The race to be a global leader in certain cutting-edge technologies will always be a hard fought one. But in the case of China’s Huawei, the company has unfortunately been wrongly dragged into the whole US-China trade wars saga. Jonathan Bell examines the scene.
Sustainability within commodity production and financing has been slow to properly kick-in. But changes are afoot, and many traders are now making valiant strides to ensure sustainability goals become a real part of their make-up. Jonathan Bell assesses some recent developments.
The cancellation of the hike in tariffs on imports from China into the US is giving rise to hope of a trade deal between the two countries and an end to the all-out trade wars. Jonathan Bell assesses the prospects.
Commodity producers and other corporates in Russia are closely watching the possibility of increased sanctions being imposed by the US. But while the prospect of these is still unclear, there is confidence that lessons learned over the past five years of sanctions will provide a good degree of protection to any impact.
Despite the intense political debate surrounding the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the project is moving ahead at great pace. Jonathan Bell examines what all the fuss is about.
The increased focus on upstream LNG looks likely to intensify, and the sheer scale of many of these projects will require funds from a range of sources, not least ECA support. Jonathan Bell highlights a couple of prime examples where the ECAs are likely to play leading roles.
The mega Dangote oil refinery will radically change the downstream landscape of Nigeria and enable vital import substitution. Jonathan Bell examines developments.
The Panama Canal is one of the wonders of the world. Jonathan Bell charts its course.
The recent UN climate change conference COP24 gave us all a stark reality check on where we are in terms of trying to do something to save this planet. It’s a massive uphill struggle. Slowly, in some areas the message is filtering through. Here, Jonathan Bell looks at some renewable energy developments which are helping to make a difference.
While the US and China try to seek agreement in their trade war, the prospect of a wider spat could open up as the US eyes technology issues. Jonathan Bell reviews the latest developments.
TXF last week held its annual Cape Town Conference on southern African Commodities, Export & Project Financing. Here, Jonathan Bell highlights some of the key takeaways from the event and some further recent important major project developments.
Making sense of the bigger picture of the state of the global commodity markets is no easy task. But here, Jonathan Bell meets up with a long-time friend and real commodity guru in Geneva - Jean-Francois Lambert, former head of HSBC commodity finance, and now founder and managing partner of Lambert Commodities.
A new report on competition within export, ECA-backed and development financing and how some of these practices are distorting the multilateral finance system has just been released. Jonathan Bell assesses the report and suggests that policy makers need to act now.
Great strides are now being made in enhancing commodity logistics through the use of blockchain in commodity shipments. Jonathan Bell explores some of the recent developments.
China is hosting the world’s first international import expo. Jonathan Bell examines the development in what could be the start of a new era of trade focus for the world’s second largest economy.
Rail projects have the capability to change the face of the African continent for both freight and urban passengers. But, argues Jonathan Bell, proper planning of viable rail links is essential if they are to find the right backers and mix of financing.
High crude oil prices look set to continue despite efforts to increase production. At the same time, argues Jonathan Bell, we are seeing a greater strategic use of crude.
With the new trade agreement between the US and Canada, a revised NAFTA, and the passing of the BUILD Act in the US, Jonathan Bell asks if we are finally beginning to see some positives on trade from the politicians?
Last month, TXF gathered a small delegation of senior players active across West Africa to discuss the exciting developments playing out across the region. Here’s just a snapshot of what we concluded.
Mega upstream gas projects have been prolific in recent years, but asks Jonathan Bell, how is the industry changing and what can we expect with future projects?
China is putting more major funds and resources in place to further cement trade and investment ties with Africa, but asks Jonathan Bell is this sustainable and what are the pros and cons for African states?
What does the new trade deal, agreed in principle between the US and Mexico, spell out in the finer detail, and what implications could it have for other trade spats and trade wars that the US has recently instigated? Jonathan Bell takes a closer look and reviews The Week That Was at TXF
The Turkish economy has been overheating. Mounting external debt and the mismanagement of the economy has caused the Turkish Lira to plummet against the US dollar and delivered a serious downgrade in its credit rating. Jonathan Bell examines the consequences of the collapse and what impact this could have on you, as well as what this may mean for other emerging markets and their borrowings, plus his regular look back on the week that was at TXF.
Last week's announcement that China plans to impose tariffs on up to $60 billion worth of US goods points to a heating up of the trade war between the two countries. Jonathan Bell takes a closer look at the worsening situation and The Week That Was...
This week's edition of The Week That Was focuses on recent problems being caused by resource nationalism in Africa's mining sector
It would be good to escape from major economic trade factors that are influencing our lives – if only for a while, and for some in the Northern Hemisphere that obviously comes as many folk now take their annual summer vacations.
Jonathan Bell, Editor-in-Chief at TXF gives us his take on news that Tesla is to build an EV Gigafactory in Shanghai, as well as a review of TXF's market coverage from the last 7 days
Topi Vesteri, Deputy CEO, Group CCO at Finnvera and President at the International Union of Credit & Investment Insurers (Berne Union) is to be honoured with the TXF Industry Fellowship Award in recognition for his exceptional service to the international export finance sector.
From patterns in consolidation, competition and coal to local liquidity, legal issues and leveraging the power of sustainability, there were a number of content takeaways from two days of dynamic debate and discussion at TXF Amsterdam 2018.
