BRITISH CYCLES OVERSEAS

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 December 1936, Page 10

BRITISH CYCLES OVERSEAS

BEATING JAP. COMPETITION British bicycle manufacturers are defeating Japanese competition in the overseas market. Figures published recently by the Bicycle Manufacturers’ Association of Tokio, quoted by Reuter, show that Japanese exports of bicycles and spare parls are less than half those of British makers. These figures go only as far as 1934, and prominent manufacturers in this country suggest that a slump in the Japanese export bicycle trade began in that year. Statistics published a few days ago show that British exports rose from 30,369 machines in September, 1935, to 48,155 machines last month. For nine months in 1935 the number was 281.602; for the corresponding months this year it was 363,777. The value of bicycles exported by Britain has risen from £795,698 in 1925 to £980,319 in 1936. Exports of spare parts, excluding tyres, covers and inner tubes, were worth nearly £1,500,000 for nine months in both 1935 and 1936. Japanese exports, including spare parts and tyres, were valued at £390,000 in 1932, £750,000 in 1933, and £l,100,000 in 1934. Although Japanese manufacturers have been selling machines in India and South Africa at 20/- each, and are preparing to put one on the market at 18/-, British machines, at a minimum cost of £2/10/-, have captured the market. Exports of British machines are greater now than in the boom years of 1928 and 1929. An important British manufacturer said: “The Japanese did well in the export market until two years ago. Then they were found out. They used metal from scrapped vessels. This is unsuitable for manufacturing bicycles. Two years ago they looked as if they were going to be a menace; now they are a joke.” An official of another firm said:

“Our overseas market is up by 150 per cent, over last year. We do 50 per cent, of the business in India, which is the largest single market outside Europe. The Japanese manufacturer has not made the progress in the last two years which it looked as if he would. “British makers have struck to their guns and kept up quality, with the result that our business overseas has increased despite the low prices of Japanese machines.”