Exporting is no longer just an option: for many small and medium-sized businesses, it has become a key driver for unlocking new growth opportunities. Sometimes faced with a declining domestic market, more and more companies are looking beyond their borders. However, in a context marked by geopolitical tensions, a volatile economy, and strained global trade, expanding export sales also brings greater uncertainty: foreign customers that are difficult to assess, longer payment terms, and the risk of unpaid invoices.
These risks should not hold back international ambitions, but they must be anticipated and managed from the outset. Solutions exist to secure sales and protect cash flow, enabling businesses to grow internationally with greater certainty.
An international environment that weakens exporters
An exporting company is not simply carrying out a standard sale to a foreign buyer: it is exposed to a fluctuating economic and political environment, creating multiple risks that require proper protection. In recent years, the global context has been marked by structural instability, mechanically increasing the risk of foreign buyer defaults.
This instability stems from several hard-to-control factors, starting with geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts, which can disrupt supply chains and create situations where international trade mechanisms can no longer function properly. Above all, the volatility of economic conditions in unfamiliar markets is particularly challenging and can directly impact the payment capacity of international clients. Anticipating risks remotely is complex, and threats are often invisible. Energy shocks, rising operating costs, or a sudden drop in demand in a given country: a previously solvent client can quickly face difficulties, and internationally, the warning signals are harder to interpret.
In addition to negotiating commercial terms, exporters therefore have a strong interest in understanding the economic mechanisms of their target markets and continuously monitoring political and economic developments.
Geopolitics in 2026: a series of shocks weighing on global trade
While the economic effects of the war in Ukraine have had lasting impacts on energy costs and supply chains, they have gradually been absorbed by companies and markets. However, the U.S.-Israeli strikes launched on Iran on February 28, 2026 could trigger a new, even more lasting global shock.
Beyond the historic surge in Brent crude prices, which have exceeded $100 per barrel for several weeks, European gas prices jumped by nearly 40% in the early days of the conflict. The blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, whose reopening remains uncertain in the short to medium term, has prompted precautionary measures from many countries and significantly increased operating costs for businesses worldwide that rely on these resources.
For exporting companies already facing immediate consequences such as rising production costs and delays in raw material supply, it is essential to adopt tools designed to protect against the likely default of certain international partners.
Export risks: key watchpoints for SMEs
Let us clarify some of the risks faced by exporting companies — risks that traditional management tools are not designed to absorb. Three in particular deserve close attention:
· Foreign buyer insolvency: an overseas customer facing financial difficulties may stop paying invoices without warning, while legal, regulatory, and cultural differences significantly complicate debt recovery. Procedures can be long, costly, and uncertain.
· Structurally longer payment terms: international trade practices often involve longer payment deadlines than in domestic markets. Late payments put additional strain on cash flow and can trigger a domino effect across business operations.
· Lack of prior information on unknown prospects: a domestic client is often well known or can at least be assessed through accessible administrative and financial data. In contrast, a foreign buyer may have opaque financial health, inaccessible payment history, and hidden warning signals without access to local expertise.
These risks are far from theoretical and can immediately and severely impact the cash flow of SMEs investing in export relationships. Yet, many business leaders still face them without the right tools, either due to lack of awareness or underestimating their importance.
Unpaid invoices: the real threat for SMEs
The Coface 2025 survey conducted in France on payment behavior shows that late payments and unpaid invoices represent a major threat to business financial stability:
· 4 out of 10 SMEs report that their business has already been put at risk due to customer non-payment.
· 84% of SME leaders consider late payments a threat to their financial health, with nearly half viewing them as serious enough to jeopardize their economic balance.
· 57% believe they are not sufficiently protected against late payments and the risk of non-payment.
EasyLiner: gain visibility and export with confidence
To address these risks, a dedicated solution exists for SMEs: EasyLiner, a credit insurance solution developed by Coface. Its principle is simple: enable small businesses to sell on credit, both domestically and internationally, with the assurance of being protected in case of buyer default.
EasyLiner relies on three complementary pillars:
· Prevention: with EasyLiner, businesses can consult Coface experts to assess the maximum credit exposure and solvency of their prospects and clients, including abroad, supported by Country Risk Assessments developed by Coface economists. Companies also benefit from real-time monitoring of their buyers’ financial health, with immediate alerts in case of deterioration.
· Debt collection: in the event of unpaid invoices, Coface initiates collection procedures immediately, even internationally, while preserving business relationships. Cases are handled by local experts applying country-specific processes.
· Compensation: if a covered receivable cannot be recovered, Coface quickly compensates the business.
EasyLiner is designed for simplicity and accessibility. Subscription is quick via direct contact with a Coface expert, without administrative complexity. Once activated, all daily management is handled online through the secure CofaNet Essentials platform. Pricing is fixed and all-inclusive, with no hidden fees.
An additional advantage: insured receivables make it easier to access bank financing.
EasyLiner offers:
· Access from €500,000 in B2B revenue (up to €7 million)
· A fixed all-inclusive price starting at €2,500 per year
· Compensation of up to 90% of losses on insured receivables
· A short compensation timeframe: maximum 60 days after claim notification
· Coverage in Belgium and over 195 countries worldwide
· 100% online contract management after subscription (CofaNet Essentials platform)
· A solution backed by Coface, present in over 100 countries with 80 years of global expertise.
Managing export credit risk: best practices
In international trade, poor credit risk management can quickly weaken cash flow. Credit insurance is therefore a natural extension of commercial strategy. A few simple best practices can help limit the impact:
- Assess customer solvency before selling: internationally, an unknown prospect may hide financial weaknesses that are difficult to detect remotely. Without reliable information, granting credit often relies on intuition. Leveraging expert insights enables safer commercial decisions from the start.
- Anticipate late payments and defaults: export payment terms are often longer and recovery processes more complex. The later the response, the higher the risk of loss. A structured approach protects cash flow and prevents a single client issue from destabilizing the entire business.
In a world where geopolitical shocks are occurring at an unprecedented pace, uncertainty has become a permanent feature of international trade. However, this uncertainty should not prevent SMEs from exporting—it should encourage them to be better equipped. The real risk is not exporting, but selling on credit without visibility.
EasyLiner provides a concrete answer to this challenge, transforming exports into a controlled growth driver rather than a source of stress.
Get your EasyLiner quote online, free and with no obligation!