Trade challenges in the modern steel industry
Jan Wiebe Ottink has been active in the metal and aluminium sector for more than 40 years. His career once started at Koninklijke Hoogovens, now Tata Steel, but after years of working for big companies, he decided to change tack. "I was fed up and wanted to start for myself. Just then, I was approached by a persistent headhunter. Two days later, I was sitting at the table with an Englishman who would subsequently be my boss at Amari for 23 years."
How US politics and trade war are shaking up the currency market
In 2025, the euro-dollar exchange rate has taken a remarkable turn. While economists initially expected a decline in the euro against the dollar due to the escalating trade war, the opposite has happened: the euro has risen by almost 10% against the dollar this year. This unexpected move is the result of an interplay of monetary, political and geopolitical factors, with US politics and Federal Reserve (Fed) policy in particular playing a central role.
"You can't always properly assess the risks yourself"
Bakeplus is a leading supplier with a wide range of ingredients for bakers, pastry chefs, ice cream makers and food companies. With three warehouses in the Netherlands and one in Belgium, they relieve their customers of the entire supply chain. With branded products, private labels, hardware and imports. Bakeplus not only has a very complete product range, the approachable organisation grows with the market and its customers. Personal contact is their way of providing their customers with the right supply chain support.
When will that blow come?
If you ask co-owner and lawyer Robbert Goossens of Mariënberg Incasso Services how our economy is doing, he has no straightforward answer. Nobody can look into the future. What Robbert does look at is the number of bankruptcies in the recent period. Robbert: "Everyone thought that the companies artificially kept in coma with coronasteun would cause a tsunami of bankruptcies. We obviously keep a close eye on the figures and that tsunami is not that bad. Still, the general thinking is that the blow is yet to come. For now, it seems to be holding off. We hear and read scare stories about the recession, but maybe the economy is doing better than we think. People continue to spend money."
Across all continents and oceans
Orbis Risk Partners navigates the world of maritime transport as a specialist insurance broker and risk advisor. Together with its clients, Orbis Risk Partners analyses risks to determine a strategy and manage it effectively. Frederik de Preter, Managing Director, co-founder of Orbis Risk Partners: "Our clients include owners of cargo, ships, barges and transport containers. They operate in a challenging market and have mobile assets. In short, we support them in terms of risk management. So they can focus on their deals and local trade in a constantly changing market."
Smart financing? Think stacking
Many entrepreneurs recognise it: you want to grow, innovate or simply keep your business running, but financing is a stumbling block. The first thought often goes to the bank. Logical, as that has been the place for business financing for years. But in practice, a single source of financing often no longer suffices. Especially in a rapidly changing economy. The solution? Smart combining, or 'stacking finance'.
Summer weather, but will the sun keep shining?
After months of hard work, it is finally time to take a breather. For many entrepreneurs, the summer period means a time of rest and recovery. Yet it is not always easy to let go of work completely. And with good reason: it is precisely during these months that the financial risks for companies often increase significantly.
ICBA: the global network of credit insurance specialists
Since 2024, Xolv is a proud partner of the ICBA, the largest international network of intermediaries specialising in credit insurance. From 14 to 16 May, we attended the annual ICBA congress in Istanbul. An inspiring gathering where over 80 specialists from more than 40 countries came together to share knowledge, exchange experiences and, of course, plenty of networking. All with one aim: to serve our internationally operating clients even better.
Credit information is indispensable for good operations
Sound business management starts with knowing who you are doing business with. Especially when you deliver on credit, it is crucial to know whether a buyer is able to pay. But credit information goes beyond payment behaviour. Understanding shareholders, directors, a company's lifespan, incidents and growth trajectories is just as important.
Customer case: specialist paper and board manufacturer secures rapid growth with new financing
In the dynamic world of the paper and board industry, where flexibility and quick adjustments to market demand are crucial, a leading producer of specialist paper and board recently faced a challenge. A combination of a growing order book and necessary investments in advanced production technology created an acute need for additional working capital.