Different Types of Trade Finance Instruments to Use for Your Business

Trade Finance Instruments We Arrange For Your Business

Trade Finance Instruments We Arrange For Your Business

We arrange and negotiate trade finance instruments that protect performance, release liquidity, and shorten settlement risk for cross-border transactions. Each mandate is executed with clear wording, verifiable flows, and a route that a credit committee can approve. Our scope covers letters of credit, standby letters of credit, bank guarantees, documentary collections, receivables and inventory finance, supply chain programs, forfaiting, export credit insurance, and currency risk hedging. Files are built for decision, not for show.
Who We Serve
Importers, exporters, commodity traders, manufacturers, engineering procurement and construction contractors, and project sponsors.
Transaction Sizes
From lower mid market shipments to multi-shipment frameworks. Syndication or participation available for larger programs.
Rule Sets
Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits Publication Number 600, International Standby Practices Publication Number 98, and Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees Publication Number 758.

Primary Trade Finance Instruments We Arrange

Letter Of Credit – Documentary Credit Under Uniform Customs And Practice For Documentary Credits Publication Number 600

Payment is released to the beneficiary on compliant presentation. We draft fields line by line, align goods description and Incoterms with the contract, set presentation periods that match logistics, and nominate the advising and confirming banks where needed.

  • When appropriate: seller requires certainty of payment and buyer prefers documentary control.
  • Options: sight, usance, and use-pay at sight structures. Transferable and back-to-back forms for traders.
  • Add-ons: confirmation for issuer or country risk, and discounting at sight for deferred terms.
Standby Letter Of Credit – International Standby Practices Publication Number 98

On-demand support for payment or performance. We set precise drawing conditions, define default events, and coordinate issuer and beneficiary banks for fast authentication.

  • Use cases: commercial performance, advance payment refund, capacity or lease obligations.
  • Benefits: simple evidence to call, lower documentary friction than a full documentary credit.
Bank Guarantees – Uniform Rules For Demand Guarantees Publication Number 758

On-demand guarantees for bid, performance, advance payment, and retention. We align the guarantee with the underlying contract and the governing law, and we pre-agree claim mechanics.

  • When appropriate: projects and supply contracts with milestone obligations.
  • Focus: clear claim windows, issuer rating, and local enforceability.
Documentary Collections – Documents Against Payment Or Acceptance

Banks handle documents and release them against payment or acceptance. Lower cost than a letter of credit and higher risk than a confirmed credit. We use this when counterparties are known and corridors are stable.

  • Variations: documents against payment for immediate settlement, documents against acceptance for deferred settlement.
Receivables Finance And Factoring

Advance against approved invoices with notice of assignment and controlled collection accounts. We set eligibility, concentration caps, aging limits, dilution tests, and audit rights.

  • When appropriate: working capital against strong buyers or supply programs.
  • Benefit: cash release without waiting for customer payment.
Forfaiting – Non-Recourse Purchase Of Trade Receivables

We arrange a non-recourse discount of bank-avalised bills of exchange, promissory notes, or receivables supported by letters of credit. The exporter receives immediate cash and removes the exposure from the balance sheet.

  • When appropriate: medium tenor obligations with bank risk or sovereign risk.
Borrowing Base And Inventory Finance

Availability against eligible receivables and stock under collateral management. We set haircuts by commodity and location, inspection rights, and stop-fund triggers.

  • When appropriate: commodity flows and manufacturing with predictable turnover and storage control.
Supply Chain Finance – Buyer Led Programs

Early payment to suppliers based on the buyer’s credit. We onboard suppliers, set approval flows, and align discount mechanics to the buyer’s payables cycle.

  • Benefit: extends days payable outstanding for buyers and improves days sales outstanding for suppliers.
Export Credit Insurance And Political Risk Insurance

Short-term cover on receivables and tailored political risk policies. We structure policies to support bank discounting or to meet lender conditions precedent.

  • Outcome: higher approval odds, better pricing, and clearer recovery paths.
Currency Risk Hedging For Trade Flows

Forward and option structures aligned to shipment dates and receivable maturities. We document the hedge within the file so that lenders see a coherent plan for currency exposure.

