The demand for bicycles from the Portuguese is growing. Domestic production is not enough to provide an answer.
The Portuguese want to give more and more pedals. Even though the country has a yellow export T-shirt, demand far exceeds supply.
As a result, from 2015 to 2020, the volume of purchases of bicycles abroad increased by 62%. Devices with electrical equipment are becoming more and more popular.
Last year, 172,222 bicycles were imported, according to figures obtained by JN / DV from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Even during the pandemic, the market grew by 5% in 2019, Portugal received 163,935 units.
In 2020, more than three-quarters of imports were conventional bicycles, meaning that value-added units already had 25% of the market.
“People are looking for a healthy, economical and at the same time environmentally friendly form of transport. Many European cities and countries have launched or accelerated bold investment programs to support and encourage active modes of transport and restrict car use, ”he justifies Rui Igreja, leader of the Association for Urban Mobility Cycling (MUBi).
The demand for this item was felt in the Sport Zone stores. “It started both with the first conclusion and after that, which demonstrates the growing trend of the Portuguese towards outdoor sports,” says the official source.
However, “a gap in inventory in some segments was inevitable in the past year, mainly due to the difficulties the factories faced in responding to all inquiries.”
However, INE data shows that imports of aid units dropped to 41,976 units last year, up from 43,922 units in 2019.
In the Sport Zone, bike sales have “stabilized and are proceeding relatively well.”
But a new import record is expected in the first three months of this year.
Between January and March, Portugal acquired 37,974 bicycles internationally, up 30.5% from last year and 2019. Electric powered devices already account for more than a third of purchases.
More than 41 million
Bicycles brought to Portugal last year were worth 41.38 million euros, up from 25.5 million euros in 2015, up 62%.
more electricity there
The bicycle market share in Portugal is lower than abroad. “In some countries, electric bicycles already account for more than half of total bicycle sales,” says MUBi.
