Total production of parts and finished products amounts to EUR245 million, according to ZF estimates based on market data.
Bicycles have become a fashion in Romania only in recent years, and sales stand at 380,000 units a year at a population of 19.5 million. Sales in Netherlands, for instance, stand at 1 million units at a population of 16 million.
Still, Romania is the third largest bicycle part and accessories manufacturer in Europe after Italy and Germany. Local production amounts to EUR200 million according to the European trade association COLIBI and Romania accounts for 12% of the EU market.
Romania also ranks eighth among bicycle manufacturers, with 450,000 units a year or 4% of the total EU production, dominated by Germany and Italy, which account for almost 40% of the market together.
Riding the bicycle to work has become a habit in many Western countries, so in Netherlands the number of bicycles is greater than the number of people. The country has special lanes for bicycle traffic and special spots to park the bikes.
In Romania, the authorities have announced plans to develop the segment in the last few years, which have not been completed yet. Still, the Bucharest City Council this spring approved creating 99.9 kilometers of new bicycle lanes on 61 streets along with 78 parking places and 18 new bike rental facilities, following an investment of almost EUR10 million.
“We are witnessing an increase in sales of bicycles year by year, on all customer and price segments. Development potential remains, we are catching up with the Western markets,” says Catalin Pozdarie, head of sporting goods retailer Hervis.
Romania ranks 20th in the EU by bicycle spending, EUR120. Polish consumers spend EUR210, Hungarians almost EUR260 and Bulgarians spend the least amount of money, EUR83.
The most important companies in bicycle retail are hypermarket, cash&carry chains and sporting goods stores. Specialist bicycle stores, too, have developed in the last few years, selling both imported and Romanian-made bikes.
Italian-held Campagnolo group, which makes luxury parts for bicycles became the largest bicycles, parts and accessories manufacturer in Romania on a market it dominates along with French-held Decathlon and Eurosport DHS. The three post yearly revenue of 170 million lei to 200 million lei (EUR38 million to EUR45 million) each.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)