Uncertainty hangs over Taipei Cycle 2026

The inventory crisis, which hit the sector since 2022, has hardly been resolved by the international bicycle industry as the next major concern hits the market. Increasing oil prices, raw material shortages and threats to shipping routes were among the many topics discussed at the Taipei International Cycle Show 2026.

“The inventory issue is gone,” said Robert Wu, chairman of the Taiwan Bicycle Association (TBA), to Bike Europe at the Taipei Cycle Show’s Leaders’ Breakfast. This topic has dominated the industry for several years, and especially Taiwanese component manufacturers have been significantly affected. During this meeting, it was also Velo de Ville MD Volker Thiemann who called for OEMs to build up their own stock in Europe to maintain flexibility. “The uncertainty in the Gulf region and around the Suez channel makes the supply chain very unpredictable.”

Energy shortages

“The volatility in the oil market and the rapid increases in raw material prices make it impossible to make planning decisions,” added Thiemann. “The energy issue and shortages in Southeast Asia will also impact production. The scale of the impact will depend on how long the war in Iran continues. Planning has also become more difficult since the Suez crisis, as shipping companies have become less strict about the sailing schedules. This can have serious consequences for production in Asia and for the bicycle industry in Taiwan in particular.”

History shows that extreme hikes in fuel prices and oil shortages boost bicycle sales. Spikes in sales have been seen before, but since the Iran war was started only one month ago, in combination with the unpredictability of United States President Donald Trump, makes the industry cautious to anticipate a sales hike.

Price increases expected

In a letter to its customers on the day before the opening of Taipei Cycle, Vittoria announced a temporary supply chain surcharge of 4.5% from 1 April in response to the increasing impact on global cost dynamics. Two weeks earlier, Vittoria had already announced that they expected extended shipping times for raw materials to their factory and for products moving from Thailand.

On the show floor in Taipei, the price increases in general were much debated, though few confirmed their implementation in the short term. Still, these are expected soon, as raw material shortages have already been announced. Taiwan’s largest supplier of raw materials for the production of a wide range of plastic products, Nan Ya Plastics, part of Formosa Plastics Group, has already suspended the intake of all orders due to price uncertainty and potential oil-market shortages.

As an important supplier for Taiwanese bicycle component manufacturers, this suspension of new orders might have an impact on the bicycle industry. Several manufacturers confirmed they have enough raw materials in stock for the coming months, but if the war in Iran drags on too long, this situation will become problematic.

Importance of global get-together

The future of trade shows and Eurobike in particular was much debated on the show floor. The once undisputed position of Eurobike is increasingly questioned, while the need for a global get-together is still acknowledged throughout the industry. A clear answer on how to do that is not easy to find, as many said during the Taipei Show. The absence of Eurobike’s new show manager, Philipp Ferger, raised some eyebrows, though Stefan Reisinger was present during Taipei Cycle and its many networking events. “Philipp Ferger is taking over my former role at Eurobike step-by-step. There is a lot to be done for him, so we decided to leave the visit to Taipei Cycle to me,” said Stefan Reisinger.

For Taiwanese companies, Eurobike is still the main European event to attend and is often their only contact with local customers. European companies have other options as well as Herrmans CEO Dan Liljeqvist told Bike Europe. “We have decided not to exhibit at Eurobike and show our product on as many local events as possible. The current situation leaves us no other option than travelling a lot to meet our customers."