Atradius: Huge Rise in Late Payments as Pandemic Recession Bites

Atradius survey shows how COVID-19 has begun to affect USMCA businesses

AMSTERDAM and BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cash flows are squeezed as USMCA feels effect of COVID-19. A survey into business-to-business (B2B) payment behaviour has revealed a massive increase in late payments across USMCA.

The annual USMCA Payment Practices Barometer is a poll of businesses throughout the USA, Mexico and Canada. This year's survey results reveal compromised cash flows and an increased reliance on bank finance, as businesses grapple with COVID-19 containment measures.

Across the region, 43% of the total value of invoices issued were unpaid by the due date, a sharp increase from 25% last year. The value of long overdue invoices (invoices more than 90 days overdue), has doubled. In addition, 4% of the total value of outstanding invoices has been written off.

Businesses throughout the US reported a 72% year-on-year increase in payment defaults. Individual sectors also revealed signs of economic stress. Mexico's paper industry, for example, had to write-off 8% of the total value of receivables as uncollectable. 40% of the total value of B2B invoices in Canada's agri-food and chemicals sectors were overdue.

With all three countries now in recession, the outlook is bleak. Despite this, the majority of businesses surveyed expect growth in the coming months. This optimism was grounded in the belief that banks will continue to provide credit and will cushion the effects of poor cash flow. 

In addition, the majority of businesses polled plan on tightening their credit control procedures. They reported that this will involve outsourced risk management, such as credit insurance, together with in-house techniques including reducing risk concentrations and an increasing debt collection resources.

Andreas Tesch, Chief Market Officer of Atradius, said: "Annual surveys of business behaviour and sentiment can provide excellent insight into a region's economic resilience. The 2020 Atradius Payment Practice Barometer for the USA, Mexico and Canada is a particularly revealing story of two halves. On one half are the dramatic increase in overdue payments and the undeniable indications that the region has entered recession. On the other is the optimism for a brighter future, despite the gloomy figures to date. Of course, both hang on the development of the Covid-19 crisis and the effectiveness of the region in reversing its negative effects".

The 2020 Atradius Payment Practices Barometer for the USMCA was conducted in Canada, Mexico and the US. Both the regional and the country reports can be downloaded from the Atradius website at https://group.atradius.com - Publications section

About Atradius

Atradius is a global provider of credit insurance, surety and collection services, with a strategic presence in over 50 countries. The credit insurance, bond and collection products offered by Atradius protect companies around the world against the default risks associated with selling goods and services on credit. Atradius is a member of Grupo Catalana Occidente (GCO.MC), one of the largest insurers in Spain and one of the largest credit insurers in the world. You can find more information online at https://group.atradius.com

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For further information:
Head Office
Christine Gerryn
Director of Group Communication & Commercial Development
Phone.: +31-20-553-2047
E-mail: christine.gerryn@atradius.com  
https://group.atradius.com