Export financing starts after the order from the buyer has been received, the export order has bee accepted, manufacturing for the export order begins, and the shipping documents are issued; and it ends at ports when the goods are cleared. In other words, export finance refers to the financing of the goods from the home port to the foreign port and the inland centers, and remittances accruing from the sale of these goods. Financing of exports is a specialized business demanding the operations of institutions that are engaged in it and have special skills in handling the intricacies of foreign exchange transactions, a network of contracts abroad and a willingness to assume the risks peculiar to it. It follows, therefore, that good financing arrangements are a prerequisite for the success of the export trade. In export trade, where business dealings are carried on between parties who may be separated byContinue reading
International Trade Finance
Export Bills of Exchange
Export Bills of Exchange are the drafts or bills of exchange, drawn by the shipper of goods or the provider of services in one country, on people in another country who are buying the goods or using the services, that constitute the chief supply of international currency. A draft or a bill of exchange performs two or three functions. A draft payable at first sight is a demand for payment due and a receipt for payment made. A draft payable at some future period after sight becomes a demand for payment by the seller, a promise of payment by the buyer on the agreed date, and a receipt for payment after such payment has been made. The person who makes out the draft (i.e., the person who receives the money) is said to draw the draft and is called the drawer. The person to whom the draft is addressed andContinue reading
Exchange Fluctuations and International Trade
When a seller quotes an export price for a product or receives an offer in terms of foreign currency, there is concern with the exchange rate fluctuations that may occur before the seller receives payment. When quoting prices in terms of the foreign currency, the exporter knows how many dollars are to be received at the current rate of exchange. However, when the customers pays in Sterling Pounds, Deutschmarks, Indian Rupees, Japanese Yen or some other acceptable foreign currency, the amount received in terms of dollars will depend upon the rate of exchange when the currency is converted. When the price is quoted in the foreign currency, the exporter accepts the risk of exchange fluctuation. Unless steps are taken to protect expected profits, a decline in exchange rates may reduce profits or even convert them into a loss. Exporter’s Means of Protection An American exporter can obtain protection against exchangeContinue reading
Foreign Exchange Restrictions
Although the direct intervention methods referred to have influenced many exchange rates, they do not fully serve the needs of countries with a continuous shortage of foreign exchange. To supplement the direct measures many countries adopted a number of foreign exchange restrictions. Most countries have employed foreign exchange restrictions from time to time. Developing countries especially have found restrictions necessary to secure compliance with their development plans. An exchange restriction plan implies that the government restricts the uses to which the available supply of exchange shall be put. Foreign exchange may be allocated specially for the payment of import bills, interest on foreign loans, and on other specific purposes. Sometimes the restrictions prevent the use of exchange for trade with a given (unfriendly) country. In the latter case the purpose may be political, but the basic reason for most foreign exchange restrictions is the shortage of foreign exchange sufficient toContinue reading
Foreign Currency Accounts
While dealing in any transaction in foreign currency, be it a purchase of commercial documents, retirement of a bill of exchange under a letter of credit or a remittance, a bank must have accounts (normally current accounts) in foreign currencies with its overseas correspondents through which the transactions in relevant — Currencies can be put. The balances of such foreign currency accounts — debit or credit — are taken into overall financial position of the banks involved. These accounts are known as ‘Nostro’ Vostro’ and ‘Loro’ accounts. ‘Nostro’ accounts mean current accounts of banks maintained in the books of their branches or correspondents in foreign centers in terms of the latter’s currency. For example, in order to meet its requirements for transactions in pound sterling, AB Bank, Cochin maintains an account in pound sterling with its correspondent in the UK, say XY Bank, London. Such an account would be designatedContinue reading
International Transaction Settlements
Foreign exchange market plays the part of a clearing house, while, similarly, banks (authorized dealers in foreign exchange) act as clearing agents for international debts. The authorized dealers buy rights to wealth from those who have them to dispose of and sell rights to wealth who wish to acquire them. In practice, it is very much usual that when the exporter parts with his goods, either he wants money immediately or wants to be sure that it will be paid at the pre-determined date without any contestation. The importer, on the other hand, does not want to pay the goods until arrival of the carrying vessel. This two-faced problem in all cases is solved where both parties are favorable known to their own bankers. Depending upon the terms of agreement, the exporter can draw on his counterpart, the importer, or on the importer’s banks (or even on any third party)Continue reading