16:25 23 February 2026
Research: 96% of metal industry companies say contractors do not pay on time
Poland’s metal industry has entered 2026 facing a persistent cash flow challenge. According to a Keralla Research study for Bibby Financial Services, the median value of funds tied up in unpaid invoices stands at around PLN 100,000 per company, a level now seen as structural rather than temporary. While this figure briefly rose to PLN 200,000 in mid-2025, it has stabilized at a still-high level.
Payment delays are widespread, with 96% of firms reporting late payments, often by two to four weeks, and 20% waiting two months or more. This forces companies to finance clients from their own working capital, limiting investment capacity. Experts warn that liquidity has become a strategic issue, and tools such as factoring are increasingly used to unlock frozen capital and maintain financial stability.
