Where Is a Company Most Likely to Go Insolvent In 2016?

Insolvency is one of those elements of business that will never leave us. Just as some companies thrive in the marketplace, others struggle, and some are always destined to become insolvent. While you might be forgiven for thinking that insolvency rates remain the same everywhere, that’s not true. Indeed, according to leading trade credit insurer Atradius, there’s an imbalance in the global economy, which will see some countries with increased insolvent business and others seeing numbers drop.

They published their predictions for 22 major trade markets in their latest insolvency forecast. While their overall prediction is for a fall in the number of insolvent businesses in 2016, that fall will be extremely modest. The potential of a new global economic recession and the continued low oil prices worldwide pose threats to businesses, though. Nevertheless, they’re sticking with a -5% predicted change in aggregate insolvencies.

Of more interest is the news that the total number of bankruptcies anticipated for 2016 is 67% higher than in pre-recession 2007, and in some key countries, it is startlingly higher. Consider that Portuguese businesses are 440% more likely to go insolvent than in 2007, Italian companies are 280% more likely, and Spanish ones are 250% more likely. The economic recovery hasn’t hit every nation equally.

The story extends toward Greece, which had huge economic issues in 2015, culminating in their parliament accepting a recovery deal from the Eurozone. Understandably, 2015 saw a 10% increase in business failures, but 2016 is set to see another 5% increase, making it challenging to be a Greek business.

Switzerland, Luxembourg, Norway, and New Zealand are expected to see no improvements in insolvency rates in 2016. The UK will only see a 1% improvement in the number of insolvent businesses, a dramatic fall from the 9% improvement witnessed across the 2015 fiscal year.

This is contingent on a series of volatile factors in the global economy, particularly China. The country has posted several revisions to its growth for the year and has had to suspend its stock market numerous times because of sharp falls in its value. Should China recover from these stumbles, we could witness an entirely different type of global economy that posts good growth despite the dire predictions.

Jason Curtis, Commercial Director at Atradius, said in the report: “The challenging external environment combined with low commodity prices is putting pressure on global markets, increasing the risk of insolvencies despite strengthening domestic economies. This is a warning for businesses that must stay attuned to trading risks even as the economy recovers My True Care. Despite improvements in insolvency statistics for the UK and Ireland in 2015 and predicted improvements again for 2016, the market remains challenging, with insolvency levels still significantly higher than pre-recession. Few businesses can absorb the impact of a failed customer, and companies must continue to protect themselves and have robust credit management systems in place. Walsh Taylor is one of the North’s leading insolvency practitioners and assists businesses in trouble daily. Their helpful and friendly staff are always happy to take a phone call, so if you’re looking for insolvency practitioners at Wakefield or Barnsley, look no further than Walsh Taylor.