The 2007 Taipei International Cycle Show (Taipei Cycle '07) is running from today to March 27 at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Halls 1& 3. The show is organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, in cooperation with the Taiwan Bicycle Exporters' Association. The Taiwan Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers Association, and the Taiwan Rubber Industries Association are co-organizing this highly specialized bicycle trade event.
Approximately 33,900 visitors including more than 3,900 international buyers from around the world are expected to visit Taipei for the latest innovations and technologies that Taiwan bicycle makers have to offer. A total of 694 exhibitors in 2,299 booths will showcase a wide range of products in 20,682sqm exhibition space. Product exhibits at the fair will include completely assembled bicycles, bicycle parts and accessories, and light electric vehicles. Aside from the range of exhibits, the show will also feature the Grand Opening & Winners of Innovation Ceremony, keynote speeches, as well as a series of seminars and procurement meetings.
Seminar speakers will come from across Taiwan, Europe, U.S.A., and Japan. Discussions will include briefings on the international bicycle markets, recent laws and regulations, trade controls & strategies, and the environment. Other activities will include Tour de Taiwan, Taiwan Cycle Night, Happy Hour and Industry Tour.
Tour de Taiwan -- The Best in Action
Asia's largest bicycle industry fair and the world's third-largest international bike show, TAIPEI CYCLE brings all the leading brands, designers, and manufacturers together in one showcase. Likewise, the Tour de Taiwan, a UCI class 2.2 race, pits a select group of world-class riders against each other over a multi-stage race spanning nearly 1000 kilometers of terrain as challenging as it is beautiful. Formerly held in October, the Tour de Taiwan is now held concurrently with Taipei Cycle to pack maximum cycling excitement into one special week of action.
Major Bicycle Makers Optimistic About Sales for 2007
The top-three bicycle makers listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) are optimistic about their sales prospects for 2007, including Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Merida Industry Co., Ltd., and Ideal Bike Corp.
According to Giant chairman King Liu, the sales of high-end bike models have grown rapidly in recent years, but the total demand for such products remains limited. Liu claimed that his company's shipment of high-end bikes may rebound to a normal level, compared to a remarkable drop in 2006.
Senior officials of both Merida and Ideal also deemed that the 2007 global bicycle market would be better than last year, and the coming international bicycle show in Taipei in March is expected to reflect such a trend.
Liu stressed that the A-Team, an industry alliance between local major complete bicycle and parts makers, has successfully boosted the island's competitiveness in the global upper market and effectively expanded the global sales territory of Taiwan's bicycle industry.
Merida enjoyed an average selling prices (ASP) of US$412 for its exported bike products in 2006, up 7% from previous year and about double the island's average. The company attributed the brilliant ASP performance to customers` strong demands for high-level products, which drove up both sales volume and revenue of high-end models.
According to Merida, it has been receiving increasing orders for high-level products, which are expected to further upgrade the company's revenue and profits performances this year.
Merida's assistant manager Wang Long-jin pointed out that his company last year invested NT$200 million (US$6.15 million at US$1: NT$32.5) in revamping the production lines in two stages and the works are expected to be completed in the second quarter. The new lines are expected to have better production efficiency, produce higher-quality products, and upgrade overall capacity by 10% to 20%.
Ideal's senior officials said that the company would demonstrate many new products at the coming Taipei cycle show in March, including some models jointly developed with fitness equipment makers for both indoor and outdoor riding.
As to its deployment in mainland China, Giant has set up five plants across the Taiwan Strait to produce bicycles, electric bicycles, and aluminum bike frames, and the firm is mulling setting up additional facilities in northern China.
Merida is applying to the Investment Commission under Taiwan's the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) for setting up a new plant in Shangdong Province of China, which is expected to be completed in early 2008 and start mass production in mid-2008.
Ideal is preparing for further expanding its sales in China. The company now also runs a plant in Dongguan, Guangdong Province of China, with annual capacity of about 700,000 units.
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