Eurobike 2024: a. hartrodt informs about transportation trends
Sea/air service via Dubai is interesting for bicycle importers from Asia.
From July 3 to 7, 2024, a. hartrodt will be at the world's leading trade fair for the bicycle industry, Eurobike, in Frankfurt. This includes Peter Zink as Trade Lane Manager North East Asia, who sees potential despite declining sales figures in Germany: "There is a trend towards second or third bikes, and we are seeing the biggest growth in electric cargo bikes." According to the Bicycle Industry Association ZIV, 14.5 percent more e-cargobikes were sold in 2023 than in the previous year. The most important Asian suppliers for e-bikes are Vietnam and Taiwan "in addition to the almost traditional supply" from China. "In the current difficult sea freight situation, we offer sea/air service as an alternative," says Peter Zink.
Red Sea: Dilemma for bicycle importers
Because Houthis are attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea, carriers currently prefer to take a detour around South Africa. "This leads to longer transit times and capacity bottlenecks," explains Peter Zink. Bicycle importers are facing the dilemma that air freight costs too much and e-bikes are not permitted as hazardous good by rail. "The almost forgotten sea/air connection via Jebel Ali is in demand again," he observes.
Hazardous goods: Better fly batteries of e-bikes separately
In the transportation alternative from North East or South East Asia and India to Europe, a. hartrodt combines sea and air freight via the Dubai hub (United Arab Emirates). With weekly connections and fixed schedules, sea freight is transshipped at the port of Jebel Ali and loaded onwards via one of Dubai's international airports. Peter Zink estimates a transit time of around 19 days from the port of Kaohsiung in Taiwan to the European air freight hub in Frankfurt. For e-bikes, he recommends flying the battery separately as hazardous good or procuring it directly in Europe.
For his visit to the Eurobike in eight halls plus the outdoor area, Peter Zink trains on his mountain bike without an electric motor. The company bike is provided to him by a. hartrodt via its partner Bikeleasing. Customers can make appointments for the Eurobike in advance.