TRADE FINANCE

Despite political upheavals, Latin America is enjoying renewed growth, as firms shore up supply chains with nearshoring and mitigate currency volatility and inflation. LatAm correspondent Ivan Castano Freeman reports for flow

After a busy 2022 of export finance deals, the prospect of a new OECD consensus and the continued demand for equipment and infrastructure to support clean energy transition were key themes at the 2023 TXF Global Export and Project Finance event in Lisbon. flow’s Clarissa Dann reports

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

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

America’s sheer size and the dominance of the US dollar as a reserve currency makes it a bellwether of the global economy, explains independent economist Dr Rebecca Harding

John W. H. Denton, Secretary General of the ICC explains why COP27 must deliver on climate finance and the vital role of the financial sector in achieving the Paris Agreement goals

The majority of world trade is unsustainable, and where it is not, it is a symptom of under-development, says trade economist Rebecca Harding. She shares her methodology for a trade sustainablity score and demonstrates why trade policy needs to change

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

Electric vehicle sales are rising, and progress is underway in finding alternatives to fossil fuel-based vehicle propulsion. What does the transition to EVs mean for the minerals and metals used to reduce emissions, manufacture car batteries and develop fuel cell solutions? Clarissa Dann reports

As the world looks to emerge from the corona virus pandemic but braces for further strains of the virus, how has West Africa been holding up? Better than many regions, is the answer – flow's Clarissa Dann takes a closer look at the economic uptick in Nigeria and Ghana

Trade economist Rebecca Harding examines how Covid-induced patterns of shifting work and consumption have increased supply chain scrutiny and highlighted critical export flows

By attracting international corporates and financing with a partnership approach to offshore wind farms, Taiwan is driving renewable energy growth. flow’s Clarissa Dann provides an overview of two large, syndicated export credit agency deals

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

Well before the advent of Covid-19, plans were under way for better healthcare infrastructure in Côte d’Ivoire to support GDP growth momentum. flow reports on a project to build hospitals and additional facilities in the towns of Aboisso and Adzopé

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

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

How will ISO 20022, sustainability, digital currencies, sanctions and trade digitalisation shape the future of transaction banking? flow summarises the top five takeaways from the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade’s (BAFT) 2023 Europe Bank to Bank Forum

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

Held just after COP26 in Glasgow, the final day of the Coriolis Technologies Future of Strategy week addressed the issue of transparency in global trade and what this means for sustainability. Dr Rebecca Harding shares some reflections from her “fireside chat” with Deutsche Bank’s Daniel Schmand

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)

As oil exploration and production companies restructure their operations to achieve net zero targets, ESG-aligned commodity finance is supporting them along the way. flow shares the experiences of Lundin Energy and Harbour Energy

While ESG principles and alignment start at home, they must carry through to supply chains, explain Deutsche Bank’s Anil Walia and Bjoern Goedecke in BCR’s World Supply Chain Finance Report 2021

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

Angola was once top coffee producer and could feed its people but is now dependent on hydrocarbon exports to finance foodstuff imports. flow’s Clarissa Dann reports on how enlightened government reforms are attracting investment and lending to support long-term energy and food security

Trade economist Dr Rebecca Harding shares her deep dive into the three main drivers shaping trade volumes and values for 2023

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

The Ukraine crisis has highlighted Europe’s dependence on Russia for gas while diverting attention from the wider issue of delivering on COP26 net zero pledges. Trade economist Rebecca Harding analyses the trade flows and explains how clean energy supply chains are also highly interconnected

Greening the supply chain is a trend to enhance competitiveness, says Deutsche Bank’s Rachel Chia, Head of Project Finance, Renewables (Asia Pacific) in a recent interview with The Asset’s Chito Santiago. flow shares her insights

With Asia proving the most resilient component of the world’s economic engine during the pandemic, can it maintain trade-led growth that accommodates economic, social and governance (ESG) considerations? flow reviews GTR Asia’s recent virtual conference that considered this issue

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

As corporates revisit their supply chain exposures as a result of Covid-19, could just in time supply chains be replaced by planning ‘just in case’? Treasury specialist Helen Sanders reports on business continuity management strategies

Covid-19 has shaken up the world’s commodities sector although price volatility is no stranger to its participants. Reduced demand has seen falling prices, lack of investment, and logistics log jams. Clarissa Dann reviews the fundamentals

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

Minerals – and their shortages – can make and break supply chains. As nearshoring becomes the preferred strategy for securing essential inputs in times of geopolitical volatility, how does this impact trade flows? Trade economist Rebecca Harding explains

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

In the final instalment of Deutsche Bank’s post-Sibos reports, flow’s Editor Clarissa Dann turns to trade finance – a resurgent theme in 2022. Digitalising trade finance has moved from “wait and see” to “let’s get this done”. But the balance of regulatory impulsion and industry steering remains unclear

In many developing economies, growth relies on cross-border trade aided by robust logistics infrastructure. flow’s Clarissa Dann looks at a remarkable collaboration between international banks and export credit agencies to help Ghana improve its rail network and remove freight and passengers from the roads

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

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine having exploded into full-blown war, what are the repercussions for Russian oil and gas exports that escaped the EU and G7 sanctions deep freeze, and the wider risks to neighbouring economies? flow’s Clarissa Dann shares the insights from Deutsche Bank Research

As the automobile industry shifts up a gear on accelerating average selling prices and electrification, what does this mean for transition metals? In the second article drawing on Deutsche Bank Research’s January 2022 Commodities Outlook Clarissa Dann reports on a copper supply tipping point and what this means for inflation

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

Are we heading for another commodities supercycle? One could be forgiven for thinking this was just around the corner given some of the bounce-backs in prices, but ESG priorities and liquidity shortfalls bring different nuances, flow’s Clarissa Dann reports

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

What common thread links shipments of dairy products to China, wheat from the United States (US) to Indonesia and sugar cane from Asia to Africa? They were all supported by trade finance completed via blockchain. flow ’s Clarissa Dann provides an update on this technology’s journey towards mainstream adoption

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

With more than 300 delegates from more than 145 nations gathered in Greece at the EBRD’s Trade Facilitation Programme Trade Finance (TFP) Forum 2019, it was clear that 20 years after the TFP’s foundation, countries lacking in correspondent banking lines need this trade leg-up more than ever. Clarissa Dann reports from Athens

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

flow talks to KfW’s Ingrid Hengster, who provides insights into the development bank’s partnership with the Germany government and commercial banking sector to support German businesses

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

After LIBOR, digitalisation and future proofing were among the “trends to shape a new decade” discussed by delegates at the 2020 BAFT Global Annual Meeting in Frankfurt

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.