Publications

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.

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.