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The Atradius Group provides trade credit insurance and collections services worldwide, and has a presence through 160 offices in 45 countries. Atradius has access to credit information on 100 million companies worldwide. Its products help protect companies throughout the world from payment risks associated with selling products and services on credit. If you find these country reports useful, why not visit www.atradius.com, where you’ll find many more Atradius publications focusing on the global economy, including more country reports, industry analysis, advice on credit management and essays on current business issues.

December 2014 – Atradius Market Monitor – December 2014: food industry

Current performance and outlook of the food sector in: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland.

Payment Practices Barometer: Asia Pacific

For internationally active companies, it is vital to have good knowledge of the payment practices of potential customers in countries they do or plan to do business with, as miscalculation may result in serious cashflow problems. This applies to big as well as small companies. Big companies are particularly hit by poor payment behaviour due […]

Country Report: Australia

Australia‘s economic performance has been remarkably good over the last few years compared to most advanced economies and against the background of a volatile global economy. This was due mainly to the high growth rates of Australia’s main
trading partners in Asia – especially China, which has dominated Australian mineral exports.

Country Report: Brazil

There are few, if any, sectors in Brazil that do not have excellent short term opportunities. Certain sectors of the Brazilian market have experienced higher than average growth, such as air transportation, telecoms, oil and gas, and mining.

Country Report: China (new 2015)

China has become the world’s greatest economic success story of the last 25 years. Populated by more than 1.3 billion people, the country represents the largest single market in the world.

Country Report: Czech Republic

The political situation is currently uncertain, as factions within the VV party split in April 2012 after a VV minister was convicted of bribery. As a result, the ruling coalition lost its majority and now has to rely on a number of independent
members of parliament that have split from other parties. The government’s resignation and a call for new elections could happen before the end of the current term in 2014.

Country Report: France

The economy of France has been carefully planned to provide support to international trade with a number of important products and commodities. Globally, the country holds an important position as the third largest trader in the European Union after Germany and the United Kingdom.

Country Report: Germany

Germany’s economic performance is expected to gather speed again in 2014, based on the Eurozone rebound and increased domestic demand. But the recovery in many European markets is still tenuous and German business and consumer sentiment remains susceptible to downward trends.

Country Report: Greece

It is no secret that severe economic woes remain amid signs of an improvement. Escalating social unrest remains a major threat, and mass protests continue. For instance, Athens´ striking metro workers and seaman on coastal ferries are being forced to work under the government’s civil mobilisation orders.

Country Report: India (new 2015)

Despite its shortcomings, India is a large market with high growth potential. With a growing middle class population of
around 70 to 100 million creating demand for consumer goods and opportunities for domestic and foreign investment, this
is still a market that many international companies cannot afford to ignore.

Country Report: Italy

Some sentiment indicators paint a more optimistic picture for this year compared to previous years. Industrial confidence had already rebounded in mid-2012 and continued upwards in 2013. Industrial confidence is helped by the modest rebound in the Eurozone and the improved global economic outlook for 2014.

Country Report: Mexico (new 2015)

Relatively high stocks of private short-term portfolio investments (more than 270 % of Mexico´s international reserves) make the economy vulnerable to shifts in market sentiment, as was seen in 2013. When the US Federal Reserve then considered ending its programme of monetary easing, financial markets reacted by partly withdrawing or reversing short-term portfolio capital that had been invested in Mexican assets in the last few years, leading to higher currency volatility.

Country Report: Southeast Asia (new 2015)

Vietnam’s economy is extremely export-driven, specialising in textiles and footwear; making it vulnerable to deteriorating demand for those goods. The economy is shifting towards higher value added sectors such as electronics.

Country Report: The Nordic Region

The Nordic countries offer a large consistent market for exporters. The Nordic partners are also reliable: if you manage to create a partnership with a Nordic company, it will most likely last for many years to come.

Country Report: Poland

Despite the expected rebound in the Polish economy, construction/construction materials and related steel and metal sectors will still feel the aftershock of the economic downturn in 2012/13 which has resulted in many payment delays, liquidity problems and more insolvencies in those industries.

Country Report: Turkey

In the last decade, Turkey has made impressive economic progress. With political stability since 2002, when the AKP came to power, the country has experienced GDP growth exceeding the European average, while real income per capita has increased
substantially, turning Turkey into one of the most prominent emerging markets.

Country Report: United Arab Emirates

In view of the current political turmoil in the Middle East, the UAE’s appeal as a safe and stable destination helps to underpin its attractiveness to investors and businesses.

Country Report: United Kingdom

Consumer spending was the main driver of growth and should continue to be robust in 2014. This is expected to be accompanied by a rebound in investments, manufacturing production and higher export growth this year, finally putting the economic rebound on a broader basis. GDP growth of 2.7% is forecast for 2014.

Country Report: USA

The USA has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world and is Britain’s largest single export market. The sheer size of the USA and vast cultural differences across the regions mean that it should often be treated as a series of regional markets with varying characteristics.

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