general/economy

The OECD notes that the global economy will remain resilient in 2026, but that the outlook depends on future developments. The conflict in the Middle East, changing trade policies and export restrictions are creating additional uncertainty. Doing business internationally continues to offer opportunities, but it is also becoming more complex. 

Doing business internationally offers plenty of opportunities for growth, but it also entails risks. And, naturally, you’d prefer to win over new markets and customers without taking any unnecessary risks. That’s why you’ll naturally screen your potential partner in advance. The question is how thorough your screening is.

Rising interest rates – the ECB raised rates by twenty-five basis points in June – have led to higher financing costs. On top of this come other cost increases, such as those for energy and staff. Customers with low margins or high levels of debt are the first to feel the impact. A customer who appears to be in a healthy financial position today may quickly find themselves with less financial headroom due to falling margins or declining demand. 

Van de Vin Ramen en Kozijnen B.V. is a real Brabant family business. Frans van de Vin founded his carpentry business in 1960 and now the third generation is at the helm. Frans was a craftsman, he tackled all sorts of things. Construction carpentry, but also interior panelling and furniture. When sons Anton and Mathee joined the company in the 1980s, the focus shifted to producing window frames. A good choice! Because it led to growth, which is now managed by the third generation. 

The ongoing crisis in the Middle East is creating growing economic uncertainty and increasing pressure on the global economy, according to both Allianz Trade and Atradius. Both credit insurers warn of higher costs, disruptions to trade and a rising number of business failures, but put different emphases in their analyses.

Tensions in the Middle East have long since ceased to be a distant reality. For Dutch companies, the consequences are becoming increasingly concrete and especially tangible in the short term. In a global economy where volatility has become the norm, economic shocks follow each other in quicker succession and impact directly on financing, costs and risks. For CFOs, it is now all about looking ahead and daring to calculate different scenarios.

The hospital room is quiet. A little boy sits on his iPad, his father beside him. Everything feels heavy. Then two CliniClowns enter. They don't make direct contact yet, but create play with each other. Cautiously, probing. They see what is possible in the room. Slowly, space is created. The little boy doesn't have to do anything. The clowns involve his father in their play, and what starts small grows into something bigger. The father puts on a red clown nose and gets carried away. The little boy looks up, starts laughing, louder and louder. What started as a quiet, tense room turns into a place full of lightness and energy.

Is filing your annual accounts an annual obligation that gets pushed forward rather quickly? We understand that like no other. You may think: ‘as long as I'm within the legal deadline, there's nothing to worry about.’ This is true and, at the same time, not entirely true. Publishing financial statements on time is really not just about following the rules, but also the implications for funding, risk management and reputation. The rules vary depending on your company's legal form, but in all cases, financial statements must be filed within 12 months of the end of the financial year.

The recent war in Iran has had a direct impact on energy supplies and economic security worldwide. In particular, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is putting pressure on oil and gas supplies, causing prices to rise sharply in a short period of time. Oil could exceed $100 per barrel in some scenarios and gas prices in Europe are rocketing. The effect is already being felt within weeks, with an average increase of around €0.20 per cubic metre of gas. Clearly, we are once again facing an energy price shock reminiscent of previous crises.

A guarantee is a product that companies need as soon as their customer asks for it. A guarantee guarantees the customer. An example? In construction projects, it covers the execution of work and advance payments. Or take the energy sector. There are sometimes big fluctuations in energy prices. Then there are guarantees to purchase energy or gas, or to supply energy at the predetermined price or for a certain quantity. Similarly, you have customs-related guarantees and rental guarantees. Insurers also work with other insurers and sometimes banks to provide the often extensive guarantees.