TRADE FINANCE

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) have been working with commercial banks to support crisis-torn economies to get back on their feet for decades. They do this with guarantees and in-country expertise, supporting critical imports and vital GDP-bolstering exports. flow shares insights on these transformational partnerships from three leading trade facilitation providers

In a year that saw commodity prices holding up and traders recording strong profits, a deglobalised world order has intensified the focus on their supply chains. Following a packed two days at TXF’s annual conference in Amsterdam, flow’s Clarissa Dann reports on markets and transaction patterns

While investors in trade finance assets were on an education journey, panelists at the 49th ITFA Annual Conference in Abu Dhabi discussed what this means for originators and distributors. flow’s Clarissa Dann reports

The energy transition is suffering from a lack of investment. While an increase from US$1trn to US$1.8trn is an improvement, an orderly transition is going to cost US$4trn a year. With insights from commodities analysts Wood Mackenzie, flow’s Clarissa Dann explores this collective responsibility and what it means for the metals and mining industry

As 2024 began, bringing with it slower global trade growth, delegates at the BAFT European Bank-to-Bank Forum in Frankfurt also considered rerouted container shipping traffic in the Red Sea and post-pandemic changes in the supply and demand of goods and services. Yet improved collaboration and long-awaited momentum in digitisation meant the overall mood was upbeat. flow’s Clarissa Dann reports

What happens if cargo ships can’t get through ports? Does trade grind to a halt and impact economic growth in surrounding countries? Independent trade economist Rebecca Harding examines supply chain resilience

With lockdown restrictions lifted and trade volumes recovering, the gap between demand for and supply of trade finance continues to grow. flow’s Clarissa Dann explores how further engagement with capital market players could help bridge this

As sponsors of Global Trade Review’s annual GTR Directory (now in its 20th year), Deutsche Bank’s Trade Finance & Lending leaders Atul Jain and Oliver Resovac share their insights as the trade finance community comes together to make a positive difference during turbulent times

Export credit agencies, governments, insurers, banks and contractors need to work together to make key net-zero projects happen, particularly in emerging markets

Portfolio managers have been eyeing up trade finance funds with interest – particularly in today’s low interest rate yet yield hungry environment. What more can be done to educate investors on the asset class’s risk and rewards? flow’s Clarissa Dann reports on some of the key themes from two International Trade & Forfaiting Association panel discussions

Commodities are bouncing back from their Covid-19 lows and some even talk of a supercycle. flow reports on longer term issues facing the industry, such as fraud, digitalisation and ESG transition discussed at the May 2021 TXF Virtual Commodity Finance Conference

Now that President Biden and Vice President Harris are installed in the White House, what are their immediate priorities? flow´s Clarissa Dann takes a look at Deutsche Bank Research’s insights, along with other observations on stimulus, infrastructure and tax reform – and responses from the central bank

Fifteen Asia-Pacific economies sign up to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement in a move back towards multilateral trade and tariff reduction. flow's Clarissa Dann summarises what this means for trade

Trade economist Dr Rebecca Harding reflects on the US Exim Bank’s annual spring conference compared with the ICC Banking Commission event in Beijing and notes how polarised attitudes to trade have become and that is businesses that trade and not governments

As China’s role on the global stage expands, Bank of China’s Yunfei Liu talks to flow about the foundations needed to build bridges in international trade

Supply chain finance (SCF) industry experts gathered virtually for BCR’s 6^th Annual Supply Chain Finance Summit to discuss how the industry is recovering from Covid-19 dislocation, embedding ESG into platforms and schemes, and progress on automation and digitalisation. Clarissa Dann reports

Trade fragmentation, strategic competition, sustainability and risk – trade economist Rebecca Harding reflects on 2023’s main trends in a year of geopolitical volatility and asks were trade and globalisation put on trial?

