A concerning trend has emerged in Germany as payment delays among businesses are increasing. A recent analysis by credit bureau Crif reveals that nearly 12% of companies were late in settling invoices during the first half of 2025. This figure represents a significant rise from the 8% recorded during the same period last year.
The analysis, published in the Handelsblatt, highlights regional disparities. Businesses in Hamburg and Lower Saxony are experiencing particularly elevated levels of payment arrears, with 17% and 16% respectively facing overdue invoices.
Suppliers and service providers are now facing an average wait time exceeding 50 days to receive payment. This extends a standard payment term of just under 31 days by an additional 19.8 days, indicating a prolonged delay in financial settlements. Specific sectors demonstrating a higher propensity for delayed payments include the hospitality industry, mechanical engineering, healthcare and social services and the construction sector.
According to Frank Schlein, CEO of Crif, the prolonged recessionary period is placing significant strain on company liquidity. He emphasized that deteriorating payment behaviour serves as a potential indicator of future payment defaults and a warning sign for possible insolvencies. Furthermore, he cautioned that delayed payments negatively impact investment capabilities and pose a risk to employment levels.
