The outlook for 2023? Jean-Léry Lecornier, CEO of the Union des Forgerons, an industrial SME based in Essonne, summarizes them in a few sentences. “ In terms of demand, the situation is good: the sectors of activity for which we work are well oriented. But our difficulties for the coming year are the cost of energy and interest rates. The challenge is to keep a sufficient level of margin to keep the production tool in working order. »
At the other end of France, Christelle Comparin, director of a structural-construction company in Lot-et-Garonne, adds: “ Even though our order books are very full, I cannot say that 2023 is off to a good start. Our energy bill has tripled, so we’re starting the year in the red, and we’re four people short of building sites. »
After a year 2022 “not so bad », according to Philippe Mutricy, director of studies at Bpifrance, small and medium-sized enterprises have entered a zone of turbulence, as confirmed by the latest half-yearly economic survey conducted by the public investment bank among 4,590 VSEs and SMEs with less of 250 employees. These forecast a decline in activity compared to 2022, and a decline compared to its long-term average. “ The strong uncertainty surrounding the economic environment, the supply difficulties and the still rising energy bill probably explain this decline.says the study.
However, for Alexandra Broussaud, general manager of Maison Broussaud, which manufactures French socks with 68 employees, there is no doubt: the “ hottest topic right now », it is still and always energy. And this, despite the multiple devices announced by the Ministry of Economy and Finance to help small businesses.
“Great weariness”
“ The State does not do anything, but we have no visibility over the whole year »laments M.me Broussaud. The problem also comes from the complexity of the help desks set up by the executive. “ Nobody is able to clearly identify what level of aid they will be able to benefit from”deplores Jean-Guilhem Darré, general delegate of the Union of Independents, who shares a “ great weariness » in the field.
Among the companies surveyed by Bpifrance, one in two benefits from a regulated or indexed tariff, but 17% of VSEs-SMEs are in the dark. Indeed, they have a contract whose renewal is scheduled for 2023. A significant element of vulnerability for industrial companies, insofar as more than a third of them are concerned.
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