The Atradius Payment Practices Barometer for October 2018 shows that in Western Europe, the proportion of total B2B sales made on credit is significant, with an average payment term of around 60 days. Late payment by B2B customers, both domestic and foreign, is also prevalent, with around 20% of invoices past due. The main reasons for payment delays are customer financial difficulties and disputes over quality of goods or services. The average DSO (days sales outstanding) in Western Europe is around 90 days, and is expected to remain stable over the next 12 months. E-invoicing is not widely used in the region, but is expected to increase in the future. The biggest risks to global economic growth in the next six months are trade tensions and geopolitical instability.
