B2B payment practices trends, CEE 2024

Key takeaways from the report for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) 

The 2024 Payment Practices Barometer survey for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) was conducted between the end of Q1 and the beginning of Q2 2024. The findings should therefore be viewed with this in mind.

Economic strain shapes customer credit risk landscape across the CEE region

• Companies in our survey of Central and Eastern Europe say they are open to the idea of trading on credit, but in practice an average 47% of all B2B sales are currently being transacted on credit. Slovakian businesses are the most inclined to do so, and among sectors the consumer durables industry is most enthusiastic.
   
• The majority of businesses across the region (55%) tell us there is no significant change in the payment terms they are offering to B2B customers. Among the rest most are extending longer payment terms. Overall, the average term is 60 days from invoicing, but this rises to more than 90 days in the agri-food and steel-metals sectors.

CEE companies anticipate a rise in insolvencies 

• A compelling message which emerges from our survey of companies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is widespread concern about a rising risk of insolvencies during the year ahead. This is expected to have clear implications about potential financial distress ahead.
   
• Only 37% of companies expect a rise in profits in the upcoming months, and most anticipate no change or even a negative trend. The consumer durables industry is most pessimistic. Where such negativity is found about insolvency risk and profitability, this reflects the major concern expressed by CEE companies when looking ahead. This primary worry is about the impact of economic conditions on business operations and investment, which is felt in both the short-term and long-term.

The Atradius Payment Practices Barometer is an annual survey of business-to-business (B2B) payment practices in markets across the world. Its findings can give valuable insights into the current dynamics of corporate payment behaviour in B2B trade. It can also help companies doing business, or planning to do so, in the markets polled to identify emerging future trends in the payment practices of B2B customers. 

Interested in finding out more? 

For a complete overview of the 2024 survey results for the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region, please download the full reports available in the related documents section below.

Markets surveyed: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey. 

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