Edition 07 | November 2025
Welcome to TraydGuru Insights, your regular briefing on the evolving landscape of digital and traditional trade finance. As technology continues to reshape global trade operations, staying informed of emerging practices, regulatory developments, and innovation trends is critical.
Each edition offers practical perspectives, analysis of market shifts, and a closer look at how digital tools are transforming trade processes. Whether you are enhancing operational models, navigating compliance, or driving new business strategies, TraydGuru brings clarity to a rapidly changing trade world.
ICC
Trade finance underpins 80% to 90% of global trade, making it one of the most influential financial instruments in the world. Yet to date, it remains largely untapped as a tool for climate action. ICC, Boston Consulting Group and leading trade banks have developed the most comprehensive approach yet to assessing sustainability across the entire trade journey, paving the way for a new tool that could unlock trillions of dollars in climate finance.
https://iccwbo.org/news-publications/news/the-opportunity-to-turn-trade-finance-green-at-scale/
Bangladesh
Despite sufficient supply of US dollars at the moment, the settlement of letters of credit for imports decreased in August. It mainly results from decline in imports of capital goods which indicates stagnation in new industrial activities. Industry insiders say L/C settlement has decreased due to decrease in opening new LCs in the last few months and low pressure of overdue (expired or outstanding) LCs.
https://www.observerbd.com/news/546804
Mondaq
Letters of credit are one of the most widely used financial tools in international commerce. They provide a secure, bank-backed method of payment for parties entering into commercial transactions across international borders. A letter of credit is initiated by a buyer and issued by their bank, serving as an assurance to a seller that payment will be honoured.
WTO
Welcomed recent calls of support for the WTO and the multilateral trading system from world leaders and urged members to show the political will and flexibility to achieve meaningful outcomes at the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in March 2026.
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news25_e/tnc_30sep25_e.htm
India/UK innovation centre
India and the UK have forged a strategic partnership at India Mobile Congress 2025, pledging £24 million over four years to drive digital connectivity innovation. The India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre (CIC) will foster collaboration between researchers, innovators, and businesses, focusing on telecommunications, cybersecurity, and AI’s role in transforming the sector.
HSBC
HSBC Asset Management has introduced its Trade and Working Capital Solutions (TWCS) strategy, created in partnership with the bank’s Global Trade Solutions (GTS) division. The strategy is designed to open the door for institutional investors to participate directly in the growing global trade finance market, capitalising on HSBC’s distinctive position in the sector and its established expertise in originating high-quality trade transactions.
https://ibsintelligence.com/ibsi-news/hsbc-launches-trade-and-working-capital-solutions-strategy/
ICC
Trade finance is one of the most powerful, yet severely underutilised, levers for tackling climate change. Up to 90% of global trade passes through letters of credit, export guarantees and supply-chain loans – funding everything from wind-turbines to smart phones and building supplies.
AD Ports Group
AD Ports Group has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to accelerate innovation in digital trade, logistics, and the automation of port operations across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and other international markets.
DBS
DBS and Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF) have announced a strategic partnership to expand their trade settlement, financing and regional currency clearing solutions.
Deutsche Bank
Origination of trade lending assets and then distributing them to other financial institutions and investors makes the scaling up of financing trade possible.
https://flow.db.com/trade-finance/distributing-trade-finance-a-vital-contribution
Finastra
Finastra’s roadmap includes AI-enabled document checking and workflow optimisation to help banks process trade finance transactions faster and with fewer manual interventions. These pilots align with the industry’s broader move to embed AI into middle- and back-office processes.
Bangladesh
The tax authorities have identified that some scheduled banks are allegedly evading payment of tax against opening of local letters of credit (LCs) in a bid to attract businesses.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/some-banks-evade-local-lc-taxes
Iran
Two Russian banks have agreed to accept letters of credit (LCs) issued by Iranian banks.
https://ifpnews.com/two-russian-banks-agree-to-accept-letters-of-credit-from-iranian-banks/
Global supply chains
Geopolitical uncertainties, rising tariffs, and maritime disruptions are reshaping supply chains and fundamentally altering global trade infrastructure, trade finance, and currency mechanisms.
ICC
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), with support from Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Mining and Metals Digitalization Forum (MMDF), unveiled a practical guide to help governments and businesses implement paperless trade systems, that cut cost, time and risk in cross-border commerce.
Teesside University
Policymakers, industry leaders and technology innovators have been able to witness first-hand how a state-of-the-art Tees Valley facility is set to transform global trade.
https://teesbusiness.co.uk/2025/10/21/tees-demo-showcases-the-future-of-global-trade/
France
France adopted law aligned with the UN Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records in 2024. As of August 2025, it now a degree which defines technical criteria for a reliable method to achieve the goals of the MLETR.
China
The MLETR would assist China in formulating legislation on use of electronic transferable records as such law currently does not exist in China.
Tariffs
Tariffs remain a central force in shaping global trade dynamics. While often implemented to protect domestic industries, they can disrupt supply chains, alter trade flows, and create inefficiencies. For institutional investors, these disruptions present both risks and opportunities. A well-structured trade finance strategy can offer resilience and adaptability in navigating this evolving landscape.
XDC / Contour
XDC Ventures has announced the acquisition of Contour Network, a blockchain-based platform for digitised letters of credit. Originally backed by a consortium of global banks including HSBC, Standard Chartered, BNP Paribas, Citi, DBS, ING, Bangkok Bank, and CTBC Bank, Contour’s revival under XDC Ventures may mark a pivotal step in bridging traditional finance with Web3 innovations.
World Bank
Trade finance involves using financial tools, like letters of credit or guarantees, and techniques to help support cross-border trade transactions. But in high-risk markets, banks are reluctant to confirm letters of credit and private lenders are quick to pull back. The development cost of this isn’t just disrupted shipments, it’s crops that never get planted, medicines that never reach patients, and economic setbacks that ripple far beyond a single transaction.
https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/voices/trade-finance-a-lifeline-for-jobs-and-businesses
DCSA
ODeX, a leading digital documentation platform in India’s shipping ecosystem, has joined DCSA+ to advance paperless trade and streamline digital workflows across carriers, forwarders, and ports. Their involvement brings deep practical expertise in electronic documentation and operational automation, supporting wider industry adoption of trusted standards.
https://dcsa.org/newsroom/odex-joins-dcsa-plus?mtm_campaign=Newsletter&mtm_source=Newsletter
About TraydGuru
TraydGuru is dedicated to making digital and traditional trade finance more accessible, understandable, and actionable. With a focus on operational innovation, emerging market practices, and regulatory developments, TraydGuru Bulletin provides trade professionals with clear analysis and practical perspectives. In a world where technology is reshaping every aspect of global commerce, TraydGuru helps you navigate change – and lead it.
