Trade Finance News

Oslo-based shipping company MPC Container Ships ASA on Thursday announced it has appointed Moritz Fuhrmann as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from December 1, 2022. Fuhrmann will succeed the current CFO, Dr. Benjamin Pfeifer, who has resigned his position to pursue new opportunities.Fuhrmann joins the company from London-based Hayfin Capital Management LLP, where he has served as Principal in the maritime team. Prior to that, he has worked for DVB Bank in Germany and the Netherlands…

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose for a second straight session on Monday on higher capesize rates, while other vessel segments stayed flat.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, and supramax shipping vessels, was up 28 points, or 1.6%, at 1,788 points.The capesize index gained 86 points, or 4.4%, at 2,041 points, on its best day in six.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150…

A Singapore trade data sharing platform backed by banks, commodity houses and state firms has signed up 70 participants as part of the city-state's attempts to bolster confidence after a spate of commodity trade finance frauds in recent years.The Singapore Trade Data Exchange (SGTraDex), whose founders include banks DBS and Standard Chartered, commodity trader Trafigura and the local tech regulator, Infocomm Media Development Authority, was launched on Wednesday after plans were announced last year."We're trying to replicate what's happening in the physical world…

Predictive intelligence tech company Windward has launched Container Insights, a capability that provides live screening and tracking of containers and Bill of Lading (BOL) verification.The new capability, which Windward says enhances the company’s current Cargo Insights, optimizes and increases the efficiency of screening processes for trade finance transactions and enables government agencies to investigate suspicious containers, providing them with a "holistic" view of vessels…

Maritime medical operations and public health provider VIKAND Solutions announced it has appointed Klaus Stoltenberg as non-executive director for commercial shipping.Stoltenberg brings a wealth of experience to VIKAND. He is currently the co-owner of Constellation ApS, and was formerly the Chairman of Global Shipping, Deutsche Bank where he managed a team of corporate finance and shipping experts. He has also served as Global Head of Ship and Aircraft Finance for NORD/LB; Head of Transport…

Global demand for marine fuels is expected to fall by up to 17% due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on world trade, setting the stage for more consolidation among bunker suppliers, an industry executive told a conference on Wednesday.Banks scaled back on their commodities trade finance after the coronavirus crisis led to defaults by some trading houses and exposed a series of frauds, leaving small and medium-sized firms most exposed.Unni Einemo, director of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), said firms were contending with low demand, low margins, ample supplies, i

Earlier this year, The U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and the U.S. Coast Guard issued a new advisory to provide those engaged or involved in trade in the maritime industry with further information and tools to counter illicit shipping and sanctions evasion.The advisory is representative of the U.S. Government’s increasingly detailed efforts towards addressing these issues, as illustrated by OFAC’s recent sanctions actions which show a trend of incremental but clear extension of oversight.

Singapore oil trader Hin Leong held a call with banks on Tuesday after they failed to provide a letter of credit to the firm to purchase at least one cargo of oil products due to load this month, four sources said.The coronavirus pandemic has led to an unprecedented slump in fuel demand and hammered oil prices, making it difficult for trading firms to make a profit. Hin Leong is one of the largest fuel traders in Asia and an operator of a major tanker fleet.Several banks which offer credit facilities to Hin Leong held a call with the company and its advisers on Tuesday…

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has announced that, in less than a year, it has accumulated €1.48 billion ($1.6Bln) in green guarantee lines.The turbine maker has just completed a deal with Societe Generale to convert a 230 million euro guarantee line to "green”. This is the third green guarantee line that Siemens Gamesa has arranged so far this year, in addition to 1.25 billion euro arranged with two other banks.Siemens Gamesa will use this line for its worldwide business of manufacturing onshore and offshore wind turbine generators."This deal contributes to implementing projects that benefit the environment, address climate change and are socially responsible.

French shipping line CMA CGM has launched Shipfin Trade Finance (STF) , its new range of financing services dedicated to importing and exporting, in partnership with invoice finance platform Incomlend.The STF portfolio of products is, according to the carrier, “simple, reliable and rapid,” offering importers and exporters tailored financial solutions ranging from extended payment terms to financing advances.CMA CGM Group further explained that it wants to support its customers’ business through financing solutions tailored to their needs. The Group is putting its expertise and presence in 160 countries around the world at the service of its customers’ international development."With a dedicated team of experts based in the Group’s headquarters in Marseille…

Shipping major AP Moller-Maersk Group's export-import (exim)-focused trade finance arm Maersk Trade Finance is targeting a 33 percent loan disbursal growth at $200 million in 2019 in India.The trade financing solution arm of Danish business conglomerate said that it disbursed a total of USD 0.7 billion globally till date since its inception in 2015, with over 150 million in India in the year 2018, a 53% Y-o-Y increase as compared to 2017.Vipul Sardana, Global Head of Maersk Trade Finance said “Indian SME sector continues to play a significant role in India's economic development. As the sector is gearing up for its digital transformation…

Maastricht Maersk, the latest next-generation Triple-E vessel known for improved energy efficiency and environmental performance, has arrived for the first time to Rotterdam on her westbound voyage from Asia.Welcoming  the maiden voyage of the most modern vessel in the fleet to Rotterdam, Bo Lindberg Andersen, Benelux Countries Manager at Maersk said: "The Dutch name of the new vessel is a symbol of our long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship with The Netherlands and local customers. What is even more important is our continuous commitment to serve the Dutch market and provide services that support local trade ambitions and trigger growth.”Dutch customers continues…

Monjasa expects a 200,000mts volume increase from its new supply location Djibouti. The objective is to challenge status quo and provide a valid alternative to the traditional Suez and Jeddah bunker markets.Strategically located at the mouth of the Red Sea, Djibouti is fast developing into an attractive bunker destination on the busy Suez waterway. Improved maritime infrastructure and heavy investments in port developments are expected to further advance trade going in and out…

Mercuria Energy Group and Aegean Marine Petroleum and  have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) making Mercuria the only lender to Aegean. Both are working towards landing a billion dollar credit deal and closer collaboration.Mercuria and Aegean have executed a letter agreement detailing the US$30 million of incremental liquidity Mercuria is providing to the Company by way of amendments and waivers to the Trade Finance Facility and other financing arrangements.With this significant step completed, the two parties intend to begin exploring a broader, global strategic partnership. Pursuant to the MOU, Mercuria will provide US$250 million and US$750 million in revolving credit facilities to finance the U.S.

