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The UK car market continued to grow last year. Compared to other UK industries, the automotive sector’s default and insolvency rate is good, with a stable outlook.

The automotive sector was hit hard by the economic crisis, as lower domestic consumption and difficulties accessing finance led to a slump in the car market. However, a rebound began in 2013.

Payments in the Italian automotive industry range between 60-90 to 120-150 days, depending on the end-buyer and whether working capital requirements can be obtained from banks or suppliers.

The downward trend in the French automotive industry appears to have bottomed out, and there are signs of a modest rebound.

Although China ́s economic growth is forecast to slow down in 2014, there are many positive catalysts for the car industry , and we expect a second straight year of strong growth.

Russia ́s fiscal position still looks robust. Public debt has been relatively stable at 8% since the global credit crisis of 2008/2009 and is even set to decline in 2015.

33.5% of respondents in Brazil reported that maintaining sufficient cash flow levels will be their biggest challenge to their business profitability.

Over 50% of very late payments went uncollected by businesses in the Americas.

Despite a drop in output of 3.4 % to 34.65 million tons, Turkey kept its position as the world’s 8th largest steel producer.

Russian domestic consumption of steel products has developed better than demand from overseas markets.

Mexico’s steel industry is expected to continue its rebound in 2015, thanks to an upturn in construction activities: mainly through housing and infrastructure investment postponed in 2013.

In 2014 and 2015 growth is expected to return in the US steel sector, with apparent steel use expected to increase 4% in 2014 and 3.7% in 2015.

Overall, Japanese steel production increased 3.1% year-on-year in 2013. In the first half of 2014 domestic steel orders increased 2.8%, while export orders fell by 9.4%.

On average, payments in the Indian steel/metals industry have remained unchanged since last year, taking between 60 and 90 days.

While production growth in the Chinese steel sector slowed to 3 % in the first half of 2014, the industry is expected to create excess capacity.

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