Will Taipei Cycle Show get the supply chain in motion?

The Taipei International Cycle Show is always a good moment to take stock of the market situation, but this year ‘Taipei’ prepares the business to become a ‘better’ industry and put its focus on sustainability and other ESG topics.

“Hard times are also a good time to prepare exciting future products and tech from across the industry,” Robert Wu, chairman of the Taiwan Bicycle Association (TBA) told Bike Europe. With this message of hope, the island nation is hoping for better times as a premium supplier for the bicycle industry.

Export volumes dropping

After a few record-breaking years, e-bike and bicycle export volumes slid down in 2023. In the fourth quarter, some companies, like Merida, even halved their exports. The parts and components manufacturers, of which many are based in Taiwan or have their subsidiaries in mainland China or Vietnam, faced an even more drastic situation. As parts and components suppliers are all at the beginning of the supply chain, they will be the last ones who can clear their warehouses of overstock.

Future of production in Taiwan

In the good years, many Taiwanese companies invested in robotisation and production automation to increase their capacity. This also created opportunities to outline the future of a more sustainable production. More than 75% of the members of the Bicycling Alliance for Sustainability (BAS) have completed their Carbon Footprint Verification. Ahead of the 2024 Taipei Cycle Show, Bike Europe visited a number of Taiwanese companies and gauged their current status on ESG. Reports on these visits can be found in this online magazine.

Optimising the supply chain

Businesswise, the biggest challenge for this year is whether the Taipei International Cycle Show will get the supply chain in motion again. Even more than last year, the urgency to attend the show as an overseas trade visitor could be felt less. Why go to Taiwan when your warehouses are filled to their maximum capacity in an economy which is showing clear signs of slowing down? It has become clear that the packed warehouses were just one of the many hick-ups resulting from the restart of the industry after the pandemic. The industry is still struggling to find an answer to the questions: how can everything be arranged most efficiently, and what is best to produce at which location in the world? The necessary coordination to work on this challenge is only in the start-up phase.

WBIA event

On the opening day of the Taipei International Cycle Show, the BAS and other members of the World Bicycle Industry Alliance (WBIA) will launch the WBIA principles for more sustainable supply chains as well as showcase the best practices of companies appointed by the members of this international organisation. The event will also mark the start of the Sustainable Supply Chain project. During presentations, the EU battery regulation and the political dimension of the industrial transition in Europe will be discussed. The event will take place on 6 March in TaiNEX1, room 401, 4th floor.

Bike Venture Programme

New this year is the Bike Venture Programme in partnership with long-term ecosystem builder Anchor Asia. It will consist of the Bike Venture Summit, Startup and Innovation Zone, VIP Delegation. It offers start-ups and scale-ups great opportunities to connect with global industry leaders and investors. A total of 10 finalists were selected last February to participate in the Bike Venture’s Startup & Innovation Zone. The Bike Venture Summit takes place on 6 March from 14.00-17.00 followed by a series of events during the show.

Taipei Cycle Show 2024 will take place from 6-9 March at TaiNEX 1 & 2 in Taipei, Taiwan.