UK Agriculture Shows Strong Payment Performance, But Wide Disparities Persist

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 89
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 62.3/100
• UK average: 50.0/100 (Agriculture is 12.3 points above)
• Top payer: AGCO LIMITED - 99/100
• Bottom payer: BALTON CP LIMITED - 21.1/100
• London average: 78.8 (10 companies)
• South East average: 71.6 (14 companies)

What Stands Out

While the agricultural sector's average PaymentCheck score of 62.3 outpaces the UK average by a significant 12.3 points, the range of scores indicates substantial inconsistency. The gap between the top payer, AGCO LIMITED at 99, and the bottom, BALTON CP LIMITED at a dismal 21.1, highlights the uneven playing field for suppliers in the agricultural supply chain.

Best Payers

1. AGCO LIMITED - 99/100
2. THE AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION PLC - 96.8/100
3. VITERRA UK LTD. - 94.7/100
4. AB AGRI LIMITED - 90.53/100
5. FERA SCIENCE LIMITED - 90.15/100

Worst Payers

1. BALTON CP LIMITED - 21.1/100
2. CLAAS EASTERN LTD - 28.08/100
3. JCB COMPACT PRODUCTS LIMITED - 29.7/100
4. VOLAC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED - 32.5/100
5. PILGRIM'S PRIDE LTD. - 33.03/100

Regional Patterns

London-based agricultural businesses lead the way in payment performance, with an average score of 78.8 across 10 companies, significantly outperforming all other regions. The South East follows at 71.6, demonstrating a positive trend in the Southern regions, while Yorkshire and The Humber lags with an average of 63.2, suggesting potential issues for suppliers in that area.

Suppliers can use a late payment calculator to work out how much interest they could charge on a late invoice.

Although the agricultural sector exceeds the UK average in payment performance, the discrepancy between the best and worst payers—a nearly 78-point spread—suggests suppliers need to carefully vet potential clients.