# SME financial and structural challenges

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sme-financial-and-structural-challenges
> Updated: 2026-09-27T23:50:06.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Spain, Costa Rica, and Mexico are facing various financial and structural challenges.

In Spain, SMEs deal with liquidity issues caused by long payment terms, with commercial debt reaching nearly 2,000 million euros in late 2025. To address credit access barriers for younger companies, the financial sector is exploring artificial intelligence and predictive models to evaluate solvency. In Costa Rica, businesses face complexities regarding different SME classifications used for public policy versus international accounting standards. Meanwhile, in Mexico, many small businesses avoid formal credit due to misinformation or fear of rejection, prompting development banks to offer non-financial support and risk-sharing schemes.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-27: SMEs face credit access barriers in Spain and Mexico

SMEs in Spain and Mexico face credit barriers due to limited financial histories and misinformation, prompting new AI-driven risk assessments and increased financial literacy efforts.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/smes-face-credit-access-barriers-in-spain-and-mexico

### 2026-09-17: SMEs face liquidity and classification challenges in Spain and Costa Rica

SMEs are vital economic drivers facing challenges such as liquidity issues and payment delays in Spain, while in Costa Rica, distinctions between regulatory and accounting SME classifications are emphasized.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/smes-face-liquidity-and-classification-challenges-in-spain-and-costa-rica

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Cite as: SME financial and structural challenges. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sme-financial-and-structural-challenges