VSEs and SMEs in Reunion recorded an overall drop of 4,7% of their turnover in 2020, according to the Image PME study by the Council of the Order of Chartered Accountants. This decline is lower than that of the whole of France (-8,4%) and all metropolitan areas. The decline started in the 1st quarter of 2020, in connection with the start of the first confinement in mid-March. The turnover index – ICA – then decreased by 7,2%). The turnover of regional VSE-SMEs then collapsed in the 2nd quarter (-18%). The month of April was that of the greatest decline (environ -35 %). The partial lifting of restrictive measures allowed activity to restart in the 3rd quarter (+2,5%). In the 4th trimester, turnover continued to progress (+2,8%). This figure is the result of a very good month of October, a slight drop in November with health measures nevertheless reinforced and a rebound in December, details the study. These overall figures obviously mask significant sectoral disparities. The commerce sector is the one that is doing the best, with a drop in turnover limited to 0,3% over the year. After the losses due to confinement, the rebound was significant in the second half. This sector, however, includes sectors which may have experienced very diverse situations., warn the accountants. Clothing stores, part of “non-essential” businesses, suffered greatly from confinement before experiencing sustained activity in the 3rd quarter, which made it possible to limit the drop in turnover to 11,6% over the year. Vice versa, pharmacies recorded a decrease in their limited activity, only in the 2nd trimester, and end the year with an increase of 1,5%. VSEs and SMEs in construction, very affected by confinement, were unable to compensate for the forced drop in activity in the 2nd half and recorded an annual drop of 8,4% of their turnover. The drop stands at 9,6% for road freight carriers, with a decline in activity which continued in the 3rd and 4th quarters. The most impacted sectors are, without surprise, those of accommodation and catering, with a cumulative loss of turnover of 27% in 2020.
