Reports

Payment delays have not increased in 2017, despite many businesses suffering from decreased liquidity due to higher import prices for commodities.

Payment behaviour in the Polish chemicals sector has been good over the past two years, and the number of non-payments and insolvencies has been low.

Payment delays and insolvencies are expected to increase in the chemicals sector due to lower sales and the lira depreciation since the end of 2017.

Despite concerns about energy security, the gas trade between Europe and Russia is working for the benefit of both

All eyes are on US trade policy, but we forecast trade to continue to grow robustly in 2018.

The percentage of overdue B2B invoices increased in 2018 impacting 64.1% of survey respondents in countries surveyed in the Americas.

Like most of their peers in the Americas, respondents in Brazil reported an increase in the proportion of overdue B2B invoices this year.

The recent bout of lira depreciation in the run-up to the snap elections has reduced import demand from Turkey and increased payment risk.

Pound sterling depreciation in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum in June 2016 has had significant impacts on UK-EU trade flows.

Despite still high growth rates the sector is facing a challenging economic environment, with fiercer competition and oversupplies in some segments.

A deterioration of trade relations with China could negatively affect the ICT component supply side and confront US end-consumers with higher sales prices.

Despite increasing challenges a recovery of the exchange rate and a rather stable economic outlook for 2018 should help the ICT industry in the short-term.

While many Japanese ICT businesses are highly indebted, companies obtain finance easily as banks are very willing to lend and interest rates are low.

Despite continued sales growth, most German ICT businesses operate on very tight margins due to fierce competition and price erosion in most subsectors.

Payment experience over the past two years has been good in the ICT sector and the level of insolvencies is low, with no major change expected in 2018.

Despite overall growth, many French ICT companies face structurally low margins, price pressure and an on-going consolidation process in the market.

While Dutch ICT distributors are becoming larger, many smaller companies are changing their business model to have a more service-oriented approach.

Despite robust growth rates, pricing pressure and cheap imports are key challenges in the domestic ICT market, especially for smaller IT distributors.

Due to limited organic growth opportunities and the on-going economic uncertainty, market players strive to expand through acquisitions and specialisation.

Despite signs of stabilisation since H2 of 2017 the ICT sector remains fragile, with businesses’ profit margins expected to shrink further in 2018.