Trade Finance

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa provides bespoke trade finance solutions that help importers manage cashflow pressures linked to cargo purchases, freight costs, duties, and taxes. Designed to align with your supply chain and cash conversion cycle, our funding solutions ease working capital constraints while maintaining operational momentum.

Whether you’re importing bulk commodities, manufactured goods, or project cargo, our team structures finance solutions that match your trade requirements — offering full visibility of landed costs, foreign exchange exposure, and procurement value.

Need a flexible trade finance loan to keep your cargo and cashflow moving? Speak to our financial specialists for a customised solution today.

Key Benefits

What is Trade Finance?

Trade finance refers to financial instruments and solutions that help businesses manage the cashflow gap between paying suppliers and receiving payment from customers. For importers and exporters, it enables the smooth movement of goods by funding key costs such as cargo purchases, freight, duties, and taxes.

In South Africa’s complex trading environment — where long ocean transit times, customs procedures, and fluctuating exchange rates can delay returns — trade finance services provide essential liquidity and stability. By aligning trade finance with logistics operations across major trade routes and ports, C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa helps clients maintain cashflow, reduce financial risk, and ensure uninterrupted supply chain performance.

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa’s Trade Finance Services

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa delivers fully integrated and customised trade finance services that support importers and exporters across every stage of the supply chain. Our solutions are designed to ease working capital constraints, provide funding flexibility, and give clients full visibility of their total landed cost — from purchase order to delivery.

Backed by our B-BBEE Level 1, Black-female-owned structure and the global Steinweg Trade & Commodity Finance (Suisse) SA platform, we offer secure, compliant, and cost-efficient trade finance for importers operating through South Africa’s major ports and regional trade corridors.

Compliance, Certifications, and Governance

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa operates under rigorous governance frameworks and compliance standards to ensure financial transparency, risk mitigation, and compliance with all South African Reserve Bank (SARB), Exchange Control, and customs finance regulations. Our globally recognised credentials and certifications reflect our commitment to safety, transparency, and operational excellence, supported by robust collateral management controls that secure financed cargo throughout the trade cycle.

Credentials and Certifications:

Access to Funding and Cashflow Flexibility

We provide structured trade finance services tailored to the importer’s cash conversion cycle. Clients gain access to ownership-based financing and short- to medium-term working capital without disrupting banking facilities or credit lines. Financing can cover the full value chain — including supplier payments, freight, duties, taxes, and insurance — ensuring liquidity from shipment to sale.

Foreign Exchange Risk Management

Our trade finance model includes hedging mechanisms that help clients manage exposure to foreign currency fluctuations. Through proactive exchange-rate management, we stabilise landed costs and protect profit margins for businesses trading across volatile currency zones.

Preferential Procurement and Empowerment Benefits

Through our Black-female-owned trade finance structure, clients gain measurable B-BBEE procurement value — with recognition of up to 135% of the total landed cost. This approach not only improves financial efficiency but also helps clients meet transformation and compliance objectives within their supply chains.

Collateral Management Integration

As part of our trade finance services, C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa uses its collateral management expertise to secure and monitor financed cargo. Goods in our bonded warehouses and depots serve as verified collateral, supported by strict custody control, real-time tracking, and transparent release procedures. This structure enables ownership-based financing and gives importers and exporters access to working capital with lower credit risk and greater confidence.

Cost and Documentation Visibility

Every transaction is managed through detailed landed-cost analysis, offering transparency across product cost, finance charges, exchange rates, and logistics disbursements. Our in-house trade finance specialists manage all required trade documentation — from commercial invoices and customs declarations to supplier financing records — ensuring accurate, compliant reporting across all stages of the import process.

Industry Expertise and Sector Alignment

With over three decades of logistics and trade experience, C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa structures tailored trade finance solutions for various industries, including mining, steel, manufacturing, agriculture, and energy. Our deep understanding of commodity flows and regulatory frameworks allows us to design funding models that mirror sector-specific trading cycles.

Integrated Finance and Logistics Operations

Our trade finance solutions work hand in hand with our extensive warehousing, port, and transport network. By coordinating finance with the physical flow of goods, we enable clients to manage both liquidity and logistics through a single, connected process. This integration supports faster documentation, improved risk control, and real-time visibility of financed cargo moving through our facilities in Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Gqeberha, and Richards Bay.

Regional and International Network

Supported by Steinweg Trade & Commodity Finance (Suisse) SA in Geneva and a global treasury team in Rotterdam, we extend liquidity solutions to clients trading through Southern and Eastern Africa, including Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Malawi. This cross-border finance capability strengthens our ability to move and fund cargo seamlessly across key African trade routes.

Related Services: How Trade Finance Services Fit Into Your Supply Chain

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa’s trade finance services form an essential part of our end-to-end logistics ecosystem. By integrating funding with freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing, and multimodal transport, we help clients manage both cargo and cashflow within a single, coordinated process. This alignment ensures faster turnaround times, full cost transparency, and a seamless flow of goods and capital across every stage of the supply chain — from origin to delivery.

Why Partner with C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa?

C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa stands apart from traditional trade finance providers by combining funding capability with physical control of cargo, regional infrastructure, and deep compliance expertise. Our integrated model connects finance, logistics, and risk management to deliver complete visibility and confidence across every transaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for trade finance?

Importers and exporters with established trading operations and predictable supply chain cycles are typically eligible. Approval is based on financial assessment, trading history, and the completeness of supporting trade documentation. For a personalised assessment or to discuss a customised trade finance solution, contact our specialists to arrange a consultation and quotation tailored to your business needs.

What documentation is required for trade finance?

To process trade finance applications, importers must provide commercial invoices, packing lists, purchase orders, and transport documents such as bills of lading or airway bills. Depending on the structure, additional paperwork like customs declarations, certificates of origin, and proof of insurance may be required to ensure compliance and risk transparency.

Can C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa’s trade finance help with preferential procurement?

Yes. Our trade finance solutions can be structured to include the total landed cost — providing up to 135% preferential procurement recognition under B-BBEE Level 1 status. This allows clients to strengthen compliance and transformation outcomes while maintaining financial flexibility.

Does C. Steinweg Logistics SA offer export trade finance?

Yes. Through Steinweg Trade & Commodity Finance (Suisse) SA, we support export-orientated commodity finance structures that provide liquidity, secure payment terms, and reduced counterparty risk for South African exporters trading internationally.

How does C. Steinweg Logistics South Africa manage foreign exchange and risk exposure?

We offer foreign exchange hedging and risk management solutions as part of our trade finance services. These tools help clients stabilise landed costs, protect profit margins, and reduce exposure to currency volatility — critical for importers trading in USD, EUR, and other major currencies.