The Multisector Platform against Late Payments, representing one million small and medium-sized enterprises, warned this morning of a worsening in the time frame in which public administrations and large companies are paying their invoices to their suppliers. “In the current scenario with soaring energy prices in Spain and a global economic slowdown, the accumulation of late payments may begin to jeopardize the survival and viability of thousands of small companies. There is an economic storm and collecting invoices on time is vital for the smallest companies,” emphasized Antoni Cañete, president of the Platform and president of Pimec, during the presentation of the annual report on payment terms in Spain.
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The regulations establish that administrations must pay invoices within a maximum period of 30 days and companies cannot exceed 60 days. Both levels were comfortably exceeded in 2025 and showed worse metrics than in 2024, based on responses from the 300 companies surveyed for the report. Cañete placed special emphasis on the late payments of public administrations. “The average payment term of the public sector increased by three days to 70 days, while that of companies also grew by three days to 67 days. This is the second consecutive year in which administrations pay later than companies, despite their legal maximum term being half.”
In this context, Cañete has called for urgent action so that public administrations commit to fighting late payments. “In a context where the Administration is increasing its revenue, there is no reason to justify a worsening in payment terms. The public sector should be the first to respect the times it demands from others, thus playing an exemplary role compared to the private sector.”
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In the case of companies and how they pay their suppliers, the study focuses on companies with a turnover exceeding 50 million euros, where 85% exceed the legal term. “38% pay after more than 90 days, 47% between 60 and 90 days, and only 15% do so within 60 days or less,” specified Cañete, who highlighted the evident deterioration in payment behavior in the private sector. “In 2024, the percentage of companies that met the legal limit was 24%.” That nine-point drop in the percentage of companies complying with legal payment terms is interpreted as a resort to financing. “Large companies are financing themselves by delaying payments to SMEs and self-employed workers.”
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