With fraud fast becoming one of the biggest risks for global trade, flow’s Clarissa Dann takes a closer look at the vulnerability of trade finance to criminals and protection measures being deployed

Covid-19 exposed supply chain vulnerabilities as borders closed. With a move to near-shoring, inventory increases, putting pressure on costs prompting an acceleration in demand for payables finance solutions. flow shares insights from Asia’s The Asset featuring Deutsche Bank’s Steven Yu’s observations on the new working capital ecosystem

Legal frameworks and structures underpin trade finance markets and practice, and the right structures and the right documents can make the difference between trade being repaid – and not being repaid. flow shares details of an updated legal guide from Sullivan & Worcester UK LLP’s Geoffrey Wynne, A Practitioner’s Guide to Trade & Commodity Finance

While renewables financing is at an all-time high, the demands of the energy transition mean that more is needed. Deutsche Bank’s Sandra Primiero took part in a webinar hosted by infrastructure media and research specialists Proximo, discussing renewables finance and the role that non-payment insurance could play in driving the green revolution

Deutsche Bank’s Christian Hausherr and Anil Walia explain why the latest financial reporting recommendation from the International Accounting Standards Board on supply chain finance disclosure is good for the industry

As the world grapples with the impact of its second year of Covid-19 resilience in global value chains can make or break a business and an entire industry. flow reports on discussion points at BCR’s 21^st Annual Receivables Finance International Convention (RFiX21)

When emerging economies build for the future, they need modern and efficient maternity care. flow reports on why the structured export financing of Argentina’s Hospital Provincial Nueva Maternidad Felipe Lucini was a turning point in sustainable finance

Having had its recovery interrupted in 2020, Latin America is looking good for 2021, having achieved some herd immunity with an anti-Covid vaccination push in late H2. Ivan Castano Freeman reports on the outlook for trade finance and lending

Are corporate treasurers unhappy with the level of support they receive from banks? Can we expect trade to bounce back in the next 12 months? flow reports on these and other pressing issues featured at TXF’s Global Trade 2020 virtual conference

As Covid-19 dislocates supply chains in Southeast Asia, corporates are turning to supply chain finance to maintain their liquidity. Chito Santiago of the Asset talks to Zandy Ip and Daniel Tan about how anchor buyers are supporting their suppliers

As Covid-19 dislocates supply chains in Southeast Asia, corporates are turning to supply chain finance to maintain their liquidity. Chito Santiago of the Asset talks to Zandy Ip and Daniel Tan about how anchor buyers are supporting their suppliers

Portfolio managers have been eyeing up trade finance funds with interest – particularly in today’s low interest rate yet yield hungry environment. What more can be done to educate investors on the asset class’s risk and rewards? flow’s Clarissa Dann reports on some of the key themes from two International Trade & Forfaiting Association panel discussions

Growth in supply chain finance (SCF) volumes is being backed by increasingly robust reporting requirements, electronic documents legislation and greater collaboration between fintechs and banks. Investors are also showing interest in SCF-based assets. flow reports on the state of play

Bangladesh has bounced back from Covid-19 and, with its strong economic fundamentals, infrastructure improvements and digital vision, is growing trade flows and GDP. flow’s Clarissa Dann provides a deep dive into this rapidly evolving economy

The conflict in Ukraine, resurgent inflation and the drop in China’s building sector have all contributed to a volatile first half of 2022 for commodity prices. flow’s Clarissa Dann shares insights from Deutsche Bank Research on their outlook for the months ahead

Christina Gnad took up the reins of Deutsche Bank’s Americas trade finance and lending business in August 2021. As the world gets back to business after the Covid-19 economic shock, she talks to trade journalist Ivan Castano Freeman about trade flows, scale, and repairing supply chains

Over the last decade, Deutsche Bank has arranged over €2bn of financing in Ghana across 20 transactions. The latest such deal – a €150m financing for two critical infrastructure projects in the Southern and Western regions of the country – was announced in February 2021. Clarissa Dann reports on a history of collaboration 

Independent economist Rebecca Harding shares three reasons why she believes trade will never be quite the same again

Just because the oil majors are withdrawing from the North Sea, that doesn’t mean there is no extraction. Clarissa Dann looks at how reserve-based lending is supporting the smaller independent oil producers that are thriving in the region

With India’s energy consumption poised to grow at almost 5% annually over the next decade, Clarissa Dann talks to the leadership team at Nayara Energy about realising the potential of its systemically important oil refineries

From proprietary copper extraction technology to lighting up Egypt, flow takes a closer look at four of the Deutsche Bank deals that scooped best deal in the TFR Deals of 2016 awards.

