Global average payment duration fell to 65 days in 2018 in line with economic slowdown/China sees longest average payment term/Electronics and construction sectors suffer/Euler Hermes and Atradius reports

摘要

After a 10-year high in 2017,the average days sales outstanding(DSO)dropped by one day to 65 days in 2018 due to the global economic slowdown,according to the annual review of global average DSO by Euler Hermes(Paris/France;www.eulerhermes.com)based on a sample of 25,000 listed companies across 20 sectors and 36 countries.It expects DSO to reach 64 days in 2019 as global growth slows further.With 2018 marked by global uncertainty,worried companies asked customers to pay earlier than usual.China has the highest level of DSO,with one in four companies paid after four months.Chinese companies recorded the longest average payment term at 92 days,down from 93 days in 2017.China was followed by countries including Greece(91 days),Italy(86),Morocco(84),Turkey(79),Spain(78)and France(73).Aver-gage DSO in the US and Canada declined,and despite weaker economic conditions,Norway,Sweden,the UK,Germany,Poland and Belgium got away with shorter DSO.