How to Obtain Export Financing

The federal government offers a number of financial assistance programs to help businesses expand or develop an export market, and to assist businesses that have been adversely affected by import competition.

Basic Information

• Export.gov: International Finance
  Become familiar with the various government programs designed to help your company finance its export transactions, and acquire the capital necessary to carry out export operations.

Small Business Administration Programs

• Export Express
  SBA Export Express helps small businesses develop or expand their export markets. The program provides exporters and lenders a streamlined method to obtain SBA-backed financing for loans and lines of credit of up to $250,000.
  
• Export Working Capital Program
  This SBA program supports export financing to small businesses when financing is not available from other lenders. Qualifying businesses are provided lender guaranties of up to 90 percent on export loans, or $1.5 million, whichever is less.
• International Trade Loans
  Offers term loans to businesses that plan to start or continue exporting, or that have already been adversely affected by import competition.
  

Export-Import Bank Programs

• Interactive Guide for U.S. Small Business Exporters
  An interactive guide to how small businesses can increase export sales by taking advantage of government financing services.
• Export-Import Bank Small Business Initiative
  Provides working capital guarantee and insurance products that enable small businesses to increase sales by entering new markets, expand their borrowing base, and offer buyers financing while carrying less risk. Short-term insurance policies protect an exporter against non-payment by their foreign buyers due to both commercial and political risks, also allows exporters to extend competitive credit terms to their foreign buyers.
• Export-Import Bank Application Tools and Guidance
  List of applications and transaction tools used for doing business with the Export-Import Bank.
• Export-Import Bank Products and Policies
  List of Export-Import Bank's lending policies and products.
• Export-Import Bank's Guide for Filing Multi-Buyer Insurance Policies
  Lists the four most common mistakes that often lead to denied claims in multi-buyer insurance policies.
• Pre-Export Financing to Help U.S. Exporters Maximize Borrowing Potential
  Ex-Im Bank's working capital financing enables U.S. exporters to obtain loans that provide liquidity to accept new business, grow international sales and compete more effectively in the international marketplace.
• Short-Term Single-Buyer Export Credit Insurance
  Exporters of U.S. goods and services can reduce their risks of selling internationally on credit terms by insuring specific, foreign receivables with Ex-Im Bank's Short-Term Single-Buyer Export Credit Insurance Policy. This policy is a valuable tool for mitigating risk of nonpayment, extending competitive credit terms, and arranging attractive financing with collateral.
• Small Business Export Credit Insurance Policy
  The policy is a special product for small, financially viable businesses that are new to exporting, or have only occasionally exported. It can help increase an exporter's international sales by extending competitive credit terms while minimizing risks.

Overseas Private Investment Corporation

• Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) Financing
  OPIC provides medium- to long-term funding through direct loans and loan guaranties to eligible investment projects in developing countries and emerging markets, where conventional banks are often reluctant to lend.