The Netherlands exported a record number of bicycles in 2010. Last year, a total of 1,456,876 bicycles left the country compared to 1,140,315 the previous year – an increase of almost 22 percent. The export value increased from some 487 million euros to almost 574 million euros.
The figures were published in a report entitled ‘Mobility in Numbers’ (Mobiliteit in Cijfers) brought out by Bovag - a branch organisation for car and truck dealers, and transport education – and the RAI Foundation, which represents bicycle, scooter and car manufacturers.
Germany is the Netherlands’ biggest bicycle client, followed by France and Belgium. The three countries imported 438,580, some 200,000 and 192,910 Dutch bikes respectively. The figures include bicycles that were exported through Dutch distributors.
As a bicycle export country, the Netherlands is a big player, but the Dutch themselves are starting to favour foreign bikes. Provisional figures claim the Netherlands imported around 1,667,000 bicycles, including some half a million from Taiwan.
(jn/hs)
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
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