Supplier's Credit vs Buyer’s Credit

Supplier's Credit vs Buyer’s Credit

01 Oct 2018 03:24 PM

On 13thMarch, 2018, a circular from RBI discontinuing the usage of Letters of Undertaking (LOUs) to provide buyer’s credit, affected the massive trade credit market of more than $85 billion in India leaving the Indian importers struggling to finance their imports. India’s annual import is around $450+Billion and RBI’s decision put a spanner in the works for many importers. Earlier where an importer could get funding at as low as L+50 bps (excluding hedging premium) in some cases, now the importers were strained to raise money in domestic markets from banks at a much higher interest rate.

Combined with a sharply falling Rupee, the importer community has been hit hard recently. To access the overseas funding, market has reverted to Supplier’s Credit in a big way (though it’s still not comparable to the peak Buyer’s credit market) and has started exploring Stand-By Letter of Credit (SBLC) backed Buyer’s Credit. The latter is still in its infancy though there is a renewed interest in this from the market. In recent FAQs, RBI has clarified that the use of SBLCs is permitted for arranging buyer’s credit from overseas lenders.

At this juncture, both these products are an effective medium to avail Trade credit. The underlying premise is to use LCs & SBLCs as the underlying comfort (that is, using issuing bank risk to arrange funding for importers).

A brief process note on both products are outlined below
1. Discounting of Import Letter of Credit at Libor denominated rates (Supplier’s credit)
2. SBLC backed buyer’s credit at Libor denominated rates

Supplier's Credit Process Flow

3. Prior to L/C opening, client shares details with Myforexeye.
4. Myforexeye identifies best rates from off shore banks.
5.Myforexeye notifies specific clauses to be incorporated in the L/C.
6. Importer will ask L/C issuing bank to open an L/C.
7. L/C issuing bank will open and transmits the L/C.
8. L/C issuing bank will open and transmits the L/C.
9. Shipment of goods.
10. Lodgement of documents.
11. Payment to the exporter by disbursing supplier’s credit (in case of discrepancy, send discrepant documents to L/C issuing bank for acceptance).
12. On due date, principal plus interest recovered from importer and remitted by L/C issuing bank.

SBLC Backed Buyer's Credit Process Flow

1. The importer client shares details with Myforexeye for offshore funding (Buyer’s Credit).
2. Myforexeye will provide best quotes from Offshore bank(s).
3. Best quote accepted by client, sanction letter issued & agreement executed between client and Offshore bank..
4. The client approaches Issuing Bank to issue a SBLC in favor of Offshore bank..
5. Shipment of goods.
6. Issuing Bank sends SWIFT message to Offshore bank to pay the import bill.
7. Offshore bank makes payment to beneficiary (exporter) through the exporter’s bank OR to the credit of the NOSTRO account of SBLC issuing bank as the case might be.
8. On maturity date, Issuing Bank recovers amount from the client, remits Principal + Interest to Offshore bank & Offshore bank releases SBLC via SWIFT to Issuing Bank.


Traditional Buyer's Credit vs Suppliers Credit:

By  Buyer’s credit is a short term based credit benefit that can be availed by a buyer (importer) from a foreign bank or financial institution (also known as funding bank) from importing goods from the seller in the foreign country (exporter). The overseas bank commonly known as the funding bank extends buyer’s credit based upon the letter of comfort issued by the importer’s bank as a guarantee. Buyer’s credit helps local importers (both big and small) to gain access to cheaper foreign funds as against local costly funds. The duration of this form of credit may vary from nation to nation, as per the local regulations. In India, buyers credit can be availed for 1 year and 3 years in case of trade able goods and capital goods respectively. As there are various parties involved in buyer’s credit it is in most cases used for export orders in bulk with a minimum floor value of a few million dollars.

Buyers Credit Meaning Buyer’s Credit is considered beneficial as it ensures timely payment to the exporter and gives extra time to the importer to arrange funds, thus helping in effective management of funds. Operation on LIBOR based rates in comparatively cost effective for the importer. It also extends a rollover facility, however, this rollover facility can only be used till the completion of operating cycle and any further transaction is treated as a new transaction.

How Does IT Work?

