B2B payment practices trends, Belgium 2024

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The survey indicates a significant trend of Belgian companies reducing bank borrowing and increasing reliance on trade credit due to rising interest rates, with 50% of businesses reporting this shift [6][7] - The construction sector shows a notable increase in B2B sales transacted on credit, now averaging 54%, while the steel/metals industry averages 46% [7][10] - Concerns about worsening Days-Sales-Outstanding (DSO) and workforce shortages are prevalent, with 24% of businesses anticipating a deterioration in B2B customer payment behavior [20][21] Summary by Sections B2B Payment Practices Trends - Companies in Belgium are increasingly relying on trade credit as a source of short-term finance, particularly in the construction and machinery sectors [6][7] - The construction sector has seen 54% of B2B sales transacted on credit, while the steel/metals industry has 46% [6][7] - Machinery companies are cautious in extending trade credit due to a rise in bad debts, with only 20% of sales conducted on credit [6][10] Key Figures and Charts - 50% of surveyed businesses report increased reliance on trade credit [7] - Average payment terms for machinery and steel/metals sectors are nearly 70 days, while construction averages 41 days [9][11] - Bad debts account for an average of 11% of total B2B sales in Belgium, higher than the Western European average of 8% [10][12] Looking Ahead - 24% of businesses expect a deterioration in B2B customer payment behavior, with 40% of construction companies sharing this sentiment [20][22] - Concerns about DSO are rising, with 26% of businesses anticipating a decline in debt collection efficiency [21][23] - A significant short-term concern is the shortage of skilled workers, affecting nearly one-third of companies [25][27]