Economic & Trade Risk Insights
 

Explore 2025 global trade, uncovering the impacts of trade wars and deals on global companies. Learn how firms navigate geopolitical tensions, focusing on US-China relations and emerging opportunities in Europe and Latin America.

Credit protection is a vital strategic function for any business that sells on credit terms. It encompasses the policies and tools you use to mitigate the risk of non-payment from customers, safeguarding your cash flow and ensuring sustainable growth. Without a well-structured credit protection plan, your accounts receivable are exposed, leaving your business vulnerable to defaults and customer insolvency.   This guide covers the essentials of building a robust credit protection strategy, from foundational internal controls to the comprehensive security offered by trade credit insurance.

As businesses start planning their growth strategies for 2026, they face considerable volatility and a challenging outlook for global trade. Findings from the recently published Allianz Trade Global Survey 2025 show that US tariff increases and trade restrictions, announced by the Trump administration on 2 April 2025 (what it referred to as “Liberation Day”), have shaken exporter confidence. Less than half of businesses expect positive export growth in the next 12 months, compared with 80% before Liberation Day, according to the survey. These developments follow already challenging conditions for businesses, characterized by a diverse range of evolving risks, including inflation and currency fluctuations.   In this complex and fast-changing landscape, successful businesses must be proactive, adopting strategies and innovative solutions to secure their growth amid the uncertainties. Companies are looking for more than just standard protections – they need accuracy, speed, and confidence in their trade credit decisions. With our data-driven and technology-led approach to trade credit insurance, Allianz Trade offers a clear competitive advantage. By combining access to comprehensive and diverse sets of macroeconomic data, including company financial and behavioral data, with the deep market knowledge of our risk specialists, our trade credit solutions empower your business to grow faster and make better-informed decisions.

In the realm of global trade and high-value projects, managing risk is critical. When expanding into new markets or dealing with unfamiliar partners, a simple contract is often not enough to inspire confidence. A Bank Guarantee (BG) has long served as a trusted financial instrument to protect parties from default. But is it always the best solution?   Today’s evolving trade landscape demands a more sophisticated approach. While understanding BGs is essential, it's equally important to know the alternatives – particularly Surety Bonds and Trade Credit Insurance (TCI). This guide explores these key instruments, helping you choose the right solution to trade and operate with confidence.

In today's volatile global economy, managing credit risk is more critical than ever. Every time your business extends credit by invoicing a client for goods or services delivered, you face the possibility of non-payment. While offering credit is a powerful tool to boost sales and build customer loyalty, unchecked it can threaten your cash flow and long-term stability.    Effective credit risk management is not just a defensive measure; it’s a strategic function that allows your business to grow confidently. This guide provides a comprehensive framework for identifying, analyzing, and proactively mitigating the credit risks inherent in B2B trade.

Do you know the exact amount of cash your business needs to operate smoothly? This figure, your Working Capital Requirement (WCR), is one of the most critical metrics for financial health. A high WCR means your cash is tied up in the operating cycle, leaving less flexibility to seize opportunities, invest in growth, or weather unexpected challenges.   Understanding how to assess, manage, and optimize your WCR is fundamental to building a resilient and successful business. This guide examines how to calculate your WCR and, crucially, the strategies you can implement to improve it.