TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN)—China is playing an increasingly important role for Merida as the Taiwan manufacturer reported significant rises in units sold and revenue generated in the country during the first 11 months of the year.
Through November, unit sales jumped 97 percent in volume and 123 percent in value in Merida’s 1,500 retail outlets in China, according to a recent report in China Economic News Service, an affiliate of one of Taiwan’s largest newspaper companies, United Daily News Group.
Across three manufacturing plants in Taiwan and China, Merida has sold 1.8 million units, an increase of nearly 15 percent from a year ago, with a value of NT$17.4 billion ($574.5 million), a 22 percent increase, so far this year. Of that, NT$12.718 billion ($420.4 million) came out of the Taiwan factory, representing 850,000 units, an increase of 14.8 percent in sales and 1.5 percent in units over last year, the report said.
Total year-to-date revenue is NT$18.28 billion ($604.3 million), which already surpasses Merida’s full year 2010 revenue of NT$16.85 billion ($623.1 million in today’s currency).
Merida has been present in China for two decades, successfully integrating manufacturing and distribution across the Taiwan Straits. Its own brand was ranked among Taiwan’s top 15 export brands this year, and has been honored by China’s Trademark Office State as the Famous Trade Mark of China for 2011, following Giant as Taiwan’s second bicycle brand to win the title. Merida is also the primary supplier to Specialized.
