Euler Hermes recently offered insights into global and Asian economic scenarios, and trade credit insurance trends to clients, partners and business community leaders in China and Japan. More than 400 business partners joined Euler Hermes at presentations held in Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo and Osaka to discuss developments and forecasts related to the global and Asian economies, emerging export market opportunities and growth risks.
Below are speech highlights from the events:
- 2013 will be “double or quits” on a macroeconomic level. The euro zone will remain at bay. The U.S. faces the risk of its “fiscal cliff.” There are also growing concerns in the BRIC and MIST countries (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey), all of whom have yet to demonstrate the kind of superpowers they might become.
- As a key market for the West, Asia will continue to grow and will remain resilient, although there are already indications that the first-round effect (for China) and second-round effect (for ASEAN) of decelerating demand from the West have started to emerge. These may negatively impact economic growth, particularly exports from China and Japan.
- As a consequence, counterparty risks – measured in the form of corporate insolvencies – are expected to rise in Asia by +2.5% in 2013, after a fall of -3.1% in 2012. This increases the need for and relevance of more prudent risk and credit management practices, including the use of trade credit insurance.
- Strong headwinds face key sectors: Over-capacities continue to impact the steel sector, while slowing growth of the middle class and increasing purchasing costs are restricting distribution sector growth. In the chemicals sector, Asia’s position far upstream in the value chain (thereby generating lower added value), means greater sensitivity to variations in energy costs.
- Nevertheless, significant opportunities in Asia remain: The food industry is seeing a sharp rise in the consumption of processed food products and changing consumption patterns (meat, dairy products, etc), and there is growing demand for agrifoods. Automotive sector growth continues, in tandem with strong air transport expansion. Improving drug refund program quality is benefiting the pharmaceutical sector. The presence of IT equipment manufacturers is key and includes the growth sector of telecommunication equipment, underpinned by the regional supply chain.
The conference also provided participants with the latest Euler Hermes Asian Insolvency Index:
| Insolvencies forecast | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
| Asia | -15.6% | -11.0% | -3.1% | 2.5% |
| Japan | -13.9% | -4.4% | -2.6% | 2.4% |
| China | -16.5% | -18.3% | -5.2% | 2.1% |
| Taiwan | -21.4% | -4.5% | 1.6% | 7.7% |
| Korea (South) | -21.4% | -13.4% | -2.9% | -0.8% |
| Hong Kong | -23.6% | -24.0% | -0.9% | 3.0% |
| Singapore | 5.2% | -20.4% | 20.4% | 2.9% |
Euler Hermes Asia Pacific trade credit insurance activities were established in 2000 and today are present in Euler Hermes Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. More than 250 people are employed in trade credit, bonding and collection services. Euler Hermes’ Asia Pacific headquarters are based in Hong Kong.
For further information, please contact:
Euler Hermes Asia Pacific
Matthew Ellerton – +65 06 8700 7511
Euler Hermes Group Media Relations (Paris)
Bettina Sattler – +33 (0)1 8411 6141