LC Issuance & Discounting for Physical Commodity Transactions
Secure cargo, align cash flows, and speed payout. We structure UCP600 Letters of Credit with the right wording, nominate banks that can examine complex commodity documents, and add confirmation or UPAS so the seller is paid at sight while the buyer repays at tenor. Works across energy, metals, agriculture, chemicals, and fertilizers with clear controls from draft MT700 to settlement.
Commodity scope we cover
Energy
- Crude and refined products
- LNG and LPG
- Biofuels
Metals & minerals
- Ferrous and non-ferrous
- Concentrates and cathodes
- Bulk and containerized shipments
Agriculture & softs
- Grains and oilseeds
- Sugar, coffee, cocoa
- Cotton and rice
Chemicals & fertilizers
- Urea, ammonia, NPK
- Polymers and solvents
- Industrial chemicals
Why Letters of Credit fit physical trades
Bank-to-bank settlement
Mitigates counterparty risk between producers, traders, refiners, and end buyers.
Documentary control
Payment against transport, title, weight, quality, and inspection documents that match the contract.
Cash flow timing
UPAS or acceptance discounting pays at sight while the buyer repays at 30 to 180 days.
What we deliver
LC structuring
Draft MT700, Incoterms, latest shipment and presentation, tolerance, partials, transshipment, reimbursement path, and charges clause aligned to the trade flow.
Bank lineup
Issuer selection by corridor, confirmation with first-class banks where required, MT740 reimbursement, nominated bank capacity for complex documents.
Execution and discounting
Fee letters, issuance, document examination support, discrepancy management, acceptance, and discounting or UPAS so sellers are paid at sight.
Commodity documents that speed payout
Transport and title
- Ocean bill of lading or charter party bill if agreed
- Warehouse receipt or tank warrant for stored goods
- Delivery order or ship’s receipt when customary
Quality, weight, and compliance
- Independent inspection certificates and reports
- Assay and weight certificates for metals and concentrates
- Certificate of origin, phytosanitary, fumigation where applicable
- Sanctions and end-use attestations where required
UPAS and usance discounting in practice
UPAS
The bank pays the beneficiary at sight once documents are compliant. The applicant repays the bank at usance maturity. Pricing is split by contract.
Acceptance discounting
After the bank accepts a draft or otherwise undertakes to pay at a future date, the nominated or confirming bank buys the deferred payment and advances funds.
Eligibility and documents required
Baseline profile
- Operating trader, producer, refiner, smelter, or end buyer
- Contract or PO with Incoterms and shipment plan
- Acceptable issuer and corridor risk
- Clear sanctions posture and counterparties
Checklist to start
- KYC, corporate docs, ownership table
- Recent financials and bank statements
- Draft LC text with UCP600 reference and document list
- Advising or nominated bank details for the seller
Illustrative pricing
Issuance 0.30% to 1.20% flat per 90 days by issuer and corridor. Confirmation 0.40% to 1.70% flat when required. Document examination 0.10% to 0.20% flat. Discount margin is a spread over base for the usance period. Final allocation follows the LC charges clause.
Step by step to issuance and settlement
- Share trade contract, draft LC, shipment plan, KYC, and financials.
- Receive indicative terms, issuer options, and confirmation proposal.
- Finalize wording, reimbursement path, partials, and tolerance. Issue MT700.
- Ship and present documents to the nominated or confirming bank.
- Bank examines, obtains acceptance, and pays seller at sight via UPAS or discounting.
- Applicant repays at maturity. Settlement reconciles across banks with MT740 or direct reimbursement.
Controls that keep approvals smooth
Clean wording
Irrevocable LC under UCP600, clear dates, standard documents, and named nominated bank.
Issuer and country risk
Add confirmation when issuer strength or corridor risk demands it.
Commodity-specific proof
Inspection, assay, weight, and compliance certificates aligned with the contract and LC text.
Frequently asked questions
Can all commodity LCs be discounted?
No. Discounting requires clean documents and an acceptable undertaking from the issuing or confirming bank. Confirmation often unlocks without-recourse discounting.
Do LC rules matter?
Yes. UCP600 governs commercial LCs. For collections, URC522 may apply but offers less certainty. Standbys follow ISP98 if used for performance or payment undertakings.
What causes discrepancies in commodities?
Conflicting dates, nonstandard certificates, missing inspection wording, and BL clauses not allowed by the LC. We align contract, LC, and logistics to prevent this.
Request LC Issuance & Discounting Terms
We arrange UCP600 LCs for physical commodities and enable sight payout through confirmation, UPAS, or acceptance discounting. Our team drafts bankable wording, selects an issuer by corridor, adds a confirming bank when needed, and manages document examination for complex sets like BLs, warehouse receipts, inspection, assay, and weight certificates. You secure cargo and supplier capacity while matching cash outflows to tenor. Send your contract, draft LC, shipment plan, KYC, and financials and we will return eligibility and pricing bands with a clear path to issuance and settlement.
Request Indicative Terms
Financely acts as advisor and arranger on a best efforts basis. We are not a bank. All transactions are subject to KYC and AML, sanctions screening, credit approval, legal documentation, and third-party diligence. Nothing here is a commitment to lend or an offer of securities. Terms vary by bank names, jurisdictions, and documentary quality.