Explore Coface's comprehensive Risk Dashboard, providing in-depth risk assessments for 160 countries and 13 industry sectors to make strategic decisions
With payment delays continuing to impact UK businesses, Coface has launched EasyLiner, a simple trade credit insurance solution designed specifically for SMEs. Combining protection against unpaid invoices, buyer risk insights and debt collection support, EasyLiner helps businesses strengthen cash flow resilience through a streamlined digital experience.
Volatility, thinner margins and live data are reshaping how insurers interpret financial strength. Find out more from our Head of Underwriting for Light Industries and Services at Coface UK, Sam Ashdown.
Coface publishes the 10th edition of its Corporate Payment Survey in Germany, conducted among 503 companies. While economic growth is gradually returning and German businesses are becoming more optimistic about 2027, this improvement has yet to translate into better payment behaviour. 82% of companies experienced payment delays over the past twelve months, the highest level since 2019. At the same time, businesses are shortening payment terms to protect their cash flow, while long overdue payments and rising insolvencies continue to point to elevated credit risk.
Coface has published the 4th edition of its survey on the payment behaviour of French businesses, conducted in June amongst 690 companies. The results reveal a further deterioration: 89 % of businesses have experienced late payments over the last twelve months, and the average delay now stands at 41.2 days. Micro-enterprises are the most vulnerable, both in terms of the length of the delays and their impact on cash flow.
Whilst European industry is still struggling to recover from repeated energy and geopolitical shocks, Spain stands out as an exception. Its manufacturing output has surpassed its pre-war levels in Ukraine, driven by a more balanced industrial diversification, competitive labour costs and the boom in renewable energy. This is a promising trend, but one that still faces several structural challenges, particularly in terms of productivity and electricity infrastructure.
If you're an SME considering trade credit insurance, one of the first questions you're likely to ask is: how much does it cost? The good news is that trade credit insurance is available in solutions designed for different business sizes, sectors and trading requirements. While the cost of trade credit insurance varies depending on your business profile, the protection it provides can help SMEs manage customer payment risk, reduce exposure to bad debt, and secure cash flow.
Most individuals wouldn't think twice about insuring their car, home, or even a holiday. It's a way of protecting against unexpected events that could otherwise result in a significant financial loss. Yet many businesses trade on credit every day without considering how they would manage if a customer suddenly failed to pay.
For many SMEs, a single unpaid invoice can create significant cash flow pressure. Late payments, customer insolvencies and bad debt are among the biggest risks facing small businesses today. Effective accounts receivable management, combined with solutions such as Trade Credit Insurance, can help businesses reduce credit risk, protect cash flow and grow with confidence.
As a global supplier of spare parts for commercial aircraft, Sentry Aerospares often operates under pressure, dealing with demanding international clients, sometimes unstable markets, strained supply chains and critical payment deadlines. For nearly ten years, the UK-based company has relied on Coface to turn this pressure into a driver of its development, rather than a hindrance to its growth.
Most individuals wouldn't think twice about insuring their car, home, or even a holiday. It's a way of protecting against unexpected events that could otherwise result in a significant financial loss. Yet many businesses trade on credit every day without considering how they would manage if a customer suddenly failed to pay.
A player in the ferrous metals trading sector, Vidalies operates in a highly cyclical market, where it faces significant volumes, substantial financial exposure, and strong pressure on payment terms. The company has made commercial risk management a key driver of its development, with Coface as a partner for over 50 years. Diane Vidalies, Managing Director, explains how it works and how it enables the company to remain open to opportunities — both in France and internationally.
Navigate uncertainty with Coface's global risk assessments for 160 countries and 13 sectors.
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