Bicycle import value to Japan 2013-2022

In 2022, the value of bicycles imported to Japan amounted to approximately 89.2 billion Japanese yen. This represented an increase compared to the previous year when the value reached around 77.1 billion yen. While the number of imported bicycles gradually declined within the last decade, the total import value has grown.

Inflation of bicycle prices

The increase in the import value may be related to several factors. Firstly, more and more people settle for e-bikes rather than the more affordable but basic city bikes. Secondly, disrupted supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic had hampered with the supply of bicycle parts, which resulted in a price hike while high demand prevailed. Though supply chains have recovered, prices have not declined as overall inflation has hit many regions worldwide. From a macroeconomic perspective, Japan, as an exporter of bicycle parts, profits from higher parts prices as it shifts the trade balance into a surplus.

Japan: producer and importer of e-bikes

Domestic bicycle production has specialized in e-bikes. Shortly after production of e-bikes began, they became the most commonly fully-assembled prototype produced in Japan today. The top suppliers of bicycles for Japan are China, Taiwan, and Cambodia. For China, Japan is the second largest importer of normal bicycles after the United States of America and is close to becoming the largest importer of Chinese e-bikes.