Charles Hall, the acting chairman of US Ex-Im has retired from the bank. What does this mean for the agency which is still without a board quorum and unable to approve new export deals over $10 million?
London-headquartered insurance broker Texel Finance is about to celebrate 20 years in the business as of 1 December. TXF editor-in-chief Jonathan Bell, caught up with Texel chairman Andy Lennard to talk about the growth of the company and the future for the sector.
At the TXF Cape Town conference in October, Kutoane Kutoane, CEO, Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa (ECIC) took time out to talk with TXF editor-in-chief, Jonathan Bell, about the changing focus of ECIC and the new push now being made for South African exports with a greater emphasis on markets across the African continent.
Following a sweeping reorganisation in 2015, BBVA is looking at double-digit growth for its 2017 global trade business – and gearing for a much bigger share of the global ECA-backed loan market.
One of the many hot topics under the spotlight at the ITFA annual conference, this year held in Edinburgh, was the subject of digitisation and standardisation of receivables, the role that fintechs are now having in that space and the impetus being given to the use of platforms for the distribution of trade-related assets on the secondary market.
Anti US Ex-Im comments from the US is nothing new over the past couple of years, but the latest anti-blast coming from the Wall Street Journal is just plain wrong. Politics seems to be at play in this case and it is American exporters who will continue to suffer.
Peter Luketa, former global head of export finance at HSBC, led one of the most successful teams within the export finance sector. With 20 years of ECA-backed lending under his belt, he speaks with TXF’s editor-in-chief about the evolution of the product line and the potential for a $100 billion annual market.
It is now less than three weeks to the annual US Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) meeting in Washington DC. The Ex-Im bank still does not have full re-authorisation, it does not have a chairman, and it does not have a quorum of board members –
Jonathan Bell talks with Anthony Palmer about his 41 years in the credit and political risk insurance (CPRI) market, the key events that have shaped its development, and what the future holds for BPL Global.
We are looking for the most innovative, market influencing transactions within trade, commodity, ECA/DFI-backed and project financing.
In a triumph for Bangladeshi project financing, agencies and private companies have come together to secure the financing for the Sirajganj BOOT power project, which will provide much-needed FDI and ultimately power to the country’s grid.
International competition for contracts and projects in overseas markets is intense. As such, US exporting companies and contractors need the full support of an empowered US Export-Import Bank (US Ex-Im) to prosper on the international stage.
The Berne Union’s secretary general, Kai Preugschat, is leaving the organisation to take up a high-level position within the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila, Philippines. In his new role he will have the title head of the office of co-financing operations.
In a ground-breaking transaction for Ghana, HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank have issued a $500 million stand-by letter of credit on behalf of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation to make payments for natural gas deliveries. The transaction is related to gas supplies from Ghana’s Sankofa gas field and will be transformational in the development of power generation within Ghana.
Russia’s Norilsk Nickel has signed a five-year $500 million committed revolving back-stop credit facility (RCF) with a group of international banks. The transaction is on an unsecured basis and is new money, shining a positive light on the Russian market.
Those of you unfamiliar with the annual jamboree which is the wonderful SIbos – the world’s largest financial conference/exhibition – will possibly be oblivious to the scale and intensity of the event, and its impact and influence in the short-term trade, FI and fintech community.
One of the key themes to come out of the recent ITFA conference held in Warsaw was the increasing importance of the role of distribution and syndication within trade to help achieve success in the changing and challenging market environment.
Mizuho Bank has boosted its team in the EMEA region with the hire of Tim Lamey as head of export and structured trade finance, EMEA. The appointment will give Mizuho a significant boost as it takes the export finance product and structured trade business lines
SMBC has reorganised its structured trade and commodity finance (STCF) groups in London within its global trade finance department. As part of the reorganisation it is understood that the singular role of global head of STCF, held by John Turnbull, will no longer exist.
Summer in the northern hemisphere is usually a slow period for export credit agency (ECA) and DFI-backed financing, but this year I can’t help noticing that it is one of the slowest yet. Still – let’s face it, much of the financing world, particularly in Europe, seem to be on nice long holidays. And, of course – it is an Olympics year after all.
Bringing together the leaders of export, commodity & project finance in the region, we discuss the continent's continual need for infrastructure financing to the latest technologies in the agri world.
This one-day event held in Washington DC convenes professionals from across project and infrastructure finance to discuss innovative and collaborative project delivery in the developing world.
This regional one day event brings together key decision makers, advisories and exporters together to debate the future of Nordic export finance.
TXF Stages for Change is set to provide a platform for driving change where it’s needed most - from race, ethnicity and gender equality to socioeconomic status.
Join senior players working across trade, treasury & risk as they come together to discuss financing international trade (FIT) and the management of risk along supply chains.
The 6th edition returns to Amsterdam for the best networking and discussion in town. Harness the power of the flower at TXF Amsterdam and get psychedelic solutions to your financing needs.
Your largest export, agency & project finance event returns for 2019! Firmly rated in the industry as having rock-star status, we bring the show to Berlin. For those about to finance, we salute you...
The climax to Geneva commodities week, TXF Geneva brings together the European commodity finance market for an unparalleled day of thought leadership, networking and education.