Coface’s latest survey on corporate payment experience in Germany shows that, although the payment behaviour of German companies remains stable, the increase in credit risks from accumulated overdue payments and the pessimism of German companies about their current situation is striking. 16% of German companies reported ultra-long overdue payments that have a share of 2% or more of their annual turnover (+7pts vs 2023). Coface’s experience suggests that 80% of these overdue payments are never paid back. In addition, 48% of German companies indicated that their current business situation deteriorated between 2023 and 2024, while only 9% reported an improvement. Companies’ sentiment is now more pessimistic than after the beginning of the pandemic or the start of the war in Ukraine. To read Coface’s news release, go to https://www.coface.com/news-economy-and-insights/germany-corporate-payment-survey-2024-simmering-under-the-lid.​