 million bicycles in Q1 2024, 13.7% more than in Q4 2023. About 2.3 million went to the United States, where exports were 47.2% higher year over year, while 930,000 went to Russia, with shipments up 52.1% year over year.
The Q1 2024 figures are quarterly export throughput, whereas the 48.83 million manufacturing figure and nearly 39.65 million export figure cover calendar year 2023. The source’s qualifiers “nearly” and “about” are retained.
State Council of the People’s Republic of China, “China’s bicycle exports expand in Q1”
China Electric-Bicycle Manufacturing and Fleet Scale
A China Bicycle Association preliminary industry statistic estimated 50.35 million electric bicycles produced in China in 2023, an increase of 2% year over year. Because it is a preliminary industry statistic, the figure is an estimate rather than a final census of all producers.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reported approximately 350 million electric bicycles in social stock by April 2024. Social stock is an estimated fleet position, not annual production.
The same official source reported 42.28 million electric bicycles produced by Chinese above-scale enterprises in 2023. That measure covers enterprises above the ministry’s scale threshold and is not comparable with the all-industry estimate.
| China electric-bicycle measure | Period or position | Reported scale |
|---|---|---|
| Industry production estimate | 2023 | 50.35 million units |
| Production increase | 2022–2023 | 2% |
| Above-scale enterprise production | 2023 | 42.28 million units |
| Social stock estimate | April 2024 | approximately 350 million vehicles |
The production estimate, above-scale output and social-stock estimate have different scopes. They should not be added together or used as substitute definitions.
China Bicycle Association, “行业专家咨询委员会2024年度工作会议在京召开”
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, “加强电动自行车行业规范管理 推动实现高质量发展”
Japan Bicycle Domestic-Supply Statistics
Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute statistics combine Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry production data with Ministry of Finance import statistics. The resulting measure is production-plus-import supply of fully assembled bicycles for Japan’s domestic market, not Japan-only manufacturing output.
| Year | Fully assembled bicycles supplied | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,049,883 units | ¥77,127,957 thousand |
| 2022 | 5,035,892 units | ¥89,171,872 thousand |
| 2023 | 4,361,945 units | ¥76,962,167 thousand |
The supplied unit total declined across the three reported years, while the corresponding reported values were ¥77,127,957 thousand in 2021, ¥89,171,872 thousand in 2022 and ¥76,962,167 thousand in 2023. These are nominal reported values in thousand yen; no currency conversion is supplied.
The series is useful for domestic-supply context, but it cannot isolate local factories. Imports are included by definition, so the figures are not directly comparable with China’s manufacturing totals or the EU’s non-motorised PRODCOM output.
Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute, “2021-2023年 国内向自転車生産・輸入統計”
Japan Electric-Assist and Bicycle Segment Mix
Japan’s 2023 production-plus-import table separates domestic supply into electric-assist, light, children’s, and mini, small-wheel, folding or BMX categories. Each measure combines domestic production and imports.
| 2023 Japan supply category | Units | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Electric-assist bicycles | 577,729 | ¥59,014,364 thousand |
| Light bicycles | 1,065,294 | ¥15,851,864 thousand |
| Children’s bicycles | 832,171 | ¥10,306,729 thousand |
| Mini, small-wheel, folding or BMX bicycles | 348,732 | ¥6,182,188 thousand |
Electric-assist bicycles formed a distinct category with 577,729 units valued at ¥59,014,364 thousand. Light bicycles supplied 1,065,294 units valued at ¥15,851,864 thousand, while children’s bicycles supplied 832,171 units valued at ¥10,306,729 thousand.
The mini, small-wheel, folding or BMX category supplied 348,732 units valued at ¥6,182,188 thousand. These classifications should not be merged with China’s electric-bicycle definition or the EU’s electric customs code without a harmonized methodology.
Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute, “2021-2023年 国内向自転車生産・輸入統計”