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China

Overview of the credit risk and the credit insurance market in China

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1. Hui Wang, Can you give us an overview of the economic situation in China?

The overall Chinese economy is still stable and there is optimism for the future. According to the recent Chinese Premier’s report, last year the growth rate of China GDP was 7.7% and it will keep at around 7.5% for 2014. Other economic index will continue to grow at a moderate rate. Unlike the past government, the new administration would like to seek a balance between economic growth and other social issues such as environmental issues. So the new government chooses voluntarily to reduce the growth rate of the economy and focus more on reforming the structure of the economy. In the past, due to over investment, the economy was left with some fundamental problems such as high local government debts, over production in some industries and financial institutions’ incapability etc.. Solving these problems will make the Chinese economy healthier. Even though in the near term, the Chinese economy may face some difficulties, in the medium and long term it will be stronger and maintain sustainable growth.

2. How China is different from the rest of Asia in terms of risks (especially credit risks)?

From a credit risks point of view, there are some in common elements for most Asian countries including China such as lack of information, information transparency and less mature financial markets. For China, the credit   risks faced will be more diversified since China is such a large economy body and the number of enterprises is much larger than any other countries in Asia. Moreover, for companies’ ownership there are so many types of ownership structure such as state-owned companies, state-controlled companies, local government owned companies, public companies with government interests, private companies, various joint ventures, wholly foreign-owned companies etc. So when evaluating the credit risks of different companies you have to think of many different factors that will affect the payment risks.

3. What is the situation of your main customers who are located in China? Which are their main risks on this market and their needs in terms of credit insurance?

The credit insurance market has grown very fast in China from 2008 to early 2012 and the compound annual growth rate is about 30-50%. The growth was mostly driven by financing needs and the bank started to actively use credit insurance as a mitigation tool to transfer credit risks. However from late 2012 the growth of credit insurance market has been slowed down due to bank’s liquidity, China economy slow down, higher payment risk etc. The credit insurers’ loss ratios reflect the changes in the market. From 2008 to 2011, the average loss ratio of the credit insurers in China is about 20-30% but from. 2012 reporting of overdue has dramatically increased and all credit insurers have made large reserves to prepare for the claims. The potential claims are concentrated on a few industries which have over expanded in the past years such as steel and commodities. As the demands shrink and the financial institutions reduce support on those industries the payment risks emerge.

The needs for credit insurance vary for domestic Chinese companies and foreign companies in China. Foreign companies in China buy credit insurance mostly from the risk point of view since they are in a foreign market and would like to share this risk with credit insurers. Most domestic Chinese companies buy credit insurance for the purpose of getting financing from the banks.

4. Which are the different solutions available in China for credit insurance and financing compare to Europe?

In China, credit insurance is still new and has huge potential to grow. In order to make credit insurance widely used, it still needs a lot of education to the companies in China to raise the awareness of the product. In addition, more credit insurance products are needed in this market to meet the requirements of different users such as factoring credit insurance, single buyer credit insurance, structured trade finance product, medium term credit insurance etc. Currently in the China market, only whole turnover credit insurance is known and offered and other type of credit insurances are very rare. So making credit insurance products diversified is also a driver to grow the market. For the financing side, the solutions supported by credit insurance are more basic compared to mature markets like Europe and the product now offered cannot fully meet with the financial institutions’ needs.

5. What is your advice for a company which wants to locate in China?

  • China is such a large country, so first to select the location which is most suitable for your company;
  • Fully understand the local procedures and the local culture of doing business ;
  • Try to know your business partners; don’t just rely on what you see but investigate more before starting to do business with them ;
  • Make efficient use of available solutions to transfer and share the risks such as credit insurance.

Learn more about credit risk

Eastern Europe: A challenging business environment!

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In 2014, Eastern Europe is forecast to see a slight deterioration in economic growth prospects, compared to last year.

Credit insurers have seen a rise in insolvencies in Central Eastern Europe (+6%) whereas the insolvency level remains relatively moderate in other countries (e.g. 0.05% in Poland, 0.09% in Slovakia etc…). Read more →

Non-Recourse Invoice Discounting Facility v Recourse Invoice Discounting with a separate Credit Insurance Policy

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In his latest blog, Mark Barton of our UK associate, Hanwell Atkinson Ltd, assesses the pros and cons of non-recourse invoice discounting compared to recourse invoice discounting allied with a credit insurance policy.

Many companies factoring their invoices also wish to take advantage of credit insurance or bad debt protection and this can be achieved in one of two ways. Some factoring companies offer a non-recourse factoring facility which, as the name suggests, is without recourse to the client in the event of a failure of the customer. Read more →

Insuring against a transfer risk

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A non-transfer risk, sometimes accompanied by a currency risk, is a hazard encountered by exporters which results in them not being paid for technical reasons or on account of the geopolitical situation of the importing country.   Regulations in favour of the exporter are revoked resulting in the failure to repatriate funds or dividends out of the foreign country. Read more →

Dare to invest in Africa!

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Only export or innovative businesses are optimistic in the current climate!

There can be no doubt: at a time when many European economies are ailing, the export market, particularly the large export market, is becoming a path to achieve growth for a large number of companies, irrespective of their size.

With Africa’s average GDP standing at 4.5% and can exceed 10% in certain countries such as Angola, the African economic pace is attracting companies willing to invest.

By trading in Africa, companies need to recognise they will deal with new risks which may require a precise analysis of the situation, notably in the area of customer risk evaluation.

This risk can be transferred to the credit insurance market and our customers seek first and foremost to build a partnership with a credit insurer with the local country experience and ability to write credit limits for debtors in those countries.

Credit risk analysis is based on the overall business and political environment, transparency of company accounts and creditor protection in the event of default. But insurers also take into consideration the business relationship and past payment experience between the insured and its buyer.

Analysis of the political risk may be linked to factors such as the date set for the country’s next general election, the rising costs of basic necessities, fluctuations in the cost of raw materials and the buyer’s location within the country. The risk will also vary depending on the presence of differing communities, faiths or ethnic groups within the same country. For example, in the region of Azawad in Mali, credit insurance analysts suspended all cover but continued to insure business transactions in the Bamako area.

It takes time to build a trusting relationship with buyers.

Our qualified professionals can work with you to reduce your risks by securing your sales in Africa.

All that remains to be found is the most appropriate policy solution, optimize your limits so as to be able to work on an “open account” basis with your customers and promote the development of your business in Africa in full confidence.

News and issues from credit management IT tools

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The Financial and Administrative Directors Congress held in July 2013 concluded that whilst the fall in bank loans hampered many businesses weathering the current financial crisis, finding cash remained at the biggest current concern for CFOs.

IT suppliers in Credit management platform solutions have been quick to react, offering flexible solutions aiming at optimising cash flow and reducing Days Sales Outstanding (DSO).  So why go looking for additional cash sources when accounts receivables represent a company’s main asset and potential in-house resource ? Read more →