Trade finance needs are rising, driven by recent supply chain disruptions and a tightening of bank funding.
The scale of disruption caused to global trade over the past two years - including the impact of Covid-19 and geopolitical tensions - means there's significant demand for this financing mechanism, which bridges the gap between the delivery of products and payment. According to the most recent estimate by the Asian Development Bank, the global trade finance gap widened to USD 1.7 trillion in 2020.
Small and medium-sized businesses are most in need of help as some banks, the traditional key suppliers of trade finance, scaled back availability of funding in the aftermath of the pandemic.
The impact of trade disruption can fall disproportionately on the world's poorest people, given the vital role trade plays in reducing poverty by creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
Institutional investors in search of diversified assets can help by investing in trade finance. In return, they can gain access to the complexity premium that the asset class offers.
How does trade finance work?
Trade finance is similar to a line of credit from a third-party financier that helps companies fund the buying and selling of goods. For example, it enables suppliers to receive money straight away, despite their buyers not needing to pay until sometime in the future. Trade finance can be divided into four main categories:
- Payable finance - supports a buyer by facilitating payments to its suppliers when invoices are raised.
- Receivable finance - provides money to a single supplier in advance of its receiving invoice payments from several customers.
- Working capital facilities - provide loans to one supplier repaid by receivables from several customers.
- Documentary credits - common instruments used by companies to finance specific trade flows and payments under commercial contracts, including letters of credit, bills of exchange and trade loans.
Why is trade finance a potentially attractive option for institutional investors?
In an environment of heightened geopolitical tensions, volatile bond yields and rising inflation, trade finance can offer the flexibility and potential returns to help investors navigate the uncertain global outlook.
Its short-term maturity profile - typically, transactions have a life cycle of between 60 and 120 days - and potentially low correlation to other asset classes can help investors manage a rising interest rate environment. Investments in trade finance can help investors manage downside risks as it tends to exhibit low volatility, as was the case during the most recent turbulence roiling public markets.
The asset class can also help investors meet long-term sustainability goals. Since international trade is an engine for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction, trade finance can be an important tool in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
At the same time, structural changes are paving the way for institutional investors to enter the market. Banks are looking for partners to fulfil their clients' needs as they struggle to keep up with growing demand due to regulatory capital requirements. Meanwhile, financial technology companies have brought innovation to the field, reducing unit costs and making small financing volumes economical.
How can trade finance fit within a pension portfolio?
As pension fund investors look beyond the main asset classes to diversify return streams in a low-yield environment, trade finance can offer an attractive diversification option:
- The asset class can act as an alternative to traditional credit assets such as asset-backed securities (ABS) and short-dated investment-grade bonds due to a potentially increased yield helped by a complexity premium.
- Equally, trade finance may replace government bonds holdings as it offers the possibility of stable returns and low sensitivity to rate changes.
- Finally, trade finance can also act as a strategic cash position. Its semi-liquid structure gives investors the ability to shift or re-allocate portfolios. That ensures trade finance can provide a potential funding source for private market capital calls.
While this is a relatively new and complex asset class, with the right partner it is possible to take advantage of the potential benefits trade finance offers.
To find out how Allianz Global Investors' trade finance offering can benefit institutional investment portfolios, click here
This post is funded by Allianz Global Investors
Disclaimer
Investing involves risk. The value of an investment and the income from it may fall as well as rise and investors might not get back the full amount invested. Past performance does not predict future returns. This is a marketing communication issued by Allianz Global Investors GmbH, www.allianzgi.com, an investment company with limited liability, incorporated in Germany, with its registered office at Bockenheimer Landstrasse 42-44, 60323 Frankfurt/M, registered with the local court Frankfurt/M under HRB 9340, authorised by Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (www.bafin.de). The Summary of Investor Rights is available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish at https://regulatory.allianzgi.com/en/investors-rights Allianz Global Investors GmbH has established a branch in the United Kingdom, Allianz Global Investors GmbH, UK branch, 199 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3TY, www.allianzglobalinvestors.co.uk, deemed authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details of the Temporary Permissions Regime, which allows EEA-based firms to operate in the UK for a limited period while seeking full authorisation, are available on the Financial Conduct Authority's website (www.fca.org.uk). Details about the extent of our regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority are available from us on request. 2209161
