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You Ask—We Answer: What risks does contestation insurance cover?
If a customer files for bankruptcy, the appointed bankruptcy trustee can challenge and reclaim payments made previously—in the worst-case scenario, amounts running into the millions. What is contestation insurance? If your customer files for bankruptcy, the appointed bankruptcy trustee has the option to challenge and reclaim payments previously made...
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Energy Transition: Why Copper, Nickel, and Aluminum Will Become a Bottleneck by 2035
The global energy transition is not only transforming our power grids and propulsion technologies—it is also triggering one of the most profound upheavals in the commodities markets in the coming years. Copper, nickel, and aluminum—the classic industrial metals—are taking center stage: By 2035, structural supply shortages could emerge that...
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Metals for the Energy Transition: Why Copper, Nickel, and Aluminum Will Become a Bottleneck by 2035
The global energy transition is not only transforming our power grids and propulsion technologies—it is also triggering one of the most profound upheavals in the commodities markets in the coming years. Copper, nickel, and aluminum—the classic industrial metals—are taking center stage: By 2035, structural supply shortages could emerge that...
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Low Water Levels on the Rhine and Danube: How the Drought Is Weighing on the European Economy
This summer, Europe is experiencing historically low water levels on two of its most important rivers: the Rhine and the Danube. The consequences are severe—not only for the environment, but above all for the European economy. Inland waterway transport, a central pillar of logistics in Germany, Romania, and other...
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Business Closures in Germany: Why More and More Companies Are Shutting Down—and What That Means
In 2025, Germany set a dismal record: more companies went out of business than at any time in nearly two decades. This was reported by *Manager Magazin*, among others. But the crisis isn’t limited to financially struggling firms—even healthy companies are being forced to cease operations. The reasons? High...
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AI in Small and Medium-Sized Businesses: Why Technology Is Rarely the Problem—and What Really Matters
The Handelsblatt reports that most small and medium-sized enterprises have experimented with AI over the past two years. They have launched pilot projects, defined use cases, and evaluated tools. And yet one sober observation remains: Operations have not changed significantly. Not because the technology has failed, but because it...
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Current Economic Situation in Germany: Robust Growth Despite Global Challenges
Despite the ongoing pressures caused by the conflict in the Middle East and rising energy prices, the German economy proved to be surprisingly resilient in 2026. Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.2 percent in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the previous quarter, after adjusting for prices,...
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You ask—we answer: How can I take advantage of special offers when shopping on short notice, even though my funds are tied up?
Many companies face this dilemma: A supplier offers a special deal on short notice—whether in the form of discounts, volume discounts, or limited-time promotional items. But the company’s cash flow is tied up in ongoing projects, investments, or other obligations. The question is: How can you take advantage of...
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Flood Disasters: The Underestimated Threat to Germany’s Economy
Flooding is no longer just an environmental problem, but a serious threat to Germany’s economic stability. A recent study by Allianz Trade shows that a severe flood in 2027 could reduce Germany’s economic output by up to 108 billion euros over the following three years. At the same time,...
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Inflation in 2026: Rising Prices in the Eurozone and the Federal Reserve’s Delicate Interest Rate Decision
Inflation remains a dominant issue—both in the eurozone and in the U.S. While the inflation rate in the eurozone has risen to 2.9 percent, the Federal Reserve faces a crucial decision: Should it raise interest rates to curb inflation, or does that risk causing the economy to slow down?
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