Romanian Companies Increasingly Exposed to Non-Payment Risk: Aon's Solutions for a Volatile Business Environment

Aon Romania, part of the global group Aon plc, draws attention to the urgent need for structured solutions to protect trade receivables in an economic context characterized by high volatility and geopolitical uncertainty. The subject was central to the discussions at TRADE CREDIT TALKS - Receivable Protection in the Age of Volatility, where business leaders and risk experts analyzed the trends influencing the economic environment and the options available to companies.

"Volatility is no longer an exception, but a given. From the pandemic to the current geopolitical context, companies have faced successive shocks but have shown greater resilience than in the past. To turn uncertainty into opportunity, they must structure tools, from trade credit insurance and guarantees, to factoring or trade finance solutions, and a real dialogue with partners," stated Eugen Anicescu, CEO of Aon Romania.

At the European level, the trade credit insurance market was estimated at approximately EUR 3.1 billion in 2023, with prospects showing an average annual growth of 10.6% until 2030, when the value could exceed EUR 6.3 billion. Other estimates place the market at EUR 4.9 billion in 2023, with forecasts of up to EUR 10.2 billion in 2031, which shows a robust dynamic in the sector. In Romania, good payment behavior in recent years has been supported by a significant volume of liquidity in the market, coming from European funds, including the PNRR, public and private investments, and consumption stimulated by salary increases. However, the necessity to restructure public finances, which will mean an extraction of resources from the economy, along with diminished confidence based on the international and internal context, may affect the risk of non-payment and insolvency in certain sectors and segments of companies. According to Aon's expertise, among the most exposed industries during Q4 2025-2026 are construction, which is dependent on state investments, and consumer-oriented sectors, which could be the first to feel a change in dynamic. Beyond the numbers, global mega-trends are already shaping the market: trade, technology, climate, and workforce. If geopolitical tensions create uncertainty and redefine trade flows, digitalization and artificial intelligence are transforming how companies manage risk and their relationship with partners. In parallel, climate change and pressure on resources place additional strain on key industries, and the workforce is adapting to an accelerated pace of digital transformation.

"In an uncertain economic climate, classic tools are no longer enough. Trade credit insurance, alongside complementary solutions such as factoring or financial guarantees, can bring that necessary balance to a company for protecting cash flow and continuing development plans. The transfer of non-collection risk through trade credit insurance is already a confirmed, mature solution, and the evolution of the Romanian market, connected to the European market, now offers access to superior solutions than in any previous period. We believe in structured solutions that bring added value and coverage, adapted to an unpredictable environment,"