There are various steps involved in the process of buyer’s credit:

1. The customer (importer) requests the buyer’s credit arranger to arrange credit before the due date of the bill MyForexEye gets quotes (interest rate) from various funding banks and quotes the best rate to the importer. The importer agrees to the best or most cost-effective rate.
2. The overseas bank (funding bank) funds the importer’s bank NOSTRO account for the required amount on the specified date.
3. The payment is made to the exporter’s bank in the foreign currency involved on the due date Finally, the importer’s bank recovers the required amount from the importer on the date assigned and remits the money to the funding bank.
4. Although buyer’s credit is cost effective where only an interest cost is involved as a financing charge it involves the risk associated with currency. Hedging may be required as foreign currency is involved making buyers credit risky.
5. Buyer’s credit may be a good source of short term finance it has its own loopholes and drawbacks that has led to certain failures and scams. Hence buyer’s credit is no longer operational.

What is Supplier's Credit?

Suppliers Credit Meaning Supplier’s credit is an effective method and structure of financing imports into India. Importers are provided with funds at LIBOR linked rates by overseas banks and financial institutions (known as the funding bank) which are much more economical as compared to locally available funding. Funds can be issued under usance letter of credit. The credit period limit here is same as buyer’s credit being 1 year for tradeable commodities and 3 years for capital goods. Supplier’s credit enables timely payment to the exporter or the seller of goods, on the other hand provides time for arranging funds for payment to the importer or buyer of goods. There are a variety of costs involved in case of supplier’s credit being: Foreign bank interest cost, Foreign Bank LC Confirmation Cost (Case to Case basis), LC advising and or Amendment cost, Negotiation cost (normally in range of 0.10%), Postage and Swift Charges, Reimbursement Charges, Cost for the usance (credit) tenure. (Indian Bank Cost) Although supplier’s credit may seem to be a bit costly when compared with buyer’s credit it has lesser chances of scams and minimal loopholes, thus ensuring greater safety for the transaction. Rollover isn’t allowed in supplier’s credit, all transactions are treated as new. With buyer’s credit not operational, supplier’s credit is shining as the best form of availing credit on LIBOR linked rates.

How Does IT Work?

  1. Importer enters into a contract with the supplier for import.
  2. With the transaction details, importer approaches a financial intermediator or arranger – MyForexEye to get the best quotes from the funding bank
  3. MyForexEye gets an indicative pricing from funding bank, which importer confirms. MyForexEye asks for interest rates from various overseas banks and quote the best rate of interest to the importer. Thus, the bank charging the least rate of interest is taken to be the best choice in most cases
  4. Importer approaches his bank and gets the Letter of Credit (LC) issued, restricted to funding bank counters with other required clauses
  5. Funding Bank confirms the LC and advises the LC to Supplier’s Bank. Supplier’s Bank provides the copy of the LC to Supplier.
  6. Supplier ships the goods and submits documents at his bank counter.
  7. Supplier’s Bank sends the documents to Funding Bank.
  8. Funding Bank post checking documents for discrepancies sends the document to importer’s bank for acceptance:
  9. If documents are as per order, the same is discounted and transferred to supplier’s bank.
  10. In case of discrepant documents, documents are sent on acceptance basis. On receipt of Importer bank acceptance, the same is discounted and transferred to supplier’s bank.
  11. Supplier receives the payment for the LC. Depending on who is bearing the interest cost:
  12. If importer is bearing interest cost, supplier receives full payment.
  13. If Suppliers is bearing interest cost, supplier will receive LC amount – Interest.
  14. Importer’s Bank receives the documents. Importer’s bank and Importer accept documents. Importer’s Bank provides acceptance to Overseas Bank, guaranteeing payment on due date.
  15. On maturity, Importer makes the payment to his bank and Importer’s bank makes payment to Supplier’s Credit Bank

Difference Between Buyers and Suppliers Credit

Mode of Payment Can be used for payment mode like LC, LC usance, DA, DP, & Direct Doc Can be used only in case of LC transactions
LC Clauses No additional clauses or Amendment is required in LC At the time of opening LC or amending LC clauses given by Suppliers Credit bank needs to be changed. Like Negotiation Clause, Confirmation Clause, Reimbursement Clause
Arrangement Can be arranged after documents have reached the bank or documents are received by importer directly Has to be arranged at the time of opening LC or before shipment of goods
Cost Involved Interest Cost LC Advising Cost, LC Amendment Charges, Document Processing Charges, Courier Charges, Conformation Cost and Interest Cost.
Feasibility It is feasible for both small and large importers It is not very feasible for small importers
Rollover Rollover facility is provided Rollover is not allowed
working It is no longer operational It is operational

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