Complete this online form with details of your enquiry and one of our advisors will call you back.
At Gable Business Finance, we help UK businesses unlock the potential of international trade with tailored trade finance solutions. Trade finance bridges the gap between exporters, importers, and financial institutions, ensuring smooth, secure transactions across borders.
Whether you are importing goods, exporting products, or managing cross-border supply chains, trade finance provides the tools to secure payments, manage risk, and improve cash flow, allowing your business to expand internationally without financial strain.
Trade finance refers to a range of financial products that facilitate domestic and international trade. It provides businesses with working capital and risk management tools, enabling them to execute transactions safely and efficiently.
Trade finance is essential for businesses dealing with overseas suppliers, international buyers, or large-volume contracts, allowing them to operate with confidence in unfamiliar markets.
A letter of credit is a bank-issued guarantee that a seller will receive payment once the terms of the LC are met.
Use Case: An importer buying goods from overseas can assure the supplier of payment once documentation confirming shipment is presented.
In documentary collections, the bank acts as an intermediary, ensuring payment is received before releasing shipping documents to the buyer.
Use Case: A UK exporter shipping products to Europe can use a documentary collection to ensure payment before the buyer takes possession.
Short-term loans or overdraft facilities can fund imports, cover supplier invoices, or bridge gaps between production and payment.
Use Case: A company importing seasonal stock from Asia uses a trade loan to pay suppliers while awaiting sales revenue.
These arrangements enable large transactions without stressing working capital.
Lenders typically assess the following:
Gable Business Finance guides businesses in preparing documentation and matching them to the right trade finance providers.
Background: A UK-based manufacturer needed to ship goods to multiple European clients with varied payment terms.
Solution: Gable arranged letters of credit with secure banking partners.
Outcome: The exporter received guaranteed payments, expanded its client base, and reduced the risk of defaults.
Background: A retailer importing Christmas stock faced cash flow issues before the holiday season.
Solution: A short-term trade loan financed the supplier invoices.
Outcome: Stock arrived on time, sales targets were met, and repayment aligned with revenue, improving supplier relationships.
Background: A UK importer wanted to source goods from Asia but lacked prior trading history with the supplier.
Solution: Gable structured a buyer credit facility backed by a bank guarantee.
Outcome: The supplier shipped goods confidently, and the importer repaid through future sales, establishing a long-term supply partnership.
Q: What is the difference between letters of credit and documentary collections?
A: LCs guarantee payment when conditions are met, providing higher security. Documentary collections are simpler and cheaper but rely on trust between parties.
Q: Can start-ups access trade finance?
A: Yes, particularly for domestic trade or with bank-backed guarantees. Gable guides new businesses in structuring applications.
Q: Is trade finance suitable for small orders?
A: Typically, trade finance is used for significant transactions due to administrative costs, but smaller companies can still access tailored solutions.
Q: Are international trade risks covered?
A: Yes, trade finance instruments mitigate risks such as non-payment, currency fluctuations, or political instability.
Q: How quickly can funds be accessed?
A: Depending on the instrument, approval can be 24–72 hours for trade loans or a few days to weeks for letters of credit.