B2B payment stress is rising beneath stable headlines in Asia

Asia shows a resilient but uneven B2B credit environment, where risk is fragmenting rather than deteriorating broadly, finds the Atradius Payment Practices Barometer Asia, published today. The survey analyses feedback from 2145 suppliers across China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam and finds that smaller companies and sectors vulnerable to liquidity pressure, volatile demand and complex supply chains face the greatest challenge.  

This dynamic creates a two-speed credit landscape, warns Silvia Ungaro, Senior Advisor on B2B payment trends at Atradius: 

Exposure varies sharply by sector, reflecting structural differences in operating models: 

• Construction and trade face elevated risk due to heavy reliance on trade credit, long payment cycles, and complex supply chains that constrain liquidity 
• Manufacturing shows early deterioration, with rising overdue invoices and bad debts linked to demand volatility and supply chain disruption 
• Services remain comparatively stable but cautious, reflecting sensitivity to broader economic slowdown rather than immediate liquidity shocks 

Company size reinforces the divide. Larger firms sustain stronger payment performance through better financing access and diversified customer bases. Smaller firms face greater exposure to delayed payments and tighten terms to protect liquidity, limiting flexibility and increasing vulnerability to shocks. 

This strain is already visible in payment behaviour. Survey data shows a recent rise in late payments, with over 80% of suppliers affected, highlighting the weakening in payment discipline. This trend is primarily driven by customer cash flow stress, which reduces liquidity, weakens cash flow planning and increases reliance on external funding. In response, many firms delay their own payments, transmitting pressure across supply chains and amplifying second order risk beyond the original point of stress.  

Business sentiment points to continued uncertainty for the future, says Ungaro: 

This regional view reflects patterns observed across Asia’s key trade markets, while underlying risk varies significantly at country and sector level. 

To explore how to strengthen your own credit risk strategy, get in touch with us and see how we can help you stay ahead.