The Atradius Payment Practices Barometer for October 2019 shows that business insolvencies in Italy are expected to increase by about 4% in 2019 due to economic stagnation, increased political uncertainty, and tighter credit conditions. Poor payment behavior from customers is exacerbating liquidity problems for Italian businesses, putting strain on cash flow, especially for smaller suppliers. The proportion of total B2B sales made on credit in Italy has remained relatively stable over the past few years, with 60% of sales made on credit in 2019. Italy's top trading partners are Germany, France, China, the Netherlands, and Spain, with machinery, vehicles, electrical machinery and equipment, pharmaceuticals, and plastics being the top exports and imports.
