View Full Report
Executive Summary

Companies’ increased focus in international business is evident in trade finance spending patterns.

Over the past year, the share of U.S. companies’ overall trade finance fees connected to international transactions increased to 73% from 64%, with a corresponding decrease in spending on domestic trade.

And while U.S. companies most often employ trade finance as risk mitigation, recent research by Greenwich Associates found that 24% cited “financing in addition to other instruments” as a key reason for using trade finance—an increase of 9 percentage points from 2013.

Methodology

From April to June of 2014, Greenwich Associates conducted 168 interviews in trade finance with financial officers (e.g., CFOs, finance directors and treasurers) at companies in the U.S. Subjects covered included product demand, quality of coverage, and capabilities in specific product areas.

The data reported in this document reflect solely the views reported to Greenwich Associates by the research participants. Interviewees may be asked about their use of and demand for financial products and services and about investment practices in relevant financial markets. Greenwich Associates compiles the data received, conducts statistical analysis and reviews for presentation purposes in order to produce the final results. Unless otherwise indicated, any opinions or market observations made are strictly our own.

© 2014 Greenwich Associates, LLC. Javelin Strategy & Research is a division of Greenwich Associates. All rights reserved. No portion of these materials may be copied, reproduced, distributed or transmitted, electronically or otherwise, to external parties or publicly without the permission of Greenwich Associates, LLC. Greenwich Associates®, Competitive Challenges®, Greenwich Quality Index®, Greenwich ACCESS™, Greenwich AIM™ and Greenwich Reports® are registered marks of Greenwich Associates, LLC. Greenwich Associates may also have rights in certain other marks used in these materials.