Publicaties

The economy in Eastern Europe is forecast to continue growing 1.1% this year. However, trade credit risk from foreign late payment is on the rise.

Respondents in the Czech Republic (46.5%) seem to be most convinced that domestic B2B customers use outstanding invoices for their financial advantage.

Hungarian respondents (76%) seem to be the hardest hit by late payment of domestic invoices due to customers’ insufficient funds (64% in Eastern Europe).

More respondents in Poland (around 30%) than in Eastern Europe (around 20%) are concerned about a worsening of the DSO figure over the next 12 months.

30% of respondents in Slovakia (18% in Eastern Europe) consider maintaining adequate cash flow as the biggest challenge to business profitability in 2016.

Turkey has the highest domestic payment default rate in Eastern Europe, with 61.1% of the total value of domestic B2B invoices paid late (55.2% in 2015).

Atradius explores how rising corporate debt in EMEs affects corporate creditworthiness and identifies the most exposed countries and vulnerable sectors.

In 2015, Austrian business insolvencies decreased by 5%. However, in 2016 the pace of corporate insolvency decrease is expected to slow down to just 2%.

In Belgium, business failures are expected to decline by 7% in 2016. The level of corporate insolvencies will still be higher compared to 2008 levels.

The Danish economy is expected to grow 1.4% in 2016 spurred by improved investment and growing exports. Danish exporters will benefit from rising demand.

French business insolvencies are expected to decrease only about 4% in 2016. The number of insolvencies will still be about 10% higher than in 2008.

In 2015, the German economy grew 1.7%, spurred by household consumption which increased 1.9%. Private consumption remains a key driver of growth in 2016.

The Irish economy registered a strong performance, increasing 5.2% in 2014 and 6.8% in 2015. In 2016, growth is expected to slow down but remain robust.

Since 2014, Dutch business failures started to decrease, and are expected to decline further in 2016. However, this figure is still higher than in 2008.

Italy is expected to see only a modest insolvency decrease in 2016 after years of steady increases. This is in line with the modest economic rebound.

In 2016, Spain is expected to see another improvement in business failures (10% decrease), but compared to 2008 levels, insolvencies remain high.

The Swedish economy is forecast to grow 2.9% in 2016. Supported by low interest rates, household consumption and investment are expected to grow.

Swiss business insolvencies increased 7% in 2015 due to a more difficult economic environment. The number of corporate insolvencies remains high in 2016.

In the United Kingdom, consumer spending is still fuelling the economic expansion, helped by a decrease in unemployment and low consumer price inflation.

Poor payment practices of B2B customers caused financial distress on businesses in Western Europe and a ripple effect throughout the whole supply chain.

Due to late payment, nearly twice as many respondents in Austria (21%) than in Western Europe delayed investment, in property, plant and equipment.

As seen in France, more respondents in Belgium (30%) than in Western Europe (22.4%) expect deterioration in their DSO over the next 12 months.

Half of our Danish respondents (27% in Western Europe) said that B2B customers delay payments as they use outstanding invoices as a form of financing.

Notably more respondents in France (31.3%) than in Western Europe (22.4%) expect deterioration in their DSO over the next 12 months.

93.0% of respondents in Germany experienced late payment of invoices by B2B customers over the past year. This in spite of very strict payment terms.

Far more respondents in Greece (87%) than in Western Europe (57.9%) said that domestic B2B customers pay invoices late due to liquidity issues.

Around 40% of respondents in Ireland said they will check their customers’ payment records and increase monitoring of their buyers’ credit risk.

Due to late payment of commercial invoices, notably more respondents in Italy (41%) than in Western Europe (23.7%) delayed payments to their suppliers.

Despite a firm grip on trade receivables management, 1 in 5 respondents in the Netherlands had to delay payments to their own suppliers.

Two in five respondents in Spain expect payment practices of B2B customers in the consumer durables industry to deteriorate over the next 12 months.

One in four Swedish respondents believe that late payment from export customers is due to external factors such as inefficiencies of the banking system.

More respondents in Switzerland (32%) than in Western Europe (26%) will increase the use of cash, or of terms other than credit in B2B trade.

Survey findings point to Great Britain as the country in Western Europe that is the most impacted by late payment from export customers.

Robust domestic demand expected to continue in 2016, but smaller players are struggling.

Continued pressure on sales prices while level of non-payments remains high.

Consumption growth continues in 2016 but margins remain tight.

More troubles for the electronics and toys segments.

Lower holiday sales likely to result in payment delays and insolvencies in 2016.

Payment delays are expected to increase.

Modest growth expected in 2016, with concentration process on-going in the market.

Introduction of a retail tax could hurt businesses’ margins.

Profit margins are expected to remain stable in 2016, but competition is strong.

The influx of cheaper brands from China has increased competition.

Newly founded businesses, in particular, face higher risks in the highly competitive market.

Profit margins in the consumer durables retail industry have generally increased in 2015.

Demand for consumer durables continues to increase, driven by rising living standards.

Despite major economic reforms growth remains subdued and inflation very high.

The economy continues to deteriorate, with high inflation and sharply increasing government debt.

Slower growth rate as the global commodity boom came to an end.

Growth sustained by government investments in infrastructure and private consumption.