Exhibitors flock to Taipei cycle show

The 2005 Taipei International Cycle Show opened yesterday at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall I, with a new high of 620 companies from 29 countries taking part to show their advanced items at a record 2,019 booths.

Taiwan External Trade Development Council Chairman Hsu Chih-jen (許志仁) hailed Taiwanese bike makers for their success in turning the domestic industry into a value-added business through their innovation, making Taiwan a world key supply hub for high-end bicycles.

The show is the world's third-largest and the largest in Asia.

Taiwan Bicycle Exporters' Association chairman Yang Yin-ming (楊銀明) said that the industry has come a long way in building its own distinguished brand names over the past 30 years.

Although the industry experienced the largest slump in outbound shipments in 2003 as a result of company relocations to China and Vietnam, Yang said that it has got back to its feet in recent years thanks to its exploration of new materials and new designs.

Statistics show that outbound bike shipments were about 4.38 million units last year, up by some 13 percent compared to the 2003 amount of 3.88 million units.

Last year's export value totaled US$720 million, an increase of 23.7 percent over the 2003 level of US$580 million. Meanwhile, the average unit price rose to US$164 last year from the previous year's US$150.