FCIB ranks Japan "most creditworthy." - Foreign Credit Interchange Bureau

Business America, Sept 3, 1984

Japan has the top rating in the latest semiannual FCIB survey of credit conditions in 113 countries around the globe, but it fell short of the 97.9 percent Switzerland led with in the previous survey. West Germany improved to 93.6 percent for the second place and the United States rose to third place with 91.8 percent. This marked the third consecutive time that the United States ranked among the world's most creditworthy nations. Switzerland fell to fourth place, followed by Sweden, the Netherlands and Norway. The United Kingdom did not do as well as anticipated, achieving a "good rating" of 76.1 percent.

This was the 112th credit and collections survey of the FCIB, the international association of executives in finance, credit and collections. The manufacturers and exporters contributing to the survey are located throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

In the collection survey, Japan, holding the lead for the past 18 months, let Sweden take over the top spot with 71.8 percent for prompt payments. Japan, however, remained in strong position with 69.6 percent. Switzerland dropped into third, this time with 65.3 percent. The People's Republic of China appears in the top group of the FCIB collection survey, in fourth place with 60.m percent for prompt payments, followed by Luxembourg with 60.0 percent and Norway with 58.6 percent. The FCIB noted that Norway has emerged as a leading creditworthy nation, appearing in the top group of both the credit and collection surveys, while Australia lost its position in both categories, and does not appear in the top groups.

For further information on the FCIB and its international services to the exporting community, contact: Gerd-peter E. Lota, Executive Vice President, FCIB-NACM Corporation, 475 Park Ave. S., New York, N.Y. 10016; tel. (212) 578-4417.