Structured commodity trade finance (PXF/PPF/BBF)

Structured Commodity Trade Finance (PXF/PPF/BBF)

Structured Commodity Trade Finance (PXF/PPF/BBF)

Banks and law firms dominate structured commodity finance, yet they rarely publish operator-grade checklists. We do. If you run cargo, not conferences, you need a facility that actually closes, clears credit, and mirrors how your counterparties ship, title, hedge, and pay. We arrange PXF, PPF, BBF, offtake-backed lines, and commodity repos with documents that survive diligence.
Who we serve
Mid-tier producers, traders, processors, and downstream offtakers moving metals, energy, agri, and fertilizers. If you have real flows and real contracts, we can map a structure to them.
Instruments
Pre-export finance (PXF), prepayment finance (PPF), borrowing-base facilities (BBF), offtake-backed financing, receivables and inventory lines, and commodity repo with title transfer.
Why us
We publish use-case playbooks and checklists that operators can follow. No fluff. Just the terms, covenants, controls, and proofs that move credit committees.
Market references we study
Public deal precedents and disclosures from lenders such as Mizuho Financial Group, MUFG EMEA, and other international commodity lenders inform our playbooks. We do not claim endorsement; we mirror bank-grade discipline in the docs you bring to market.

PXF vs PPF vs Borrowing-Base: Which fits your cargo, counterparty, and route?

Feature PXF (Pre-Export) PPF (Prepayment) BBF (Borrowing-Base)
Best when You have forward sales/offtake and need working capital to lift, process, or ship production. Offtaker prepays against a delivery schedule; you need cash now to secure feedstock or production. You hold recurring eligible inventory and receivables and want a revolving line tied to collateral value.
Security Assignment of offtake/receivables, export proceeds, account charges, shipping docs, often with fixed or floating asset security. Offtake agreement with prepayment mechanics, title or charge over goods, step-in to export proceeds, and parent support where available. First charge over inventory and receivables, cash dominion, eligibility tests, reserves, and frequent borrowing-base certificates.
Advance rates (typical) 60–85% of expected receivables net of hedging and logistics costs. 50–85% of contract value per draw, subject to progress and shipment confirmations. 50–75% of eligible inventory at market minus haircuts; 70–90% on eligible receivables from rated buyers.
Title & risk transfer Aligned to Incoterms and offtake; title passes on shipment or delivery; proceeds swept to controlled accounts. Often early title transfer or specific security over goods in transit or storage; off-ramp via delivery. Lender has perfected security; title stays with borrower until enforcement; tight control of warehouses and receipts.
Hedging Mandatory for price-exposed commodities; ISDA/CSA in place; margin ring-fenced. Required if prepay is priced on index-linked offtake; hedge proceeds pledged to the facility. Hedge policy tied to the base; VAR and limit framework; daily marks feed eligibility.
Use cases Mining concentrates, crude and products, LNG, sugar, grains, coffee, cocoa, palm, fertilizers. Producer–offtaker prepay, tolling with supply prepay, strategic offtake with volume commitment. Traders and processors with rolling stock; distributors with predictable receivables and storage control.

Where a commodity repo fits

A commodity repo is a cash-for-title trade with a forward repurchase. It suits in-tank or in-warehouse stock with clean receipts, reliable assays, and storage control. Haircuts reflect quality, location, and exit routes. Margining is standard. It sits well alongside a BBF when you need extra headroom on specific parcels.

Operator-grade checklists that credit teams actually use

Cargo & logistics
  • Incoterms, title chain, warehouse receipts, inspection, assay, and loss-min letters
  • Vessel, rail, and truck routing with ETD/ETA and demurrage handling
  • Insurance: cargo all-risk, war/strikes where relevant, lender’s loss payable
Counterparty & cash
  • Buyer credit, sanctions screening, KYC/AML, beneficial ownership
  • Payment mechanics: LC, DA/DP, open account with limits and standby
  • Cash control: collection accounts, waterfalls, sweep timing, FX handling
Price & risk
  • Hedging policy under ISDA/CSA, margining, eligible instruments
  • Basis and timing risk between cargo pricing and hedge settlement
  • Concentration limits by buyer, location, grade, and tenor

