Portugal is the largest manufacturer of bikes in the European Union, a fact many people outside of the country might not know. Last year, more than 2.6 million bikes were made in Portugal, according to official EU figures. , external
That was more than one fifth of the total 12.2 million bicycles produced. Italy was in second place on 2.1 million, and Germany ranked third with 1.3 million.
Portugal doesn’t have any big bike brand names, instead it mainly does manufacturing for foreign companies. For example, one of its largest producers – RTE – makes bicycles for French giant Decathlon. Another – FJ Bikes Europe – is owned by Taiwan’s Fritz Jou Manufacturing.
The industry is concentrated around one small city – Agueda in central Portugal, some 75 km (47 miles) south of Porto. In addition to the businesses that build full bikes, there are also firms, such as Rodi, that make bike parts or accessories.
In total, there are more than 60 factories, and almost 8,000 people employed in the sector in and around Agueda.
João Filipe Miranda says that his business will post a revenue figure of €27m ($30m; £23m) this year, “our best since the company’s foundation” in 1940.
