Unsecured Business Loans for Import & Export Businesses
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: £10k - £300k over 1 - 5 years. The cash flow problem in international trade is timing.
The cash flow problem in international trade is timing. You pay an overseas supplier 30 to 120 days before you collect from your UK buyer, and customs duties land as a lump sum the moment goods clear the border. An unsecured business loan will not fix the underlying cycle, but it gives you the capital buffer to keep placing orders while you wait for payment.
The lenders who fund import and export businesses are generally the fintech and specialist commercial lenders, not the high street. They assess the business on revenue, trading history, and directors' credit rather than fixed assets, which suits a trading company that holds stock rather than property. Most want two or more years of accounts showing international trade.
Where ongoing trade is the need, trade finance or invoice discounting is usually better value because the facility is secured against the goods or the invoice. An unsecured loan makes more sense for costs that sit outside the trade cycle: certifications for a new export market, compliance costs, a deposit on a warehouse lease, or a gap in working capital when a large order swells your duty bill beyond what your normal credit line covers.
We are a commercial finance broker, not a lender. We place your case with the lenders most likely to fund an import or export trader, but the lender makes the decision on approval, amount, and rate.
Key Benefits
- Post-Brexit customs duties on EU imports can run into tens of thousands on a single shipment. A loan spreads that cost across the months you sell the stock, rather than hitting your account the day the goods land.
- Supplier advance payments often come with a discount for early payment. Borrowing at, say, 8% to capture a 3% supplier discount rarely stacks up, but at larger volumes it can, and we have structured deals precisely on that basis.
- No property or stock collateral required. The loan is assessed on the business cash flow and director profile, which matters when your assets are sitting in a container in Rotterdam.
- UKEF-backed facilities exist for younger exporters who cannot get commercial terms. We place commercial unsecured loans and can point you toward government-backed export finance if the commercial route is closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use trade finance instead of an unsecured loan?
For the purchase-to-payment cycle on repeat orders, trade finance is almost always cheaper because the facility is secured against the goods. An unsecured loan is better for costs that sit outside that cycle: market entry, regulatory compliance, hiring, or a one-off working capital shortfall. The two products are not competing; some of our clients hold both.
Can I fund customs duties with a business loan?
Yes, and it is one of the more sensible uses. Post-Brexit, duties on EU-origin goods can arrive as a significant lump sum with very little notice. A loan spread over 12 to 24 months turns that lump sum into a manageable monthly cost. The lender does not need to know the specific use, but a clear picture of your duty profile helps us put the right case to the right lender.
What about currency risk on the loan?
The loan is denominated in sterling. It does not hedge your foreign currency exposure on purchases or sales. For that you want a forward contract through your bank or a specialist FX provider. A business loan and an FX forward are different tools; we only place the loan.
Do I need an established track record to get approved?
Most commercial lenders want at least two years of trading history with international trade visible in the accounts. If you are a younger exporter, UKEF (UK Export Finance) runs government-backed facilities that can be available to businesses with shorter histories. No broker can guarantee approval; the lender makes that decision.
Work out your numbers
Related Funding Options
Unsecured Business Loans UK: £1k to £500k, No Property Security
Unsecured business loans from £1k to £500k for UK limited companies. No charge on your property. We broker these deals and can tell you which lenders are open to your sector & turnover.
Trade Finance for Import & Export Businesses
Letters of credit, import finance, and supplier guarantees for UK businesses trading internationally. As a broker we place trade finance from £50k with specialist banks and trade finance houses, not the high street.
Export Finance for International Trade Businesses
Export finance for UK international trade businesses: working capital to fulfil orders, credit insurance against buyer default, and UKEF-backed facilities. We place these deals.
Business loans 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.