The Era of Inventory Reduction in the Bicycle Industry May Be Coming to an End!

　　1.The Era of Inventory Reduction May Be Coming to an End

　　Capital and investment group CL Securities Taiwan recently conducted in-depth research on companies such as Giant,Merida,KMC,and Shimano,discovering a positive trend in inventory levels.The study shows that these four companies reached their inventory peaks around 2022 and early 2023,but since then,their inventory levels have steadily declined.The peak has passed,and the companies are showing signs of improved performance.

　　2.India Surpasses China to Become the World’s Largest Two-Wheeler Market

　　According to a report by Counterpoint Research,global two-wheeler sales increased by 4% year-on-year in the first half of 2024.Apart from India,regions like Europe,North America,South America,the Middle East,and Africa also saw positive growth.However,sales in China and Southeast Asia showed a significant decline.The growth of the domestic market in India is attributed to various factors,including higher demand in rural areas and the current monsoon season.The Indian two-wheeler market grew by 22% year-on-year in the first half of this year.

　　3.Cambodia's Exports Gradually Shift from Bicycles to Electric Bicycles

　　In 2023,the EU's 27 member states imported only 1,035 electric bicycles from Cambodia.This figure increased to 13,838 from January to August this year.The export value also rose,from 1.8 million euros in 2023 to 12.4 million euros in 2024.Meanwhile,from January to August this year,Cambodia's bicycle exports to the EU decreased to 568,341 units.

　　4.Strong Demand for Bike-Sharing in North America,Operators Face Management Challenges

　　The four major bike-sharing companies in North America have reported a continuous increase in users in recent years,but operators face challenges related to logistics,charging,maintenance,and repairs.According to Toronto’s bike-sharing company,83% of bicycles enter the city center during the morning rush hour,causing users to wait up to 20 minutes to park their bikes,severely affecting the user experience.Operators emphasize innovative,user-centered strategies and are trying to improve the user experience through technology.

　　5.The EU is Actively Advancing Trade Negotiations with Malaysia and Thailand

　　The EU is actively pursuing free trade agreement(FTA)negotiations with Malaysia and Thailand.Thailand's most well-known bicycle company is Vittoria,while Malaysia is home to Shimano supplier Kwang Li Industry.Any changes in trade agreements between the two countries could have serious implications for the EU's bicycle supply chain in India and Indonesia.