As a major exporter of bikes, Taiwanese manufacturers claim to provide nearly 70% of all mid-range and high-end bikes sold around the globe. Each year, Taiwan exports about 2 million bikes; and mountain bikes now account for 60% of that total.
A release from the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) notes that the estimated amount of exported Taiwanese bikes and components in 2019 was valued at around US$2.73 billion with the value of mountain bikes being thought to account for around US$1.7 billion.
Information from the Bicycle Association indicates that the North American market is currently the major target market for Taiwan’s exports. ‘Last year, sales reached US$529 million – with Taiwanese mountain bikes reportedly making up nearly 40% of that figure.’
TAITRA adds that consumer shifts towards mountain biking, gravel and cyclocross ‘give cyclists a great sense of achievement by helping them to conquer challenging mountain terrain at high speed, [and] are coming to be regarded as mainstream recreational biking activities.’
The long-standing bicycle titans (i.e. Giant and Merida) along with other major manufacturers of components, have made the bicycle manufacturing industry in Taiwan renowned as a hub for producing off-road bikes.
TAITRA notes that mountain bikes continue to retain their popularity in Europe, the United States and beyond.
‘There may have been an increasing demand for road bikes in Asian countries, especially in Taiwan, over the past few years – yet mountain bikes are still the kings of the hill in the US, Taiwan’s main export market.’
