Bike shortages continue but may ease

E-bike stock shortages are beginning to ease in New Zealand, although demand remains very strong.

However, Australian bike trade media specialist Phil Latz who produces The Latz Report predicts things will get worse before they get better.

He suggests there’s no stock buffer left.

“Virtually all of the reserve stock that wholesalers usually hold so that retailers can order on demand, has been sold, Latz says in his Australian report.

Latz says major disruptions have been caused by waterfront disputes, COVID related fumigation issues, and Australia’s trade war with China aggravating a backlog of empty containers waiting to be returned to China, and more.

Latz says orders for Shimano components are having to be placed up to 400 days in advance.

The coming Northern Hemisphere summer will no doubt add to the bike boom, creating further issues according to Latz.

We featured the production and supply issues around bikes and e-bikes in our November magazine.

“We’re now getting on top of it,” Electrify NZ founder Michael Tritt says of the stock shortage.

That’s especially applicable with some brands such as the New Zealand designed Black, he says.

Tritt is expecting seven container loads of e-bikes and related accessories to arrive shortly.

“Demand is still very strong,” he says.

Maurice Wells from the Electric Bike Team in Auckland says the situation depends much on who you talk to and who the supplier is.

He was able to secure stock from one brand just before and after Christmas but that another brand is harder to get.

As a result, he still has a shop full of e-bikes.

Wells says retailers have to be well organised and ensure they have supplies on order far in advance.

Wells says people may be choosey about the brand and type of bike they want and not buy what’s in store, in spite of the shortage, which may see delays in them receiving their wanted brand.

Demand is especially high for “rail trail” e-bikes whereas many city e-bikes are still available,
he says.