How Repurchase Agreements (Repos) Work in Commodity Trading
How Repurchase Agreements (Repos) Work in Commodity Trading
How Repurchase Agreements (Repos) Work in Commodity Trading
Need liquidity but don’t want to sell your cargo? Repurchase agreements help traders unlock cash by temporarily selling goods with a contractual agreement to buy them back. Used properly, they provide short-term financing without sacrificing control over your inventory.
Commodities don't move without cash, and liquidity gaps kill deals before they start. For traders sitting on inventory but low on capital, repurchase agreements—or repos—offer a fast, asset-backed solution. You temporarily sell your goods and agree to buy them back later. The lender gets short-term yield. You get breathing room.
What is a Repo in Commodity Trading?
A repo is a two-part agreement: you sell your commodity to a financier and commit to repurchase it at a future date, usually at a slightly higher price. The financier essentially gives you a short-term loan with the commodity as collateral.
Why Use a Repo?
Repos give you working capital without requiring you to fully exit a trade. Instead of liquidating inventory or borrowing unsecured, you temporarily transfer ownership while maintaining the right to buy it back. The buyer (usually a fund or trading desk) gets downside protection in the form of title or warehouse control.
Advantage
Why It Matters
Fast execution
Deals can close in days with clean paperwork
Asset-backed
Minimal counterparty exposure for lenders
No personal guarantee
Structured around the commodity, not your balance sheet
Scalable
Can be reused across cargoes, seasons, or jurisdictions
$10M Repo Deal Example
You’re holding $10 million worth of copper in a bonded warehouse. Your end buyer is lined up, but payment isn’t coming for 60 days. You need cash now to secure your next shipment.
Here’s how the repo plays out:
Step
Action
Amount
1. Sale
You "sell" the copper to a fund or lender
$9.5M (95% LTV)
2. Repurchase Agreement
You agree to buy it back in 60 days
$10.1M
3. Implied Yield
Lender earns $600K
Approx. 7.5% annualized
Do I Need to Own the Goods to Repo Them?
Not fully—but you need to control them. Most repo transactions rely on constructive ownership: you may not have paid your supplier in full yet, but you control the goods through warehouse receipts or purchase contracts.
Warehouse receipt: proves control, not necessarily full ownership
Purchase contract: outlines delivery and payment terms
Title transfer: usually occurs upon repo execution
This structure gives financiers the legal right to take possession if you default. It also gives you legal grounds to repurchase the goods and close the loop.
Risks to Consider
Repos aren't risk-free. While they solve liquidity issues, they come with legal and operational risks if not structured correctly.
Price fluctuation:
Lenders risk losses if the commodity price crashes before buyback
Title issues:
Poor documentation or weak warehouse control can invalidate the repo
Default:
If you can’t repurchase, the financier must liquidate quickly — which can be messy
Where Repos Fit in Your Capital Stack
Repos work best when you have real goods, a short-term liquidity gap, and clear exit timing (end buyer, offtake, or futures contract). They're not a fix-all, but they can give you a clean bridge between delivery and payment.
We Help Traders Structure Repos
At Financely, we build repo deals that work. We handle the legal structure, validate documentation, and connect you to serious lenders who understand the asset class. Whether you're moving metals, energy, or agri, we help you get capital without losing your position.
Need to Structure a Repo Deal?
We help traders and suppliers turn warehouse inventory into working capital. Secure funding. Keep control. Move faster.
Submit Your Deal & Receive a Proposal Within 1-3 Working Days
Submit your deal using oursecure intake form, and receive a quotewithin 1-3 business days. Existing clients can connect with theirrelationship managerthrough oursecure web portal.
All submissions arepromptly reviewed, and all communications are conducted through the intake form or the client portal for a seamless and secure process.
Thank you for considering working with us. A nominal fee of US$500
is required upon completion of each form. This fee covers the time and effort we invest in reviewing
your submission and crafting a thorough proposal. We receive numerous inquiries and prioritize those
that carry this fee, ensuring serious applicants receive prompt attention.
