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 report

BASF invests in storage and ship capacities / Prevention measures in case of Rhine river becoming too shallow again

Global insolvencies forecast to rise in 2019 led by China / Western Europe a key contributor to top business failures / North America to plateau / Euler Hermes report

UK corporate insolvencies likely to rocket in the face of a "no-deal" Brexit / Atradius report

Massive increase in road freight costs in Germany

Cost relief for rail freight in Germany expected / European Commission approves subsidies

Toll rates for trucks to increase in Germany from January 2019 / Low river levels add to freight transport problems

German group considers establishing own fleet / Shallow Rhine river is costing several million euros

Overdue payments substantially impact businesses in Eastern Europe / Late payments growing in Turkey / Bankruptcy is main reason for uncollectable receivables / Atradius report

Waste feedstocks, product performance and digital tools offer opportunities for successful commercialisation of "green" materials / Lux Research report

Payment duration rises to 63 days in Americas / Over 90% of respondents dealt with late payments / Half of invoices unpaid by due date / Atradius report

Dry summer slows down transport on Germany's Rhine river / Restrictions at facilities

Largest regional plastics association and employment agency collaborate / Recruitment of more skilled workers

German and UK SMEs bank on professional development to increase productivity / France favours IT improvements

Industry 4.0 spreads slowly in UK, Switzerland and Germany / Companies often lack money and staff / E&Y and Censuswide survey reports