Cashtech · trade & import finance
Trade and import finance
If your business imports goods or trades internationally, there is almost always a cash flow gap to manage. Trade and import finance bridges that gap so you can commit to orders and pay suppliers without draining your working capital.
What this category does
When trade finance fits.
Trade and import finance covers import finance to pay overseas suppliers, revolving trade facilities for ongoing purchasing cycles, letters of credit that give overseas suppliers the payment assurance they need to ship, and supply chain finance that smooths payments across your suppliers and buyers.
It suits importers, wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers who buy from overseas or interstate suppliers and carry the cost of goods before they are sold and paid for. If your specific pain is unpaid customer invoices rather than supplier payments, invoice and debtor finance may suit better, and we will point you the right way. Trade finance is a specialised area and the lenders active in it vary in appetite by industry, country and deal size.
The products
6 structures across this category.
Phase 1 covers one canonical sub-product per pillar in detail. The others have summary cards now and dedicated pages in the next phase. Reach out and we'll send the lender shortlist for any of them.
Sub-product · live
Import finance
Working capital structured for businesses importing goods. Funds the period between paying overseas suppliers and receiving Australian customer payment.
Learn moreSub-product · live
Export finance
Pre-shipment funding for large orders, post-shipment funding to bridge customer payment delays, government-backed support for emerging exporters.
Learn moreSub-product · live
Letters of credit
A letter from your bank to your supplier's bank guaranteeing payment when documentary conditions are met. Standard for new international relationships.
Learn moreSub-product · live
Documentary collections
Bank-mediated documentary exchange and payment collection without the LC guarantee. Cheaper than LCs, less risk than open account.
Learn moreSub-product · live
International SCF
Supply chain finance applied to international supply chains. Particularly relevant for multi-tier supplier networks across borders.
Learn moreSub-product · live
Trade credit insurance
Insurance against customers not paying. Often paired with invoice finance for full receivables protection.
Learn more
Lenders we work with
Across this category.
- Octet
- NAB Trade
- CommBank Trade
- ANZ Trade
- Westpac Trade
- HSBC Australia
- Export Finance Australia
Specific lender fit depends on your business profile. Lender accreditation varies; not every lender is available for every deal.
How we work
Four steps from brief to settlement.
- 01
Understand the situation
A 20-minute call to understand the use of funds, trading history, and timing. We pre-qualify against current lender appetite before anything goes to a lender.
- 02
Shortlist the lenders
Three to six lenders typically fit any given commercial scenario. We submit to the two with the strongest current rate and policy fit, not the entire panel.
- 03
Compare apples to apples
Approvals come back as term sheets with different fee structures. We translate them into effective annual cost so the comparison is honest.
- 04
Settle and review
Documentation signs electronically, funds settle to your operating account or the supplier. We follow up at 6 and 12 months to check the rate is still right.
Industries that use trade finance
Common industry fits.
- Industry page
Hospitality & accommodation
Card-heavy revenue, seasonal swings, fitout-intensive operations, lease-driven model.
- Industry page
Tradies & construction
Project-based cashflow, equipment-heavy, ABN-led income. From first ute to fifth crew.
- Industry page
Allied health & medical
Practice ownership, equipment-heavy, regulated environment, practitioner-driven income.
How introductions work. In Phase 1, Cashtech makes introductions between qualified business situations and the lenders best suited to fund them. We are a service offered by Trimorph Pty Ltd ABN 87 604 290 931. Information on this site is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs.
Not sure which fits?
A 20-minute brief on the trade finance situation.
Tell us the shape of the deal and the timing. We'll come back with a lender shortlist or an honest signal that this isn't the right product yet.