Redaccion
The national average, at 15.65 days, has been rising for five quarters
The average delay in payments by Spanish companies stands at 15.65 days in the first quarter of 2025, a figure that has been increasing for five quarters and is 0.39 days higher than the same period last year, reaching the highest figure since the second quarter of 2021, according to the latest study by Informa.
On the other hand, the Canary Islands are among the regions with the highest delays, with 22.32 days in the first quarter of 2025.
In the country as a whole, the proportion of punctual payments decreases in the first quarter, with a reduction of 0.08 points compared to the same quarter last year, to reach 44.18%.
Thus, payments over 60 days reach 6.45%, representing an increase of 0.13 percentage points (pp) compared to the last quarter of 2024, and an increase of 0.17 pp compared to the same period last year.
In fact, four sectors exceed 20 days of delay on agreed terms: administration, hospitality, transportation, and agriculture.
ADMINISTRATION, THE ONE THAT DELAYS PAYMENTS THE MOST
Administration is the sector that delays its payments the most in the first quarter of 2025, with an average delay of 28.54 days, 1.41 days more than a year ago. Next is Hospitality, with a delay of 23.05 days, Transportation with 22.01 days, and Agriculture, which also exceeds 20 days this quarter, at 20.50.
In terms of reduction, only five sectors have achieved better results compared to last year, with Other Services (-1.34 days) and Business Services (-1.10 days) standing out.
On the other hand, five sectors perform better than the national average: Extractive Industries, 15.40 days, Construction and Real Estate activities, 14.83 days, Commerce, 14.65 days, Communications, 14.05 days, and Industry, 11.71 days.
Comparing payment terms between the Administration sector and the Industry sector, there is a difference of 16.84 days.
AVERAGE DELAY INCREASES IN 10 AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES
Compared to the same period last year, the average payment delay increases in ten communities, with the most significant increases in Aragon, 2.96 days, and in Melilla, 2.64 days.
At the top of the list of communities with the highest delays are Ceuta, with 24.03 days, followed by Melilla, 22.49 days, and the Canary Islands, with 22.32 days.
On the other hand, Navarra is the only community approaching a 10-day delay, with the best data of the quarter. The following are Asturias, with 11.56 days, the Basque Country, with 11.85 days, and La Rioja, with 11.99 days.
In the first quarter of 2025, only three communities exceed 50% punctual payments: Melilla, Castilla y León, and Castilla-La Mancha. On the other hand, the community with the lowest percentage is the Canary Islands, with only 33.64% of payments made punctually, followed by Madrid, with 39.33%, and the Balearic Islands, with 41.14%.
IN LARGE COMPANIES, ON-TIME PAYMENTS ONLY REACH 14.5%
49% of payments by microenterprises and 46% of small businesses meet the agreed deadlines, compared to 29% of medium-sized companies and 14.5% of large companies in the first quarter of the year.
However, the majority of medium and large companies pay with a delay of up to 30 days, 65% and 79% respectively, compared to 38% and 47% of micro and small businesses.
With a delay of more than 60 days, we find 9% of microenterprises, higher than 4.6% of small businesses, 3.6% of medium-sized companies, and 3% of large companies.
