Publications

Despite ongoing growth, there are challenges ahead, as profit margins of businesses decreased in 2017 and H1 of 2018 due to sharply increased input costs.

Many producers are under pressure to either expand/grow or refuse orders, while difficulties in hiring skilled staff impacts further business expansion.

As in previous years, competition remains strong in the domestic market, mainly among small and medium-sized machinery companies depending on construction.

A modest insolvency increase is expected in 2019, with businesses related to oil and gas exploration, construction and agricultural markets mainly exposed.

The demand situation for Belgian machinery businesses is generally positive, but remains affected by difficulties in some major buyer industries.

There is pressure on the profits of turbine manufacturers and their suppliers along the value chain, and further consolidation seems to be likely.

Due to its high export ratio the industry is highly susceptible to rising geopolitical risks, exchange rate volatility, and rising protectionism.

Business performance and profit margins of machinery traders could be negatively affected by the ongoing trade dispute between China and the United States.

Due to its high export ratio the industry is highly susceptible to external risks like a deterioration in the Eurozone and rising protectionism.

Some caution is still advised on businesses dependent on the oil/gas and the mining industry, due to potential impacts of energy price volatility.

The bright outlook presented in May has proven true but clouds are quickly gathering on the horizon. In an increasingly uncertain environment, there is no room for policy mistakes.

The election of Brazil's new president ends a long period of political uncertainty, but the window for much-needed reform is very narrow.

Den Ergebnissen des Atradius Zahlungsmoralbarometers zufolge brachten die vergangenen zwölf Monate viele Veränderungen in Österreich.

All survey respondents in Austria (100%) reported domestic payment delays. This is the highest percentage in the region, significantly higher than in 2017.

The average proportion of overdue B2B invoices reported by respondents in Belgium increased for the third consecutive year in a row and stands at 45.6%.

The survey’s biggest negative change in the proportion of uncollectable receivables was recorded in Denmark; up from 1.3% in 2017 to 1.8% in 2018.

After an increase from 43.5% in 2017 to 47.5% this year, France has the second highest percentage of overdue B2B invoices in the Western European region.

Of the Western European countries surveyed, Germany had the second highest percentage of respondents (24.7%) who reported revenue loss due to overdues.

At 48.7%, Great Britain had the highest proportion of past due B2B invoices in Western Europe, significantly higher than the regional average of 41.8%.

Despite already posting the highest proportion of uncollectable receivables in the region, Greece’s average rose to 2.8% in 2018 from 2.5% in 2017.