Market Monitor Chemicals Italy 2017

Market Monitor

  • Italia
  • Kjemikalier/Farmasøytisk

20 juli 2017

The Italian chemicals industry continues to benefit from a rebound in domestic demand, however fiscal crimes plague the fuel wholesalers segment.

  • Competition in low value-added segments remains high
  • Payment take 60 days on average
  • Fiscal crimes plague the fuel wholesalers segment

 

 

2017_MM_chemicals_italy_pic1

 

Italian chemicals production increased 1.2% in January–October 2016. However, in Q4 of 2016 growth slowed down with stocks of raw materials at low levels, so that in 2016 chemicals production increased just 0.9% to a value of EUR 85 billion - a continued recovery without acceleration. In 2016 chemicals exports increased 2.1% in volume, while export values remained substantial despite falling prices. In particular exports of speciality chemicals (paints, inks and adhesives, detergents and cosmetics) showed a robust growth rate of 5.2%.

Domestic demand continued to increase (up 1.4% in volume), although at a slower pace than in 2015 (up 2.5%), thanks to the positive performance of the automotive sector as well as growth in the pharmaceuticals and rubber/plastics segments. In addition, the furniture industry registered a rebound and the negative trend in chemicals demand from the construction industry bottomed out.

2017_MM_chemicals_italy_pic2

In 2017 Italian chemicals production is expected to increase 1.2%, with domestic demand showing a growth rate similar to 2016 (up 1.3%) and a modest acceleration in export growth (up 2.5%). Expected improvements in domestic demand will gradually reduce the difference between strongly export-oriented chemicals businesses and (thus far, more vulnerable) companies highly dependent on the domestic market. That said, as domestic demand still remains below the pre-crisis level and overcapacities continue, competition in the low value chemicals segment remains high. In contrast, it is reduced in the high value segment due to high entry barriers. In this segment chemicals companies have been able to get close to pre-crisis levels as value added has grown by 4.7% between 2007 and 2016, even by 16% since 2012, mainly due to strong performance in overseas markets.

On average, payments in the Italian chemicals sector take around 60 days. Payment experience is good, and the level of protracted payments has been low over the past couple of years. Payments generally occur on time. The level of payment delays and insolvencies is low in the Italian chemicals/pharmaceuticals sector, and this is expected to remain generally unchanged in H2 of 2017.

 

However, we expect non-payments to increase in the oil/fuel wholesalers segment, which is affected by low profitability due to heavy taxation (VAT amounts to 21%-22%, and other excises on fuels reach 68% of the final sales price of fuels) and international competition. Fiscal crimes (i.e. import of fuel from illegal markets to avoid VAT payments) have increased, while public authorities have started to investigate these resulting in the bank accounts of many fuel wholesalers being blocked.

 

 

2017_MM_chemcials_italy_pic3

Considering the generally positive outlook for the industry, the low level of bank bad debts and the above-average solvency of many businesses, our underwriting approach to the Italian chemicals sector remains relaxed. However, subsectors and businesses dependent on construction, construction materials and consumer durables still require particular attention. Compared to producers, chemicals wholesalers generally show lower solvency and higher gearing ratios to finance their working capital needs.

 

Due to the issues mentioned above a more cautious underwriting approach is applied to wholesalers of fuels. Also in focus are wholesalers and retailers of pharmaceuticals, which are dependent on public healthcare expenditure and suffer from long payment duration by public bodies and decreased margins.

 

Relaterte dokumenter

Ansvarsfraskrivelse

Fremstillingene som er gitt her er kun generell informasjon, og skal ikke stoles på eller brukes som grunnlag for noe formål. Vennligst referer til selve polisen eller den aktuelle produkt- eller serviceavtalen for de styrende vilkårene. Ingenting i dette dokumentet skal tolkes til å skape noen rett, plikt eller ansvar fra Atradius' side, inkludert noen forpliktelse til å gjennomføre tilbørlig aktsomhet (due diligence) for kjøpere eller på dine vegne. Hvis Atradius gjennomfører tilbørlig aktsomhet for en kjøper, er det for egne underwriting-formål, og ikke til fordel for den forsikrede eller noen annen. I tillegg skal Atradius og tilhørende og tilknyttede selskaper og datterselskaper ikke i noe fall være ansvarlig for noen direkte, indirekte, spesielle eller tilfeldige skader eller følgeskader som følge av bruk av de fremstillinger som det er gitt informasjon om her.