Trade Finance
Tap into solutions like letters of credit, bank guarantees, and payment facilitation. We address
the challenge of global transaction risk through structured strategies that foster cross-border
growth. Complete the form to unlock streamlined funding aligned with your commercial objectives.
Access non-recourse funding for infrastructure, renewable energy, or other capital-intensive
ventures. We mitigate capital constraints by isolating project assets and focusing on risk
management. Provide your details to receive a structure that drives growth and maximizes returns.
Secure financing for business or real estate acquisitions. We ease transaction hurdles by
reviewing cash flow, synergy opportunities, and exit plans. Complete the form for a customized
proposal that supports your strategic investment objectives.
Financely assists banks facing Basel III pressures by distributing trade finance deals and
providing collateral for letters of credit. We reduce capital burdens while preserving client
relationships and fostering service expansion. Submit your request to optimize your trade finance
offerings.
Once we receive your submission, our team will review your information to determine feasibility. If
eligible, you will receive a proposal or term sheet within 1–3 business days. Visit our FAQ
and Procedure
pages for more information.
Disclaimer:
Financely provides financing based on due diligence and feasibility.
Approval is not guaranteed, and past performance does not predict future outcomes. All terms are
subject to review. Financely primarily assists with structuring and distribution. Qualified parties
carry out the project if the client approves the proposal.
Still Have Questions? Schedule a Consultation
If you still have questions after visiting ourFAQandProcedurepages, we invite you to book a paid consultation for personalized guidance. A $250 USD fee applies per session.
Important Resources
Popular Services
About Financely
Financely advises growth-focused businesses on accessing capital by introducing their opportunities to professional investors. Financely is not a securities broker or dealer. Where appropriate, engagements are coordinated with regulated broker-dealers, investment banks, legal counsel, and other specialists.
Financely does not solicit, offer, or accept orders to buy or sell securities and makes no assurance regarding capital-raising outcomes.
Services are strictly business-to-business. Financely does not provide personal finance, consumer credit, or retail advisory services.
Advisory services are reserved for post-revenue companies that recognize the time and resources required for professional underwriting.
All mandates start with an RFQ. We review submissions, issue a brief Go/No-Go memo, and where bankable, release a Term Sheet that leads to funding. We arrange capital across Senior Secured, Unitranche, Second Lien/Mezzanine, Preferred Equity, and Gap Solutions. We do not process deals by email or chat.
Trade Finance
Letters of Credit, Standby LCs, Confirmations, Receivables Finance, and Inventory Lines with control.
LCs and Confirmations
SBLC and Guarantees
AR/AP and Supply Chain
Funding arranged for trade flows with instruments sized to your cycle and aligned to delivery and settlement.
Move forward to secure working capital and keep goods moving. Submit the RFQ to start underwriting for funding.
KYC and Source of Funds required. Engagements are best-efforts and subject to underwriting. Preference for operating companies with meaningful revenue.
See our FAQ
and Procedure.
Financely Inc. (“Financely”) provides corporate-finance advice and is wholly owned by Aurora Bay Trust, a trust formed under Bahamian law, together with its authorized affiliates. Depending on deal structure, jurisdiction, and local rules, engagement may be carried out through Financely Group LLC, a non-deposit-taking non-banking financial company; Ashford Capital Advisory LLC; or another related entity. Financely and its affiliates are not registered as securities broker-dealers. When a mandate involves the purchase or sale of securities and a registered intermediary is required, all orders are introduced to and executed by a U.S. broker-dealer registered with the SEC and FINRA, acting as “chaperone” under SEC Rule 15a-6 (17 C.F.R. § 240.15a-6). Nothing here constitutes an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security. Before proceeding, read our Terms of Service to confirm that engaging Financely Group LLC, Ashford Capital Advisory LLC, or any affiliate aligns with your legal and regulatory requirements.In the United States, we operate as anexempt foreign private adviserpursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, subject to applicable exemptions from certain regulatory requirements. Our services and regulatory status may vary based on the location and nature of the transaction. Clickhereto download our brochure.