400,000 less bikes enter the UK

The latest UK bike import figures have confirmed that the number of bikes entering the country have dropped so far this year, according to ActSmart.

UK bike imports fell 29 per cent in the first half of 2009, echoing reports earlier in the year that found imports had slipped 35 per cent between January and May 2009, compared with the same period in 2008.

Over 400,000 less units were imported into the UK between January and June 2009, compared with January and June 2008.

Conversely, the value of bikes entering the country rose to £96.4 million – an increase of over five per cent. Currency exchange rates are thought to be among the reasons behind that rise in value and fall in units by some in the UK bicycle industry.

Bike imports into the USA have also dropped – slipping 1.822 million units in August.