Selecting The Right Instrument For Your Transaction

  1. Risk Map. Counterparty strength, country limits, performance obligations, transport reality, and timing of cash flows.
  2. Product Fit. Documentary control for sellers that need certainty, on-demand support for performance, or working capital release from receivables and stock.
  3. Bank Route. Issuing bank with the applicant, advising bank, and confirmation capacity where needed. We only approach credible counterparties.
  4. Pricing And Conditions. Clear spreads, no unnecessary charges, and covenants that operations can meet.
  5. Execution. Draft wording, reimbursement paths, inspection logic, assignment notices, and a data room that credit teams can read without guesswork.

Indicative Terms And Practical Considerations

Instrument Typical Tenor And Notes
Letter of credit Sight to one hundred eighty days. Confirmation where issuer or country risk is outside policy. Discount at sight on deferred terms.
Standby letter of credit Up to twelve months with renewal. Precise drawing language for payment or performance.
Bank guarantee Project-linked tenor. Claim windows and governing law set in the text. Local enforceability matters.
Receivables finance and factoring Advance rates set by buyer strength, aging, and concentration. Weekly or monthly borrowing base certificates.
Borrowing base and inventory Revolving with availability formulas. Haircuts by commodity and storage. Collateral management agreements.
Forfaiting Non-recourse discount of avalised paper or receivables supported by a letter of credit. Cash up front and balance sheet relief.
Export credit insurance Short-term limits per buyer. Policies structured to support bank discounting or as a backstop to open account terms.

Our Process From Mandate To First Draw

  1. Assessment. Review of contract pack, Incoterms, transport and insurance plan, and counterparties. Confirmation of rule set for the instrument.
  2. Structure. Instrument selection and wording, bank route, confirmation needs, reimbursement map, and collateral or assignment controls.
  3. Underwriting Pack. Cash flow model, shipment or milestone schedule, collateral narrative, discrepancy playbook, and a concise data room.
  4. Distribution. Targeted approach to banks, insurers, and funds with appetite for the named risk. Two to three comparable proposals for clean files is the objective.
  5. Negotiation. Pricing, covenants, fee lines, and documentary text negotiated to term sheet and draft instruments.
  6. Closing And Execution. Conditions precedent, account control, issuance or availability, and monitoring to first draw or first presentation.

Eligibility And Documents To Begin

Eligibility
  • Verifiable trade with signed purchase orders or sales contracts and a workable shipment or milestone plan.
  • Directors and beneficial owners available for know-your-customer and sanctions screening.
  • Willingness to assign proceeds, operate controlled accounts, and accept reasonable inspection and reporting standards.
  • Transactions that comply with applicable law and sanctions. No paper trading and no crypto assets.
Documents To Start
  • Contract pack with Incoterms, technical specifications, and delivery timetable.
  • Transport plan and insurance evidence, or storage plan with collateral management where relevant.
  • Corporate documents, group structure, and beneficial ownership details.
  • Twelve months of bank statements and recent financial statements.
  • Any required draft wording for letters of credit, standby letters, or guarantees. We can draft when a template is not available.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Decide Between A Letter Of Credit And A Standby Letter Of Credit
We look at what must be proven to trigger payment. If the seller requires documentary control over the shipment, a documentary credit is suitable. If the objective is a simple on-demand support for payment or performance, a standby fits better. Confirmation capacity and corridor risk also influence the choice.
Can Receivables Finance Sit Alongside A Confirmed Letter Of Credit
Yes. Receivables covered by a confirmed documentary credit can be discounted at sight, and open account flows can be financed in parallel under a borrowing base or factoring structure with appropriate segregation.
Do You Arrange Insurance As Part Of The Mandate
We coordinate export credit insurance and political risk insurance with reputable underwriters and align policy terms to lender requirements so that the cover supports discounting or availability.
What Drives Pricing Across These Instruments
Issuer and counterparty strength, country risk, tenor, currency, document complexity, and confirmation capacity. Clean, well-documented files with insurance or guarantees generally attract stronger terms.

Request Structured Commodity Finance Support

Share your contract pack, shipment plan, and target timeline. We will propose the instrument mix, the bank and insurer route, and the execution plan to first draw.

Start Structured Commodity Finance

This page addresses corporate users. Nothing here is a commitment to lend. All services are subject to know-your-customer checks, anti-money-laundering controls, sanctions compliance, and approvals by banks, funds, and insurers. We act on a best-efforts basis and all lender communications are chaperoned.

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