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Export Credit & Insurance
Export Credit & Insurance programs help businesses that trade internationally or invest abroad by reducing the risks involved. South Africa’s official export credit agency, the Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC), leads this category, offering insurance cover for exporters and investors against non-payment and political risks.
Available Funds for Export Credit & Insurance
Black Industrialists Support Programme
The ECIC Black Industrialists (BI) Support Programme provides a specialised export credit insurance underwriting framework for Black South African-owned businesses seeking to participate in international export markets. The programme removes several standard barriers — including no assessment fees, unsecured insurance support for bonds and working capital, and a simplified approval process — to make ECIC cover accessible to black-owned start-ups and going-concern exporters. Export projects of up to USD 20 million are covered at 100% for both political and commercial risks.
Bond Insurance
The ECIC Bond Insurance Scheme enables banks and other financial institutions to increase their capacity to issue bond facilities for South African export contracts. ECIC provides cover against the calling of performance bonds by foreign buyers, protecting banks against losses arising from a South African exporter’s failure to fulfil contractual obligations. Cover is available on both a portfolio (Risk Participation Agreement) basis and a facultative (single transaction) basis.
Export Credit Insurance
ECIC’s Export Credit Insurance provides cover to banks and suppliers against losses arising from political and commercial risk events on South African export transactions involving capital goods and/or services. By insuring term finance provided to foreign buyers or borrowers, the ECIC facilitates South African exporters’ access to medium- and long-term credit for their international contracts. The product also includes Foreign Exchange Risk Cover, administered by ECIC on behalf of the South African Reserve Bank, for USD-denominated transactions.
Investment Insurance
ECIC Investment Insurance provides cover to South African business entities that wish to invest in foreign countries, protecting equity contributions, acquisitions, and shareholder loans against political risk events. Cover is available for up to 90% of the loss suffered by the investor and is structured to reflect the risk profile of the host country, the investment period, and the scope of covered political risk events. This product does not cover commercial risks — it is strictly a political risk insurance instrument for outbound South African investment.
Lease and Return of Plant / Equipment Insurance Cover
The ECIC Lease and Return of Plant/Equipment Insurance Cover protects South African export contractors and lessors against the loss of, or failure to recover, capital equipment used on foreign construction and project sites. The product addresses the specific challenge faced by South African contractors who lease equipment internationally and encounter difficulties repatriating it at the end of a project. Cover is available under two structures: a Financial Lease (Full Pay-Out) and an Operating Lease (including Return of Equipment cover).
Small and Medium Transactions
The ECIC Small and Medium Transactions (SMT) programme provides export credit insurance cover for South African export contracts valued up to USD 20 million. It is designed to make ECIC cover more accessible by using pre-approved underwriting criteria: if the foreign buyer or borrower meets these criteria, the South African exporter can be confident that ECIC support will be available without going through the full standard approval process. The insured facility covers up to 85% of the South African contract price, with 100% political and commercial risk cover available.
Export Credit & Insurance
What they are
Insurance covers, guarantees, and credit support for export transactions. For example, export credit insurance protects you if a foreign buyer fails to pay or if political events (like transfer restrictions or expropriation) prevent payment. These products don’t provide funds upfront; instead, they unlock financing by making your export receivables or foreign investments safer – banks are more willing to lend against insured transactions, and you gain confidence to enter new markets.
Export Credit & Insurance
Who they suit
Exporters of capital goods or services, contractors involved in projects abroad, and companies investing in ventures in other countries. If you’re selling machinery, infrastructure, or engineering services on credit terms to overseas buyers, an ECIC export credit insurance policy can cover the repayment risk. If you’re investing equity in a project in an emerging market, investment insurance can cover your assets against political upheaval. Even relatively smaller export deals (under USD 20 million) can be supported through specialized programs for small and medium transactions.
Export Credit & Insurance
Example Programs
- Medium/Long-Term Export Credit Insurance – covers large export deals (generally above USD 20 million) for up to 85% of the contract value, protecting against buyer default or political risks.
- Small & Medium Transactions Cover – a streamlined ECIC program for export deals up to USD 20 million, with pre-approved country limits to speed up approval.
- Investment Insurance – insurance for South African companies investing abroad, covering equity or loans against risks like nationalization or currency inconvertibility.
- ECIC also has tailored offerings like Lease and Return Cover (insurance for plant/equipment leased to foreign clients) and a Black Industrialists Export Support programme with enhanced terms for qualifying black-owned exporters.
Export Credit & Insurance
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