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■■ A Word From the Publisher
■■
Reducing Carbon Emissions and
Sustainability: The Path to Breakthrough
The global market's inventory clearance timeline of some ECFA tariff
is behind schedule, with expectations now set for
the end of the year before significant progress is made. preferences, including those
There is hope that business conditions will improve in
2025. for road bikes, effective
In 2023, Taiwan's total bicycle exports were only June 15. The impact of this
1.32 million units, marking a 32.2% decline from 2022.
The average export price was US$1,045.21, a 26.16% decision remains to be seen. Grace S. Ruan
increase from 2022. However, parts exports fell by In 2023, China produced
nearly 40%. Europe and the United States remain
Taiwan's top two bicycle export markets. Notably, 48.835 million bicycles,
Taiwan's e-bike exports also saw a decline for the
first time, with only 680,000 units exported in 2023, a 4.9% decrease from 2022. E-bike production,
a 33.74% drop from 1.03 million units in 2022. The
EU is the largest market for Taiwan's e-bike exports, however, continued to grow, reaching 50.352 million
accounting for 384,611 units, a 26.86% decrease
from 2022, though the average unit price reached a units, a 2.3% increase from 2022. Geopolitical tensions
record high of US$1,767.19. Among EU countries, the
Netherlands, Germany, and the UK are the top three between China and Taiwan are of international concern,
markets for Taiwanese e-bikes.
with buyers wary of related risks. Despite this, both
Over the past two years, the global bicycle market
has faced a downturn, characterized by high inventory sides possess unique resources and strengths, and if
levels and severe inflation, leading to weak consumer
demand. The only exception is China's domestic they can integrate and collaborate, the global bicycle
market, which has shown remarkable growth. In China,
the trend of cycling has been bolstered by influencers industry stands to benefit significantly.
and live-streaming, making it a new fashion and social
activity that has attracted many young consumers. E-bikes have become a major segment of the global
Road bikes, in particular, have seen a surge in sales, market, and regulations are becoming increasingly
with fierce competition among brands. Statistics show stringent. On February 18, the EU implemented the
that in 2023, views of cycling-related videos on China's "Battery and Waste Battery Regulations," setting
Douyin platform increased by 94.4%, while searches standardized rules for battery products, processes, waste
for cycling content grew by 137.4%. Sales of high- batteries, and recycling. These regulations mandate
end sports bicycles rose by over 10%, with disc brake removable and recyclable batteries, labeling, and due
road bikes becoming the mainstream choice among diligence. They also require disclosure of the carbon
young people. Political factors between China and footprint at each stage of the battery lifecycle. The
Taiwan have not affected the bicycle trade between the "battery passport" label must be completed by 2026, with
two sides. Leveraging the ECFA advantage, Taiwan QR codes by 2027, prompting industry stakeholders to
exported 121,488 bicycles to China in 2023, making prepare in advance.
it Taiwan's third-largest export market. However, the
Chinese government has announced the cessation Global warming and extreme weather events, such
as floods, snowstorms, and heatwaves, are posing
significant threats to human life and property. This
summer's extreme heat has been deadly, underscoring
the urgent need for carbon reduction and green energy
adoption to achieve net-zero emissions. European and
American bicycle companies are investing in ESG
initiatives, and Taiwanese companies are following
suit, all striving to become "the best companies for
the world." Only through promoting sustainability and
actively reducing carbon emissions can the bicycle
industry secure a future.
Global E-Bike Source 2024-2025 29
