Structured Trade Finance Advisory Services
Structure financing around the commercial contract, movement of goods and identified source of repayment. Financely advises commodity traders, importers, exporters, producers and distributors seeking lender-ready facilities for defined trade transactions.
Our structured trade finance advisory service examines the complete transaction cycle. We identify where capital is required, assess how lender exposure can be controlled and prepare the opportunity for suitable banks, private credit funds and specialist trade finance providers.
The resulting facility may finance supplier payments, production, shipping, inventory, warehouse storage or receivables. Each request is structured around the underlying trade rather than presented as a general request for unsecured working capital.
Turn a Commercial Transaction Into a Financeable Facility
Submit the requested amount, goods, purchase contract, sales contract, payment terms and transaction timeline. We assess the funding gap, repayment path and lender controls before approaching suitable capital providers.
Request Structured Trade Finance View Trade Finance Services
What Is Structured Trade Finance Advisory?
Structured trade finance advisory is the process of designing financing around a specific commercial flow. The advisor evaluates the contracts, counterparties, goods, cash requirements, collateral, payment mechanics and repayment source before the transaction is presented to lenders.
Unlike a general corporate loan, the facility is connected to identifiable stages of the trade. Capital may be paid directly to a supplier, drawn against eligible inventory or repaid from assigned buyer proceeds.
The structure can combine purchase contracts, sales contracts, letters of credit, warehouse receipts, receivables, insurance, collateral management and controlled collection accounts. These components give lenders a documented route from initial funding to repayment.
Financing should follow the transaction. The requested amount, tenor and drawdown process should correspond to the actual procurement, production, shipping, storage, delivery and collection cycle.
When Structured Trade Finance Is Used
How Trade Finance Facilities Match the Transaction Cycle
| Transaction stage | Capital requirement | Potential structure | Primary repayment source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procurement | Supplier deposit or supplier payment | Purchase order finance | Buyer payment or LC proceeds |
| Production | Raw materials, processing and operating costs | Pre-export finance or structured prepayment | Export contract proceeds |
| Shipment | Freight, insurance, inspection and customs | Trade finance bridge loan | Delivery payment or refinancing |
| Storage | Capital tied up in controlled goods | Inventory finance or borrowing base | Sale of eligible inventory |
| Post-delivery | Working capital during deferred payment terms | Receivables finance | Approved buyer receivables |
| Repeat trades | Funding across recurring transaction cycles | Revolving trade finance facility | Controlled transaction proceeds |
Select a Structured Trade Finance Service
Choose the point in the transaction where capital or credit support is required.
Pre-Export Finance
Finance production, processing and procurement before goods are shipped under an export contract or offtake agreement.
Repayment is normally linked to assigned export proceeds. The structure may include direct supplier payments, buyer acknowledgements, controlled collection accounts and restrictions on how export revenue is applied.
Inventory and Borrowing Base Finance
Release working capital tied up in eligible goods held in approved warehouses or controlled storage locations.
Availability may be calculated against eligible inventory and receivables. The lender can require warehouse receipts, inspections, advance rates, reserves, concentration limits and controlled release procedures.
Receivables Finance
Convert approved invoices and deferred buyer payments into working capital after delivery.
The facility may be structured as invoice discounting, factoring, receivables purchase, forfaiting or LC-backed receivables discounting.
Revolving Trade Finance Facilities
Support recurring trade cycles through a reusable facility governed by approved transaction criteria.
The lender may approve eligible goods, counterparties, advance rates, limits, drawdown conditions and reporting requirements in advance.
Documentary LC and SBLC Structuring
Structure documentary payment and credit support around the underlying commercial obligation.
Advisory work may cover draft wording, documentary conditions, issuing-bank assessment, confirmation, discounting, claim mechanics and alignment with the commercial contract.
Additional Structured Trade Finance Solutions
Structured Prepayment Finance
Future delivery OfftakeA buyer, trader or financier advances capital against future delivery under a supply or offtake agreement.
The structure must address committed volumes, pricing, delivery obligations, production risk and how the advance is reduced as goods are delivered.
Purchase Order Finance
Confirmed orders Supplier paymentsPurchase order finance can cover the supplier-side cost of fulfilling a confirmed customer order.
