BY DANIEL FOONG

Taiwan bicycle manufacturers made significant gains in both export numbers and value in the first 10 months of 2007, totaling 4,264,214 units, an increase of 8.54 percent, and amounting to NT$28,942,453 million, a growth of 22.13 percent.

Revealing these statistics in its monthly report, the Taiwan Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers Association, quoting figures released by the Taiwan customs authorities, said Great Britain was the biggest buyers of Taiwan-made bicycles in the 10-month period last year. The U.K. bought 836,112 bicycles from Taiwan , valued at NT$3.618 billion.

The United States was the second biggest buyer in terms of quantity, but the biggest in value, comprising 538,923 units, amounting to NT$6.384 billion, which was equivalent to 22 percent of the total bicycle revenues generated from bicycle exports. The U.S. bought 6.44 percent less bicycles from Taiwan in the first 10 months of 2007.

Germany was the third biggest buyer in terms of quantity but the fourth biggest in terms of value. The biggest economy in Europe bought 430,665 bicycles from Taiwan in the Jan.-Oct. period, amounting to NT$2.481 billion, an increase of 19.39 percent compared with the corresponding period a year earlier.

The Netherlands , the fourth biggest purchaser of Taiwan bicycles, imported 384,932 units. However, in terms of dollars, Holland was the third biggest buyers, amounting to NT$3.319 billion, an increase of 45.72 percent from the same period the year before.

Belgium , the fifth biggest buyer, both in quantity and value, ordered 270,357 units from Taiwan , a drop of 3.50 percent compared with the same period in 2006. The shipment was worth NT$1.522 billion, representing 1.18 percent increase.

Asian buyers

Most of the top 20 countries buying bicycles from Taiwan were from Europe. Among the top 20, only four countries were from Asia and the Pacific, namely Japan , South Korea , Australia and New Zealand .

Japan , the 7^th biggest buyer, imported 190,464 bicycles from Taiwan , a decrease of 21.69 percent from a year earlier. However, it rose 14.73 percent in terms of value, amounting to NT$1.307 billion.

Taiwan shipped 109,826 bicycles to Australia in the first 10 months of 2007, an increase of 25.94 percent. However, it was close to Japan ’s value, amounting to NT$1.234 billion, an increase of 29.26 percent over the same period in 2006.

Shipments to South Korea increased 73.03 percent to 49,885 units, amounting to NT$622.45 million. New Zealand bought NT$362.70 million worth of bicycles from Taiwan , an 11.88 percent increase.