Trade Finance

Fund the deal,
before the goods arrive.

Funding to bridge the gap between paying suppliers and getting paid by your customers — for businesses that import, export, or trade internationally.

Who this is for

Importers, exporters, and traders.

Trade finance covers the funding gap that opens up between placing an order and getting paid for it — often across borders and currencies.

01

Import finance

Pay overseas suppliers upfront or on shorter terms than they'd otherwise offer, without draining your own working capital.

02

Export finance

Get paid sooner on export sales, rather than waiting on lengthy international payment terms from overseas customers.

03

Letters of credit & guarantees

Structured instruments that give both sides of an international deal confidence that payment and delivery will happen as agreed.

How it works

From enquiry to completion.

01

Tell us about the trade

What's being bought or sold, the countries involved, and the payment terms you're working with.

02

We shortlist the panel

We match your case against trade finance providers with experience in the relevant goods and jurisdictions.

03

Structure agreed

The right instrument is put in place — import loan, export finance, letter of credit, or trade guarantee.

04

Trade completes

Funds move at the right point in the transaction, keeping the deal — and your cash flow — on track.

FAQs

Common questions.

What is a letter of credit?

A letter of credit is a bank's guarantee of payment to a supplier, provided agreed conditions are met — it gives both buyer and seller confidence in an international transaction.

Can this help if my supplier wants payment upfront?

Yes — import finance can cover payment to your supplier, giving you time to sell or process the goods before the funding needs to be repaid.

Does trade finance work across any currency?

Coverage varies by provider and destination — this is confirmed during your enquiry based on the specific countries and currencies involved.

Is this only for large international businesses?

No — trade finance is used by businesses of many sizes, from smaller importers bringing in a single container to larger exporters managing many international customers.

Ready to talk through your case?

Ace Finance UK arranges unregulated finance products only. Trade finance products (import finance, export finance, letters of credit, and trade guarantees) are commercial products; terms, currency exposure, and total cost vary by provider and transaction. Nothing on this page constitutes a funding offer.

Ace Finance UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We do not arrange regulated activity of any kind and do not provide regulated financial advice.