What do exports of milk products to the Seychelles, Japanese machinery to Australia, and flowers to Kenya have in common? They were supported by trade finance completed on the blockchain. flow’s Clarissa Dann explains their significance for trade and the outlook for 2018

China has dominated the production of rare earth metals – the vital inputs in the clean energy transition as well as military equipment. But this could be all set to change as Western economies seek greater control of their supply chains and to reduce their dependence on rivals, explains Deutsche Bank’s Marion Laboure

Investor understanding of trade finance funds and how they fit into a balanced portfolio has some way to go, agreed panelists at the 2022 ITFA Annual Conference, and the asset class must hold its own against other structured finance asset offerings to gain momentum. Track record, insurance mitigants and good structuring are vital, reports flow’s Clarissa Dann

Greater diversity of rare earth metals (REM) supply is essential if the world is to address the dominance of producers such as China and Russia, suggests Dr Rebecca Harding

With Covid-19 having created the most wide-reaching dislocation of trade and supply chains since the global financial crisis, the role of export credit insurance is again under the spotlight. Vinco David and Jonathan Skovbro Steenberg of the Berne Union explain how their members have been increasing support for exporters and their financiers

While Covid-19 has shaken trade and trade finance, the industry has the essentials to ride out the storm. The key is to build on momentum gathered since the outbreak and build out the framework for the industry’s long-term digital evolution, explains Deutsche Bank’s Russell Brown

Celebrating a century of keeping the peace through supporting international trade, International Chamber of Commerce has a new Finance for Development Hub for tackling modern impediments to financial inclusion and trade facilitation. David Meynell reports

flow reports on how a seven-year reserve-based lending solution positioned oil producer Noreco for growth in a two-year turnaround journey

How will India’s meet its US$5trn GDP target in the next five years? And what role will financiers, government reform and technology have in making this happen? Clarissa Dann reports on GTR’s one-day conference in Mumbai

As the Covid-19 pandemic wreaks havoc on economies and communities – and ultimately global trade, what is the impact on trade finance and supply chains? Geoffrey Wynne explains

Trade finance shortages remain a barrier to developing world economic growth, as the gap between the perception and actual level of transaction risk widens. Tackling this is an ongoing priority, says the WTO’s Marc Auboin

Thanks to some transformational lending, Ghana’s Kumasi Market is undergoing a makeover that is set to transform the Ashanti economy and all it touches. flow tells the story of a project involving three governments, a Brazilian contractor and Deutsche Bank’s Structured Trade & Export Finance team

At the close of an extraordinary year, eyes are on growth forecasts for 2021 as economies climb out of Covid-19. But for these to materialise, trade needs to move back towards multilateralism, explains Dr Rebecca Harding

Floods, political upheaval and investor caution have created infrastructure shortfalls in much of Latin America. Ivan Castano Freeman reviews project progress, re-routed trade flows, and opportunities for banks and export credit agencies

Global value chains play a central role in the functioning of the global economy – fostering job creation, prosperity, innovation and investment. But how can they meet the challenges of a post-pandemic world? flow reports from the ICC International Trade and Prosperity Week

Why is it taking so long to digitalise trade finance? While the rubber stamp underpins all documentary credits and while courts will only accept paper in trade finance disputes, it’s hard to move forward

Supply chain finance is growing at 20% a year, with around US$2tn in payables available for financing. But how can this be made safer and more sustainable – and accessible to SMEs? flow reports on key themes at BCR’s 4th Supply Chain Finance Summit in Amsterdam

Were it not for China’s economic reforms, Ma Zhi Qing would still be running a farm. Today he leads a multi-billion-dollar petrochemical corporate. Clarissa Dann visited the team to hear more about Shandong Qingyuan’s growth story

Allegations related to environmental and social issues in Halcyon Agri’s Cameroon rubber plantations attracted headlines until they were addressed through its Corrie MacColl subsidiary. flow´s Clarissa Dann reports on how sustainable finance helps the firm set

How can China maintain the war on smog yet ensure steady supplies of home-produced aluminium? flow’s Clarissa Dann investigates how prepayment finance supported Qiya in honing its low-cost, reduced-emissions technology

As the International Trade & Forfaiting Association met in Budapest for its 46th Annual Conference, flow reports on how heads of trade agree that in times of economic stress, flight to trade finance instruments of trust seems to be on the rise

In an environment where banking products are becoming increasingly commoditised, providers seek to differentiate their offerings with outstanding client experience. But in a world of self-service and chatbots, how does the personal touch play out? Stefan Hoops shares his perspective

In light of recent restructurings and regulatory developments, the title of this article is perhaps more optimistic than the result may be. However, some guidance as to how to approach the issues in receivables financings may help to improve the position of the debt holder.