Shipping group Maersk said on Thursday 94 companies and organizations have so far joined a blockchain platform developed with IBM aimed at boosting efficiency and limiting the enormous paper trail of global container shipping.The industry has seen little innovation since the container was invented in the 1950s, and cross-border trade still leaves an enormous trail of paperwork and bureaucracy.Under its new strategy, which includes the creation of an industry-wide blockchain-based trading platform, Maersk aims to expand its transport and logistics business in areas such as freight forwarding an

Listed bunker company Aegean Marine Petroleum has entered a memorandum of understanding with Mercuria Energy Group for a billion dollar refinancing and strategic partnership, says a company press release. Aegean Chairman and independent director of the Board, Donald Moore, said, “As part of the announced strategic review, the new leadership at Aegean has, in short order, brought forward an opportunity to completely redefine and optimize the Company’s capital structure, enhance near term liquidity and position the Company for a dynamic partnership with one of the world’s largest privately held integrated energy and commodity groups. “We…

Energy trader Mercuria Group has agreed to provide a $1 billion trade finance facility to Greece's Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, the marine fuel logistics and supplies company said on Thursday, sending Aegean's stock up more than 150 percent.New York-listed Aegean Marine underwent a major leadership change this year after losses prompted an activist investor revolt to sever ties with the company founder, shipping and oil tycoon Dimitris Melissanidis.Aegean announced a $200 million write-off in early June after a new chairman, Donald Moore, was appointed in May to lead a strategic review.Shares in Aegean were up 127 percent at $1.43 as of 1359 GMT, having risen as high as $1.53.Swiss-based Mercuria will initially inject at least $30 million in cash, Aegean Marine said.Aegean Marine also

European oil companies are not ruling out reducing Iranian oil imports after the threat of new U.S. sanctions, with some expecting banking issues to hinder trade, but there was no rush to immediately cut volumes.U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States was exiting an international nuclear deal with Iran and would impose new sanctions that seek to reduce oil exports from OPEC's third-largest producer.But as of Friday, companies in Europe said they were still taking Iranian oil.

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the world’s leading Free Zone for trade and enterprise in Dubai, has teamed up with Maersk Trade Finance to offer a ‘one-stop-shop’ solution that handles both the flow of goods and financing. The requirement was raised by DMCC’s Food Trade Group, set up in October 2016, an industry group aimed at growing the global food trade industry by connecting financiers and traders alike. As a result, DMCC and Maersk came together to provide the trade with a solution that meets both their shipping and financing needs including pre- and post-shipment finance. The announcement came at the annual DMCC Food Trade Group dinner in Dubai.

Oil prices firmed on Friday as bullish news from strong Chinese oil imports to turmoil in the Middle East put Brent on track for a nearly 3 percent weekly gain. The developments added to other signs that the market was finally rebalancing after years of excess, but analysts warned that the 2018 balance was still shaky. Brent was at $57.20 at 1335 GMT, up 95 cents. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was at $51.44 per barrel, up 84 cents from its last settlement. The contracts were on track for weekly gains of more than 2 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

Maersk Line, the world's biggest container shipper, is venturing into trade finance, as it seeks to fill a lending gap left by indebted banks pulling out of the crisis-hit shipping industry. Moving into traditional bank territory and further down the shipping value chain, Maersk Line, part of A.P. Moller-Maersk, is offering to finance shipments and remove the paper trail from financing deals. Maersk says it has no need to ask for collateral - one of the biggest headaches for banks and customers in trade finance deals - because it is carrying the goods on its vessels. In trade finance, banks traditionally act as an intermediary for companies importing or exporting goods, but many are being driven out of shipping.

Ocean carrier Pacific International Lines (PIL), terminal operator PSA International and IBM plan to utilize blockchain for better security, efficiency and transparency in supply chain business networks and trade finance. Three companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to explore and trial proof of concept (POC) blockchain-based supply chain business network innovations. The MOU was signed by Ms Lisa Teo, Executive Director (Corporate Development) of PIL; Mr Oh Bee Lock, Head of Group Technology, PSA; and Ms Janet Ang, VP Industry Solutions & Smarter Cities of IBM Asia Pacific. The three parties will work together to explore POCs using technologies like blockchain to achieve better security…

Commodities trader Noble Group reported a second- quarter loss of $1.75 billion on Thursday, weeks after warning it faced its steepest quarterly loss in a year and a half and would slash jobs and sell assets to cut debt. Once Asia's largest commodities trading house, Noble is slimming down drastically to its core Asian coal trading business after a crisis-wracked two years. Last month, it announced the sale of its U.S. gas and power business and began a process to sell its oil liquids unit. "Conservative liquidity management, scaling back of risk positions and constraints placed on the group's access to trade finance lines led to disruption costs and prevented the group from taking advantage of profitable opportunities," the Singapore-listed company said in a statement on Thursday.