Supply Chain Finance

High-interest rates and elevated inflation are pressing suppliers to reduce their cash-conversion cycles

Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG, 18th September 2023.

Over the last couple of years, we have seen an escalating development of digitalising trade. Fuelled by the obvious benefits, such as reduction of funding, courier, and administration costs, as well as the safety and speed of transferring trade documents digitally. 

In this episode of Trade Finance Talks, TFG’s Deepesh Patel was joined by Shirish Wadivkar, Global Head – Wholesale Payments & Trade Strategy at Swift, to uncover the conference’s core themes, the latest Swift initiatives, and strategies to prepare for Sibos 2023.

ADB’s flagship Trade Finance Gaps Survey returns for its eighth edition, confirming expectations that the global trade finance gap – unmet demand for trade financing – has worsened, reaching  $2.5 trillion, an increase of 47% since the last stock-taking which pegged the gap at $1.7 trillion in 2020. 

The FIT Alliance, formed of BIMCO, DCSA, FIATA, ICC, and Swift, has initiated the “Electronic Bill of Lading Declaration” to enhance the efficiency, reliability, sustainability, and security of global trade through the use of electronic Bills of Lading (eBLs).

Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG, 28th August 2023.

In the wake of the pandemic, the global economy has seen a confluence of challenges, including geopolitical risks, interest rate changes, and commodity price fluctuations.

From payments, credit and lending, to trade and supply chain finance, the entire financial services industry is being disrupted. Regulatory requirements, industry standards and the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agenda have accelerated.

90% of world trade – from bulk raw commodities to breakbulk and finished goods – is moved on approximately 60,000 trading ships, crewed by about 1.5 million seafarers. To most traders, the potential risks associated with any one of these vessels is an unknown.

Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG, 21st August 2023.

In part 1 of this interview, Morgan Lépinoy, Managing Director of Viatrans broke down how container deposits are creating deep structural issues for the shipping and logistics industry in Africa, and what Viatrans is doing to help mitigate these challenges.

Shipping containers are vital for shipping lines, which are availed to shippers (importers, exporters, customs agents, and freight forwarders) for safe and secure transportation of goods. 

Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG, 14th August 2023.

Over the past several months, corporates have increasingly been asking for details on a bank’s distribution capabilities when deciding which financial firm to work with.