Chinese bicycle manufacturers' output up slightly in 2016

China's largest bicycle manufacturing base in north China's Tianjin Municipality saw a slight increase in its output and export volume last year.

According to statistics by the Tianjin municipal bicycle industry association, more than 42.25 million bicycles were manufactured in Tianjin in 2016, up 4.83 percent year on year. The export figure was 21.26 million, up 5.3 percent year on year, municipal customs statistics show.

Chu Ning, deputy secretary-general of the association, said Tianjin's bicycle industry has maintained stable output over the last few years.

Bike-sharing, which allows commuters to ride for as little as 1 yuan (about 0.15 U.S. dollar) per hour, has boomed across Chinese cities. The boom will boost the bike-making industry, Chu said.

However, bicycle production is a low-profit industry with low technological barriers, and it is due to meet challenges such as rising labor costs and intense competition from overseas, Chu added.