Guaranteed Working Capital Loans News

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a program to provide Ex-Im Bank-guaranteed working capital loans for shipping, logistics and other companies involved in ocean freight transportation. The agreement also updates certain shipping requirements for Ex-Im Bank transactions. Under the agreement, Ex-Im Bank can provide working capital loans to export service providers, enabling them to extend credit terms to their export clients. The Bank will also increase its working capital guarantee from 90 percent to 95 percent for U.S. companies that ship on U.S. flag vessels. Ex-Im Bank and MARAD also agreed to raise the minimum threshold for Ex-Im Bank-guaranteed U.S.

The Maritime Administration (MarAd,) with the Export-Import Bank, has developed a program to provide added incentives for the commercial public to ship their United States export cargo on U.S.-flag vessels. Under this program, the Ex-Im Bank provides guaranteed working capital loans for transportation-related cost associated with the export move that is carried on a U.S.-flag vessel. Such transportation costs could include ocean freight, marine insurance, export packing, trucking, railroad or other costs related to the logistics involved in the export of commercial cargo. These loans offer an incentive to use U.S.-flag vessels while concurrently improving cash flow for exporters, the freight forwarding industry and U.S.-flag carriers.