The decline of exports from China has caused some alarm on world markets, having recently plunging by 11.2% over a single year. Between the 1980s and 2015 the USD HML figure for China averaged 540, with a low of 13 recorded in January 1984 and a high of 2275 in December 2014.

Almost 20% of Chinese exports go to the United States every year, with other major partners including Hong Kong (15%), the European Union (15%), ASEAN countries (10%), Japan (5%), South Korea (3%) and India (3%). The spread of products China exports is very wide and includes mechanical and electrical products (40%), high tech products (20%), clothing and textiles (15%), motors (5%) and integrated circuits (5%).

Chart Showing GDP Growth Compared to rest of world

Trade finance is a revolving facility which some banks and specialist lenders offer – it enables organisations to buy inventory and can help ease the pressure from working capital problems.

Generally, an export finance bank will fund most of the cost of the products, including charges (e.g. delivery costs).

Trade finance offers added advantages over more traditional bank finance including invoice finance or loans. Trade finance provides quick funding without affecting existing bank relationships.

How does it work?
If you’re an SME importing or exporting products outside of your own country, then a trade finance facility would allow you to fund this through offering a LC (letter of credit) or some form of cash advance.

I’m looking to import from China, how can Trade Finance Global help, and how does it work?
If you are looking to import stock supplies from other markets, you may need import finance, which is an agreement between yourself (the importer) and the foreign exporter. A alternative financier would act as the intermediary, paying the exporter on your behalf until you receive the inventory and have then sold them to your end debtor. Repaying the financier then occurs over an agreed period.