Record debt
According to data collected in the BIG InfoMonitor Debtor Register and the BIK database, at the end of September this year. the total outstanding liabilities of companies towards contractors and banks exceeded record levels PLN 45.1 billion, which means a year-on-year increase of over PLN 2.7 billion (6.4%). In the opinion of the authors of the report, this change was influenced by a simultaneous increase in the number of companies – unreliable payers – by 14,000. 407 entities to the level of 326.8 thousand
As added, the average entrepreneur today owes PLN 138,000. zloty. The share of all companies with problems remains at the same level – approximately 5%.
The worst situation in three sectors
As reported, the sectors with the highest arrears to banks and contractors included: trade, industry and construction. Overdue debts of companies operating in trade reached almost PLN 9.2 billion. In turn, the industry owes PLN 7.2 billion, and the construction sector is over PLN 5.9 billion in debt. The information explains that over the last year, debt in construction and industry decreased by 5.6 percent, respectively. and 3.5 percent, “however, it is still not enough to talk about an improvement in condition.”
In turn, outstanding liabilities in the sector HoReCa at the end of September this year. exceeded PLN 2.1 billion. Unpaid debts in finance and insurance amount to nearly PLN 1.2 billion, and in broadly understood services “approaching PLN 1 billion.”
According to BIG Infomonitor in education sector overdue debt increased by 34% y/y. to over PLN 285.4 million. In turn, in the field of culture, entertainment and recreation, there was an increase in arrears by 31%. rdr. up to PLN 335.4 million. In the energy, gas and hot water generation and supply sectors, overdue debts increased by 31%. up to PLN 162 million, and in services by 29 percent. up to PLN 982.4 million. Financial and insurance services saw an increase of 26%. to nearly PLN 1.2 billion. Meanwhile, backlogs in the TSL sector increased by 17%. up to PLN 3.4 billion, and by 13 percent increased in servicing the real estate market to PLN 2.6 billion.
However, financial arrears decreased in construction (-5.6%), industry (-3.5%) and in mining and quarrying (-3%). “Although debt in these industries has decreased, unfortunately the number of bad debtors is still growing – in construction by 2,240 companies and in industry by 505 companies,” it was reported.
Where are the most unreliable payers?
The largest increase in unreliable payers – by 2.5 thousand. companies, occurred in the TSL sector, which is still distinguished by the highest share of companies with problems – for a year at a level close to 9%. A high percentage of indebted entrepreneurs is also visible in mining and quarrying (8%) and in related services waterworks, sewage, waste and reclamation (7.6%).
The information stated that over 86 percent surveyed in the 4th quarter of this year. SME entrepreneurs admitted that they sometimes cooperate with contractors who do not settle their obligations on time. It was indicated that transport is most exposed to this problem, with 100% of such cases and trade, which accounts for approximately 90 percent. These delays result in a still high percentage of companies with overdue receivables.
“More than 52 percent of entrepreneurs admit that their invoices are overdue by more than a month. However, almost 34 percent of companies struggle with contractors who delay payment even more than 60 days after the due date. Such long delays most often occur in small (10-10) 49 employees) and medium-sized companies (50-249 employees), as well as in trade and production,” it was reported.
Transport in poor condition
It was added that representatives especially talked about the bad and very bad financial condition in the last quarter of this year transport companies – 18.3 percent and commercial – 9.3 percent It was noted that there was an improvement among industrial companies, which were in the best condition compared to other sectors – as many as 74% indicated good or very good condition. enterprises. Construction companies, on the other hand, assess their situation neutrally (45.5%).
The study was carried out among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises on a sample of 500 companies selling with deferred payment terms, using the telephone interview technique, Q4 2024 (PAP)
