Export Finance for UK Manufacturers
By Joshua Giles, Founder and Director · Reviewed by the CoreFi credit team
Last updated 20 July 2026
CoreFi is a broker, not a lender. We do not set rates and lenders make all credit decisions.
In short: £50k - £5M over Per order (typically 90-180 days). The problem with exporting manufactured goods is simple.
The problem with exporting manufactured goods is simple. You build the product, you ship it, then you wait, often 90 to 180 days, for an overseas buyer to pay. That gap kills cash flow in businesses that are otherwise winning orders.
Export finance closes the gap. The facility advances working capital against a confirmed export order or invoice, so you can fund materials, labour, and production without raiding your overdraft. Credit insurance sits alongside it, covering you if the overseas buyer defaults, is sanctioned, or the country itself goes into political crisis.
Where UK Export Finance (UKEF) comes in is on the lender's side. UKEF can guarantee up to 80% of the buyer default risk, which means a lender who might otherwise pass on a large emerging-market order will often say yes with the guarantee in place. Exploring UKEF support costs you nothing as the exporter. We have seen UKEF backing turn a declined facility into a live one, and that is worth knowing before you assume the bank cannot help.
Typical structures are per-order, drawn against the export contract and repaid when the buyer pays. Larger manufacturers running continuous export programmes often move to a revolving facility tied to their debtor book. We are a broker, so we place these deals with the lenders and UKEF-backed structures that fit your order, rather than selling you one product.
Key Benefits
- Per-order advance means you fund production from the confirmed contract, not from reserves you do not have
- UKEF guarantees covering up to 80% of buyer default risk can unlock facilities that a commercial lender would otherwise decline
- Credit insurance protects your profit margin when an overseas buyer fails to pay, is sanctioned, or the country imposes transfer restrictions
- Multi-currency facilities let you invoice in dollars or euros and receive the advance in sterling, removing the exchange-rate mismatch from your working capital
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UKEF and does it cost anything to use?
UK Export Finance is the government's export credit agency. It guarantees your lender against buyer default risk, up to 80%, which reduces the lender's exposure and can improve the terms you receive. Exploring UKEF support costs you nothing. We deal with UKEF-backed structures regularly and can tell you quickly whether your order and buyer country are likely to qualify.
Can UKEF-backed terms help me win the order in the first place?
Yes, and this is underused. If you can offer your overseas buyer extended credit backed by a UKEF guarantee, you can match or beat what competitors in countries with their own export credit agencies are offering. A buyer who would otherwise choose a German supplier because of KfW-backed terms may choose you instead.
What does a lender actually need to see to approve an export finance facility?
At minimum: the export contract or confirmed order, proforma invoices, Incoterms for the shipment, and some basic credit information on the overseas buyer. For UKEF involvement the country risk rating matters; high-risk countries can still be covered but the terms will reflect that. We will tell you upfront whether your specific buyer and country are likely to be supported before you spend time pulling the paperwork together.
Which countries does UKEF cover?
Over 200 markets, though country risk ratings vary, and that rating affects the premium on the credit insurance and the proportion UKEF will guarantee. A buyer in Germany is treated very differently from a buyer in a high-risk market. We can give you a rough steer on your specific destination before you apply.
Related Funding Options
Trade Finance for Manufacturers
UK manufacturers paying overseas suppliers before finished goods sell can use trade finance for manufacturers to bridge the gap. We place transactions from £25k to £5M with lenders who understand manufacturing lead times.
Invoice Finance for Manufacturers | Release Cash from Your Sales Ledger
UK manufacturers waiting 60-90 days for payment can release 80-90% of invoice value within 24 hours. We place invoice finance for manufacturing businesses across a range of facility sizes.
Unsecured Business Loans for Manufacturers
Unsecured business loans for UK manufacturers: fund raw materials, hiring, and contract ramp-up without charging your factory or plant. As a broker we place deals from £10k to £300k.
Export Finance UK: Fund Overseas Orders
Export finance funds UK exporters before overseas buyers pay: invoice advances, credit insurance and UKEF-backed options. We place these deals from £25k.
Business finance by location
Lender appetite varies by city and region. If you would rather start from where your business is based, these local guides cover the same funding with the local picture.
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Get matched with lendersCoreFi is a trading name of JG Core Ltd (Company #16218779, England & Wales). CoreFi acts as a commercial finance broker and does not provide regulated financial advice. All products described are unregulated business-to-business finance. Information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute a formal offer of finance. Terms, rates, and availability are subject to lender criteria and may change without notice.