Trading Briefs

Resources and insights for businesses

We publish a variety of free reports, papers and business guidance, designed to support you as you manage the day-to-day operation of your business. These include export practice publications that detail potential risks and barriers to trade, plus practical tips and guidance on overcoming them.

Sudden default: when the unthinkable happens

Sudden defaults are on the increase, and in a volatile economy predicting the next insolvency can be difficult. Thankfully, there are ways suppliers can protect themselves from the fallout.

De-globalisation, a new way to trade but will it stick?

The pandemic has interrupted supply chains with quarantines, protectionism and container ship chaos. This has caused many businesses to rethink their supply chains.

From crisis to opportunity: what’s the future of trade?

For many businesses, the pandemic has been devastating. For others, new opportunities have arisen. A summary of our virtual events series on the future of trade in a post-COVID world.

How trade relationships and tariffs are affecting trade

Ways that trade can be impacted by political tensions and how businesses can work to mitigate risks and maximise opportunities for growth.

The impact of digitalisation on trade

The pandemic has led to an explosion in the adoption of digital tools throughout the world, bringing with them a host of new opportunities for businesses.

Early detection of default risks

Insolvencies often happen when an important business partner folds. Particularly small and medium-sized enterprises with capital ratios of less than 20% can fall victim to this domino effect.

How Covid-19 changed global trade forever

An exploration of the opportunities, challenges and trends facing businesses during 2021 and beyond.

How to do a risk assessment of your accounts receivable

Your company's accounts receivable is an important indicator for assessing business health.

Dealing with late payment excuses

Unfortunately some businesses make up excuses to explain away delays in settling invoices. Here are some examples of the more common excuses and tips on how to best deal with them.

Letters of credit

Letters of credit are bank guarantees to pay a seller (usually an exporter) for goods or services that the seller has shipped to a buyer (usually an importer).

Ten tips to get your customers to pay on time

The secret to prompt payment lays in a systematic and consistent approach to credit management.

The cultural advantage

Read about the importance of culture within international business and the possible dangers if it is not considered.

Improving cooperation between credit managers and sales

One customer, diverging interests? Managing credit successfully in a sales-driven environment.

Selling to millennials

Discover how Millennials - those who reached young adulthood around the year 2000 - can be a brand's best friend, or its worst enemy.

Exporting guide for small and medium-sized enterprises

A guide to exporting for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Credit management fundamentals

Having an efficient credit management system that works in line with the rest of your business is key to keeping your company's cashflow healthy.

Sales contracts in export business

The contractual framework strongly influences the payment behaviour of customers in the field of export business.

Chasing invoices: how to chase unpaid invoices by phone

Calling a customer to ask for an overdue payment does require some skill. It can also feel uncomfortable to chase outstanding invoices.

Country Risk Map

The Risk Map gives an overview of the level of risk associated with countries worldwide. Risk ratings are based on a variety of political and economic factors gathered by our Economic Research Team.

IFRS9 - Change Ahead

The new IFRS9 regulation introduces changes to trade credit risk accounting. Find out the essential information for your business, practical tips and proposed solutions.