Nearly Four in Five Companies in Western Europe Faced With Late Payments Atradius Survey Finds

The survey indicates a widespread liquidity squeeze in Western European B2B supply chains due to late payments. The channel is working capital pressure and higher financing costs for companies, particularly SMEs. The impact is region-specific (Western Europe) and affects all sectors using trade credit, but most directly those with thin margins or high working capital needs. No specific company or commodity is named; the mechanism is a general tightening of payment terms and credit conditions.