Beating the growing pains
John Stillwaggon, the new CEO of DS-Concept’s USA branch, is trying to take advantage of economies of scale while keeping the firm agile.
Latest Analysis
Trade finance in Iran, one year on
- Export and Agency
- Africa & Middle East
- Rene Lavanchy
Since sanctions against Iran were partially lifted, a plethora of MoU have been signed creating a bubble of expectations. But financings have remained rare, particularly those of a long-term nature.
Trump sees sense on Ex-Im
After months of speculation about President Trump’s plans for the US Export-Import Bank, it seems that things are finally moving in the right direction.
All pain – no gain
- Export and Agency
- Europe
- Sean Keating
US/EU sanctions against Russia have been a disaster for the international export credit business and European trade flow. Is it time for a rethink?
CBG - no tie necessary
- Commodity
- Africa & Middle East
- Sean Keating
A combination of DFI loans and a rare untied ECA loan has enabled banks to push the limits on tenor for CBG’s Sangaredi mine expansion in Guinea
Free Making the case for emerging markets
- Supply Chain
- Global
The incentives for exporters to target emerging markets are clear. What is not clear is where to access the resources and the funding required to do so. Emma Clark, Head of Business Development, UK and Europe, Falcon Group, discusses how the solution for exporters lies in ECAs, banks and specialist financiers collaborating across the ‘new’ financial landscape
Non-stop flight to capital
- Export and Agency
- Global
With Basel IV looming in the background, growth in capital markets financing for new aircraft deliveries is taking on new urgency. And the capital markets are delivering.
Secure enough to go unsecured
- Commodity
- Europe
Norilsk has pulled off two post-sanctions market firsts – international unsecured and European ECA-backed loans. Is this the beginning of a return to pre-sanctions international lender appetite?
Sink funds – German-style
- Export and Agency
- Europe
How did the conservative German bank market get shipping loan risk so wrong and why did so many banks not address the toxic loan problem until it became a crisis? Because no-one wanted to see it.
More regs – more costs
- Commodity
- Global
The Federal Reserve Board has proposed new rules for banks in the physical commodities market - and stricter reporting requirements. By Richard Wilkes, Associate, Norton Rose Fulbright.
Credit where it’s due
- Export and Agency
- Africa & Middle East
With GCC government budgets pressured for the first time, the project market should be lender driven. Not so - borrowers are holding their own despite sovereign downgrades.
A Sirius business
- Commodity
- Europe
- Emma Hughes
After four years negotiating planning permission, equity and debt financings for AIM-listed polyhalite developer Sirius Minerals are finally underway.
Bancomext aims to diversify
- Export and Agency
- Americas
- Jason Torquato
Bancomext CEO, Alejandro Diaz de Leon talks to Trade Finance about the bank’s objectives and Mexico’s export potential.
Progressing at pace: trade digitisation moves forward
- Supply Chain
- Global
- Merle Crichton
Bank’s traditional trade finance businesses face potentially disruptive threats, as the demand for digital instruments that can take over from archaic paper documentation is becoming more apparent than ever. Blockchain and the BPO remain vital in this progression, but their value and deployments still need to be recognised further, in addition to a fully integrated trade finance platform that is a
The use of Renminbi in trade finance
- Supply Chain
- Global
- SWIFT
Despite China’s continued economic slowdown, the internationalisation of its currency, the Renminbi (RMB), continues to make good progress: over 1,800 financial institutions are now using the RMB for payments with China and Hong Kong.
Trade’s digital future: let battle commence
- Supply Chain
- Global
- Emma Hughes
While it’s undeniable that the ability to share information on open digital platforms will make it both faster and cheaper to trade goods around the world, some in the trade finance value chain still insist on hard copy documentation – because that’s what they know and therefore trust. But, with the amount of Fintech companies on the rise, can banks afford to miss out on the digital transition?
Trade-based money laundering – time for a re-think
- Supply Chain
- Global
- Tod Burwell, President & CEO, BAFT*
When examining the possible approaches to mitigating trade-based money laundering (TBML) risks, the ability of banks to identify and control TBML is often overstated, and the understanding of trade-based money laundering versus documentary trade finance is often lost. It is time for a re-think.
Closing the trade finance gap
- Supply Chain
- Global
- ICC Banking Commission
As many as 61% of the respondents to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) 2016 Global Survey on Trade Finance reported a global shortage of trade finance, while over 90% cited the complexity of compliance requirements as a chief barrier to its provision. ICC Banking Commission examines the measures that can be taken to close the trade finance gap and address unmet demand.
BPO: will slow and steady win the race?
- Supply Chain
- Europe
- Emma Hughes
Following the news that UniCredit and Commerzbank had completed the UK’s first live bank payment obligation (BPO) transaction, Trade Finance caught up with the banks to discuss the BPO’s progress since its implementation in 2014.
Related News
DS-Concept closes $3m factoring facility for toy producer
- Factoring
- Americas
- Joe Kavanagh
DS-Concept has closed a $3 million non-recourse factoring facility for a toy manufacturer based in Texas, the company has stated.
Progress on Kexim-backed Philippines coal-fired
- Export and Agency
- Asia & Pacific
- Mia Tahara-Stubbs
South Korea’s SK Engineering & Construction is seeking a financial advisor for a 1,000MW coal-fired power plant in Quezon province on Luzon island.
