Trade & Supply Chain Finance

The plan is to increase global oil supply while the Strait of Hormuz is essentially blocked. Russia is once again exporting oil to India and several Asian governments are introducing fuel subsidies; meanwhile the US is launching trade investigations into 12 Asian countries.

Malaysia's prime minister Anwar Ibrahim believes the country's initial GDP forecast for 2025 is unlikely to be met.

Buyers are asking Bangladeshi exporters to share the additional tariff burden in a garment market which exports almost $9bn of products to the US annually; meanwhile the government wants to reduce barriers for US imports.

The Hong Kong government is supporting exporters with insurance and cash flow needs, with Donald Trump now, temporarily, exempting electronics from tariffs imposed on China and Hong Kong.

US tariffs may disrupt global trade flows and adversely affect Hong Kong's exports, according to the government; also the Hong Kong dollar could stay stronger for longer.

Firms in the garment and pharmaceutical sectors are navigating severe turbulence in their businesses. The new government is trying to shore up FX reserves, bank balance sheets, keep inflation under control, and deal with flooding that hit over five million people in August.

A new suite of trade finance products and services from Standard Chartered will help clients meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) related sustainability objectives and build more resilient supply chains.

Private firms and local government-owned entities more likely to see lengthening receivable cycles, particularly in engineering & construction sector, ratings agency says.

Banks join 12 others to co-develop trade registry proof-of-concept in move supported by Singapore government and endorsed by lenders’ association.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has provided guidance to the trade finance market to address COVID-19 disruptions, urging governments and central banks to void any legal prohibitions on the use of electronic trade documentation

China’s move to digitize its commodities trade with an ‘open platform’ has received a green light from the government. Expect more blockchain trade soon.

China’s crackdown on errant banks continued this month, but can the government overcome the inherent economic contradictions fueling “market chaos”?