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Despite the ongoing upturn, automotive suppliers at the lower end of the value chain face elevated debt levels, strong competition and price pressure.

Margins continue to decrease due to increased material and labour costs, rising competition, pressure on sales prices and the need to invest heavily.

The sector shows good growth rates, but manufacturers active in the US are affected by the import tariffs on steel and aluminium imposed since June 2017.

Smaller automotive businesses experienced a decrease in equity, solvency and liquidity ratios - a trend that is expected continue in the coming months.

The impact of potential US tariffs on car and car-part producers would be limited, as the US is not a key market for Spanish OEMs due to their model range.

While sales in the Mexican automotive market remained subdued in the first half of 2018 car exports have increased 10%, helped by new production plants.

Due to the high export dependence any imposition of import tariffs by the US would have an adverse impact on the sector, especially for Tier 1 businesses.

Payment duration in the Slovakian automotive sector ranges from 45 to 90 days, and the payment experience has been good over the past two years.

Profit margins are rather high in the sector, with most businesses financially resilient enough to cope with minor volatility in demand or commodity prices.

The global economy is in an upswing based on broad-based economic growth and still-low interest rates, but we are reaching a turning point.

Despite the rebound in oil prices economic growth is expected to recover only modestly in 2018 as fiscal consolidation hampers private consumption growth.

Despite the painful short-term effect of rising prices for consumers, in the medium-term the economy should benefit from the IMF-programme related reforms.

Economic expansion has been maintained through robust performance of automotive, aeronautics, chemicals and electronics industries and the tourism sector.

The economic diversification will proceed only slowly, leaving the economy largely dependent on oil revenues and state support for the time being.

Tackling bureaucracy and reforming the tax and subsidy systems are necessary to improve the economic conditions and to reduce the high unemployment rate.

Economic growth is expected to accelerate in 2018 and 2019, due to higher oil prices, stronger external demand and the easing of fiscal consolidation.

Chemicals businesses dependent on raw materials imports are highly exposed to exchange rate volatility and the looming threat of trade restrictions.

Good short-term outlook for the chemicals sector, but Brexit poses a downside risk for businesses profitability and payment behaviour in the mid-term.

Indonesian pharmaceuticals sector growth is driven by a rising population and the roll-out of the government's universal healthcare insurance system.

Further growth expected, but businesses dependent on construction, construction materials and consumer durables still require particular attention.