Lenders assess the supplier, buyer, gross margin, delivery schedule and the applicant’s ability to complete the trade within the proposed facility period.
Review our purchase order financing service.
Trade Finance Bridge Loans
Short-term gap Defined repaymentA trade finance bridge loan covers a temporary liquidity requirement before buyer payment, refinancing or another documented repayment event.
Eligible costs may include supplier deposits, freight, inspection, insurance, storage, customs and document release.
Review trade finance bridge loans.
Commodity Trade Finance
Physical commodities Cross-border tradeCommodity trade finance may support energy products, metals, agricultural goods, chemicals and other physical commodity flows.
Each transaction requires sector-specific controls for pricing, inspection, title, storage, transportation and insurance.
Review our commodity trade finance service.
How We Assess Transaction Bankability
A purchase order or sales contract does not make a transaction financeable by itself. We examine whether the proposed facility has a coherent commercial structure, sufficient margin and identifiable route to repayment.
Counterparties
We assess the supplier, buyer, borrower, warehouse, logistics providers and other material participants.
Relevant factors include operating history, financial capacity, jurisdiction, reputation and prior transaction experience.
Commercial Contracts
The purchase and sales contracts should align on product, quantity, price, delivery terms, inspection, title transfer and payment.
Contractual gaps can create exposures that the requested facility does not cover.
Gross Margin
The trade must generate sufficient margin to absorb financing, freight, insurance, inspection, storage, duties and reasonable delays.
Thin margins can make an otherwise credible transaction unsuitable for debt financing.
Repayment Source
Repayment may come from buyer payments, LC proceeds, assigned receivables, controlled accounts or the sale of financed inventory.
The lender must understand who pays, where payment is received and how the facility is discharged.
Asset and Cash Control
Controls may include direct supplier payments, collateral managers, document control, account assignments and lender-approved release conditions.
The objective is to prevent funds, goods or proceeds from leaving the agreed transaction flow.
Risk Allocation
We identify supplier, buyer, price, currency, logistics, country, insurance and compliance risks.
Each material risk should be controlled, transferred or allocated to a party capable of absorbing it.
Core Underwriting Questions
| Review area | Primary question | Supporting evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Borrower | Can the applicant execute and administer the proposed trade? | Financial statements, management accounts, bank statements and transaction history |
| Buyer | Is the buyer credible and capable of paying under the contract? | Corporate records, financial information, payment history and credit analysis |
| Supplier | Can the supplier deliver the required goods on the agreed terms? | Track record, production capacity, references and contract documentation |
| Trade economics | Does the transaction remain profitable after all costs? | Sources and uses, gross-margin calculation and sensitivity analysis |
| Goods | Can the goods, location, condition and ownership be verified? | Inspection reports, warehouse documents, bills of lading and insurance |
| Repayment | Is repayment generated within the expected facility period? | Payment schedule, assigned proceeds, account controls and repayment waterfall |
Documents Required
Company Documents
- Certificate of incorporation
- Ownership and management structure
- Director and shareholder identification
- Corporate profile
- Financial statements
- Recent management accounts
- Bank statements
- Existing debt schedule
Transaction Documents
- Purchase contract
- Sales or offtake contract
- Purchase order
- Pro forma or commercial invoice
- Product specifications
- Transaction flow
- Sources and uses
- Requested facility terms
Logistics and Collateral
- Shipping route
- Freight quotation
- Storage agreement
- Warehouse details
- Inspection arrangements
- Insurance information
- Bills of lading
- Collateral-management information
Counterparty Information
- Supplier corporate details
- Buyer corporate details
- Offtaker information
- Transaction history
- Relevant financial information
- Payment details
- Banking relationships
- Material intermediary roles
Initial assessment and lender placement are separate stages. Missing documents may not prevent an initial review. Capital-provider outreach should begin once the transaction, counterparties and repayment structure can be supported with verifiable information.
Our Structured Trade Finance Advisory Process
Transaction Review
We review the company, counterparties, contracts, goods, jurisdiction, payment terms and requested facility.
Funding-Gap Analysis
We map the movement of funds and goods from supplier payment through buyer collection.
Structure Design
We determine which facility best matches the timing, trade assets, repayment source and commercial requirements.
