MarketDirect.co.za SME Trade Finance

Safe global trade with SME trade finance

Are you looking for a safe way to trade locally or internationally?

Buying from a new supplier or shipping to a new customer? A standard bank transfer (TT/EFT) can leave one party exposed before delivery or payment. We help growing businesses explore Letters of Credit (LCs) and bank guarantees, agree clear conditions and prepare a suitable trade finance request.

Keep more cash in your business

Some arrangements may reduce the need to put up the full instrument value as cash collateral. Security, collateral and settlement obligations are assessed for your transaction; a cash-free facility is not guaranteed.

Move your request forward

Complete documents and agreed wording help avoid delays. Some facilities may be arranged in days, but onboarding, issuer checks and supplier acceptance determine your timeline. We confirm the expected timing after review.

Build supplier confidence

An acceptable LC or guarantee can help you agree secure payment terms with a supplier. Any supplier credit facility is a separate decision and must be agreed with that supplier.

Agree the protection before you trade

A documentary LC supports payment when the required documents comply with its terms. Banks check documents, not the goods themselves. If you need an independent inspection, agree the inspector, scope and required certificate in the contract and LC. Bank guarantees and standby LCs have their own demand conditions. Each party should review the wording and issuer before committing.

Choose the instrument your transaction needs

A documentary Letter of Credit is a payment undertaking against compliant documents under its terms. Banks examine documents, not the goods themselves. A standby Letter of Credit or bank guarantee has separate demand conditions. An instrument is not the same as a working-capital loan or insurance against every trade risk. If a supplier needs cash before loading or collection, tell us. A standard documentary LC does not automatically provide an advance; a separate financing structure may be needed.

• Documentary Letter of Credit
• Standby Letter of Credit
• Bank guarantee

Tell us separately if you also need working capital to pay for goods, delivery or operations.

From enquiry to issuance

1. Share your transaction

   Tell us the amount, currency, supplier country, goods or project, timing and instrument required. Start with a proforma invoice, contract or application details.

2. Review the proposed wording

   We assess the request and arrange proposed instrument wording. Relevant parties review the draft and issuer requirements before proceeding.

3. Agree fees and complete onboarding

   Review an itemised written quote, payment instructions and the final document checklist. Company registration, ownership records and signatory identification are handled privately.

4. Issuer processes the instrument

   After agreed payment and completed documents, the issuer processes the instrument under the accepted terms. Issuance, supplier acceptance and settlement remain subject to those terms.

Fees quoted for your transaction

We work with a panel of trade finance funders and providers. Pricing depends on your transaction and the provider’s assessment, so there is no single fee schedule. Service fees may be higher than traditional bank charges. Compare the full cost with the cash collateral, timing and payment terms offered; your obligations are confirmed before you proceed.

What affects your quote?

• Instrument type, value and currency
• Validity, security requirements and transaction risk
• Issuing bank, provider terms and any additional services

Your itemised written quote confirms issuance and arrangement fees, any other bank or provider charges, applicable taxes, validity, amendments and payment terms. Agreed fees may be due before issuance.

Prepare your documents

Start with a proforma invoice, underlying contract or completed transaction details, plus any wording requested by your supplier. Company registration, shareholder records and government-issued signatory identification are requested privately during onboarding. Additional documents depend on the issuer and transaction.

Do not include identity documents or bank details in this public enquiry.

International enquiries

International enquiries are welcome. Funding availability, supplier acceptance and country coverage are reviewed individually. Amounts stay in the currency you select; we do not automatically convert them. Payment and any foreign exchange arrangements are agreed through the relevant bank or provider.

Take the service profile with you

Read the service options, process, document checklist and how fees are quoted.

Request a trade finance review

Share the transaction basics. We will review your request and confirm the next step. This enquiry does not commit you to fees.

The enquiry form loads with JavaScript. You can also email your enquiry.

Explore instruments and import guides

What our customers say

Existing customer feedback about MarketDirect.co.za services. These comments are not trade finance case studies or promises of approval.

Refer and Earn

Brokers and intermediaries welcome

Join the Earn A Good Living Programme. We welcome brokers who work directly with their clients and can introduce a clear trade finance requirement.

We recognise qualified brokers, protect agreed introductions and record intermediary relationships transparently. Agree your role, client introduction and commission in writing before the transaction proceeds.

For trade finance, brokers earn an agreed commission per transaction on each successfully closed deal, subject to the written agreement. There is no automatic fixed commission rate.

Attend partner training