News & Publications
04/18/2013
Corporate Publications

The gap between Europe and other contries is widening

Coface "Panorama sectors"
  • Globally, credit risk has increased in the metal industry and remains satisfactory in the energy and pharmaceutical sectors
  • No sector in Europe has escaped the credit risk,while several sectors have seen their risk improve or be maintained at a contained level in Asia and inNorth America    
  • Focus: traditional retail channels face the boom in e-commerce, a source of risk and opportunities for companies
Credit risks still high in Europe but the outlook is favourable in Emerging Asia and in North America

    The unique indicator [1] , developed by Coface economists and based on the payment experience of companies recorded by its underwriters, confirms a significant gap between sector risks in Emerging Asia andNorth America on one side and the European Union of 15 countries on the other.

 

   In Emerging Asia, the risk is contained: three-quarters of the analysed sectors present a moderate or medium risk. This region is characterised by constant growth in corporate turnover, between 4% and 16%, depending on the sectors. Pharmaceuticals is benefiting from the growing middle classes inIndiaand inChina, both markets also new major players in the manufacture of active ingredients for the pharmaceutical industry. Within the energy sector, the solar segment is affected by the fall in panel prices and has as a result seen its credit risk increase. The textile-clothing sector also needs to be watched, particularly inChina, due to the relocation of production towards lower-cost countries.

 

   Overall, the North America sectors show a medium risk, apart from the metal industry, where the risk continues to be high because of the inflow of cheap Chinese steel. As for the energy sector, it has seen its credit risk improve thanks to low-cost shale gas available to American industry. The automobile industry recorded sales up 4% in February 2013, benefiting from the resurgence of household consumption. We also note that the chemicals sector remains competitive, particularly due to historically low gas prices.

 

   In Europe, there is not a single sector in which the credit risk is moderate. The situation is particularly worrying in the metal industry, which has overcapacity and is exposed to the difficulties of its main customers – the automobile and construction industries. These latter two sectors are considered as at risk too, because they remain very vulnerable to sluggish European domestic demand. In the electronics sector, credit risks are increasing, as illustrated by the sharp drop in sales of computers.

 

 

[1] Coface's credit risk indicator is based on changes in financial data published by over 6,000 listed companies from Emerging Asia, North America and the European Union of 15 countries: the change in turnover, profitability, net indebtedness ratio, cash flow and claims observed by Coface analysts. It is broken down into four risk categories: moderate, medium, high and very high.

 

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Contact


Plamen Dimitrov

 
Plamen Dimitrov
Country Manager
Tel.: +359 2 821 37 71
E-mail: plamen.dimitrov@coface.com 
 
 
Todor Tsvetanov
Head of Marketing & Communications
Tel.: +359 882 481 411
E-mail: todor.tsvetanov@coface.com
 
 
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