Risk and Control Framework
We identify direct-payment mechanics, assignments, collateral controls, insurance, inspection and reporting requirements.
Lender-Ready Preparation
We prepare the transaction summary, facility request, transaction flow, sources and uses, repayment analysis and supporting documents.
Capital-Provider Placement
Suitable transactions are presented to providers whose mandates correspond to the facility size, sector, jurisdiction and tenor.
Term Sheet and Execution Support
We assist with commercial term comparison, information requests, document coordination and transaction follow-up.
Commodity and Trade Sectors
What Makes a Strong Trade Finance Request?
Defined Commercial Transaction
The goods, supplier, buyer, route, amount and payment terms are identified. The request is based on a real transaction rather than a general intention to begin trading.
Verifiable Counterparties
The supplier and buyer have traceable corporate records, credible operating activity and the capacity to perform their obligations.
Sufficient Gross Margin
The projected margin remains positive after financing, freight, insurance, inspection, storage, duties and reasonable execution delays.
Identifiable Repayment
The transaction has a documented source of repayment generated within the proposed tenor.
Experienced Management
The management team understands the commodity, contracts, documents, logistics and operational requirements involved.
Workable Lender Controls
The transaction permits direct payments, account control, assignments, inspection, insurance or collateral management.
Common Reasons Transactions Are Declined
- The applicant cannot demonstrate relevant operating or transaction experience.
- The buyer or supplier cannot be independently verified.
- The purchase and sales contracts contain conflicting obligations.
- The projected gross margin is too thin after financing and logistics costs.
- The requested amount exceeds the documented commercial requirement.
- Repayment depends on an uncertain event rather than contracted proceeds.
- The goods cannot be inspected, controlled or clearly identified.
- The proposed LC, SBLC or guarantee has no defined commercial purpose.
- The jurisdiction, route or counterparty falls outside lender parameters.
- Material transaction information is withheld.
- The expected funding timeline is inconsistent with institutional underwriting.
- The transaction depends on unverifiable documents or intermediary representations.
Applicants can review our trade finance deal assessment before approaching multiple lenders with an incomplete submission.
Prepare a Lender-Ready Trade Finance Request
Submit the transaction amount, goods, supplier, buyer, payment structure, trade route and requested facility. Include the purchase contract, sales contract and available financial information.
Financely will assess the proposed structure and determine whether the opportunity is suitable for targeted bank, lender or private credit placement.
Potential Funding Outcomes
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a structured trade finance advisor do?
A structured trade finance advisor reviews the transaction, identifies the funding gap, designs the proposed facility, prepares the lender-facing submission and supports targeted placement with suitable capital providers.
What is the difference between trade finance and structured trade finance?
Standard trade finance may involve one product such as a letter of credit or invoice-finance facility. Structured trade finance combines contracts, cash flows, goods, collateral, documentary controls and one or more financing techniques around a defined transaction.
Is structured trade finance only for commodity traders?
No. It can support importers, exporters, manufacturers, processors, distributors and operating companies executing financeable domestic or cross-border contracts.
Can financing be based on a purchase order?
A purchase order may support financing when the buyer, supplier, gross margin, delivery schedule and repayment path meet lender requirements.
Is conventional collateral always required?
Not every facility depends on fixed assets. A lender may rely on controlled inventory, assigned receivables, letters of credit, insurance, contractual cash flows or controlled buyer proceeds.
Can a new trading company obtain structured trade finance?
New companies face greater scrutiny because lenders assess execution history and operating capacity. Experienced management, strong counterparties, adequate equity and clear transaction controls can improve the request.
How long does structured trade finance take?
Timing depends on the facility, requested amount, jurisdictions, counterparties and document quality. Transactions requiring legal structuring or collateral management generally take longer.
Does Financely provide the capital directly?
Financely provides transaction assessment, structuring, preparation and capital-provider placement. Suitable opportunities may be presented to external banks, private credit funds and specialist trade finance lenders.
What information should be submitted for an initial review?
Submit the requested amount, use of funds, goods, supplier, buyer, payment terms, transaction route, company financial information and available purchase and sales contracts.
What facility sizes can be considered?
Facility size depends on the transaction, sector, capital provider and security structure. Larger requests generally require stronger counterparties, proven execution history and more extensive controls.