Use-case playbooks

Metals & concentrates
Problem: Working capital stuck pre-shipment; smelter or roaster payment lag.
Fit: PXF with receivables assignment, hedged LME/COMEX exposure, independent assay, and export proceeds sweep.
Crude & products
Problem: Large parcel sizes, long voyages, tight cash windows.
Fit: PPF or repo on in-tank stock; early title transfer; laycan-tied drawdowns; ISDA hedging and margin ring-fenced.
Agri & softs
Problem: Seasonal inventories, quality variability, warehouse risk.
Fit: BBF with eligibility tests, independent collateral manager, quality and weight adjustments, and dynamic reserves.

Typical terms snapshot

Sizing & tenor
Lines sized to delivery curves and inventory cycles. PXF and PPF: usually 6–24 months with revolving draws. BBF: evergreen with quarterly redetermination.
Pricing & margining
Floating base (SOFR, SONIA, or EURIBOR) plus a spread reflecting cargo, route, buyer credit, and controls. Daily marks for repo and hedged bases. Cash sweep cadence matched to bills of lading and invoices.
Covenants & reserves
Tangible net worth floors, liquidity tests, borrowing-base reserves, concentration caps, hedging compliance, sanctions reps, and audit or inspection rights.

Documentation that clears committees

Core
  • Facility agreement with security and intercreditor where needed
  • Assignment of offtake and receivables; export proceeds control
  • Warehouse and collateral management agreements
  • Insurance endorsements with lender’s loss payable
  • Hedging documents (ISDA/CSA) and margin account control
Standards & rules
  • UCP600, ISP98, or URDG 758 aligned to instrument use
  • Incoterms matched to title and risk transfer
  • Sanctions, AML, KYC, and beneficial ownership proofs
  • Periodic borrowing-base certificates and field exams

Process and target timeline

1
Scope & indicative terms

Cargo mix, routes, storage, buyer list, and hedge policy mapped to a facility outline with initial advance rates and covenants.

2
Credit pack & market sounding

Operator-grade dossier sent to target lenders. We compare responses on advance rates, reserves, controls, and timing.

3
Documentation & CPs

Facility, security, warehouse, insurance, and hedge documents finalized. Accounts opened and control agreements signed. Conditions precedent completed.

4
First funding & monitoring

Initial draw, shipment flow, and first sweeps. Borrowing-base reporting cadence established. Hedge compliance monitored.

Quick decision helper

  • Locked-in offtake with rated buyers? Start with PXF. Add repo on in-tank parcels for headroom.
  • Strategic buyer ready to advance cash? PPF with early title transfer and strict performance milestones.
  • Large rolling inventory and receivables? BBF with tight eligibility, a collateral manager, and daily marks on price-exposed stock.
  • Single parcel or short window cash pinch? Repo against clean receipts with clear exit routes.

Want a bank-ready term sheet?

Send the cargo mix, routes, buyer list, storage setup, and hedge policy. We respond with structure options, advance rates, and a checklist to get you to first draw.

Request Structured Trade Finance Terms

We act as an arranger on a best-efforts basis. Facilities remain subject to KYC/AML, sanctions screening, credit approval, collateral control, and final documentation by lenders and their counsel. Nothing here is a commitment to lend.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do lenders set advance rates?
They look at buyer credit, title and storage control, price exposure and hedge quality, route and delivery risk, and historic performance. They then apply haircuts and reserves to land on a number that protects principal through a full cycle.
Which standards should my documents follow?
Incoterms for title and risk transfer; UCP600, ISP98, or URDG 758 for instruments; ISDA/CSA for hedging; collateral and warehouse agreements with inspection and audit rights; insurance endorsements naming lenders with loss-payable language.
What slows approvals?
Weak title chains, unclear storage control, missing insurance endorsements, no hedging where price is open, poor buyer credit, sanctions gaps, and thin reporting. Fix those, and decisions move faster.

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