AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands – Dutch bicycle exporters account for approximately one-quarter of all EU bike exports. The bulk of Dutch bicycles for export are manufactured domestically, the remainder are imported and subsequently re-exported.

Bulk of Dutch bicycles for export are manufactured domestically. Pictured here is production at Batavus. – Photo Accell Group

Worldwide, Asia is the largest bicycle manufacturer. China and Taiwan are the undisputed leaders. The Netherlands occupies third position on the global ranking list.

Germany and Taiwan main bicycle-exporting countries

The Netherlands is the largest exporter and manufacturer of bicycles in Europe. Yet, the Netherlands is also a significant importer of bicycles. Last year, up to a total value of 536 million euro. Germany and Taiwan were the main suppliers. Together, these two countries account for more than 60 percent of bicycles imported into the Netherlands.

More e-bikes imported

According to the Dutch Statistics Bureau the import of electric bikes into the Netherlands is growing; last year by 46 percent to more than 103 million euro, i.e. nearly 20 percent of total imports of bicycles. More than half of the imported e- bikes were manufactured in China. The Netherlands mainly exports conventional, non-electric bikes; only 8 percent of bikes destined for export are electrically assisted.