Credit & Receivables

Trade Credit Insurance

Trade Credit Insurance protects businesses against the risk of non-payment by buyers. Whether your customer goes bankrupt, defaults on payment, or faces political risks in cross-border trade — TCI ensures your receivables are protected and your cash flow remains healthy.

For most businesses, accounts receivable is the single largest uninsured asset on the balance sheet. Trade credit insurance changes that — turning uncertain receivables into protected revenue.

Available from insurers like ICICI Lombard, HDFC ERGO, Tata AIG, Bajaj Allianz, and the government-backed ECGC for export credit. Premium typically ranges from 0.1–1% of insured turnover.

What Does Trade Credit Insurance Cover?

Protection against both commercial and political risks affecting buyer payments.

Buyer Insolvency

Covers losses when your buyer goes bankrupt, enters liquidation, administration, or any formal insolvency proceedings and cannot pay outstanding invoices.

Protracted Default

When a buyer simply doesn't pay within the agreed credit terms (and beyond a waiting period, typically 90–180 days) without any dispute — the insurance covers the overdue amount.

Political Risk (Export)

For international trade — covers non-payment due to war, civil unrest, government import restrictions, currency transfer blockades, or sanctions in the buyer's country.

Contract Repudiation

When a buyer refuses to accept goods that have already been shipped or manufactured to specification — covering the seller's losses including freight and manufacturing costs.

Currency Inconvertibility

In export scenarios — protects against losses when the buyer's local currency cannot be converted to the seller's currency due to government controls or economic crisis.

Pre-Shipment Risk

Covers losses when a buyer cancels or defaults before the goods are shipped — protecting your manufacturing, procurement, and preparation costs.

Types of Trade Credit Insurance

Different policy structures for different business needs — from covering your entire buyer portfolio to protecting against a single critical customer.

1

Whole Turnover Policy

Most Common

Covers your entire portfolio of buyers — all accounts receivable from all customers are insured under a single policy. This is the most comprehensive and cost-effective option because the risk is spread across many buyers.

Best for: Companies with a large, diversified customer base selling to many buyers
How it works: The insurer sets credit limits for each buyer based on their financial assessment. You can trade up to that limit with protection.
Premium: Competitive rates (0.1–0.5% of turnover) because of risk diversification across the portfolio
IRDAI requirement: In India, if you opt for whole turnover, all buyers in that segment must be covered — cherry-picking is not allowed
2

Key Buyer / Selective Policy

Targeted Coverage

Insures only your most important customers — the key accounts whose non-payment would have a material impact on your business. Allowed under IRDAI guidelines as a segment-based approach.

Best for: Companies where 60–80% of revenue comes from a few large buyers
How it works: You identify your top accounts, and the insurer provides coverage for the entire turnover with those specific buyers
Premium: Higher rate per buyer than whole turnover due to concentrated risk, but lower total premium if you have few key accounts
Note: Under IRDAI rules, you must cover all buyers within the selected segment — not just specific individuals
3

Single Buyer Policy

High Concentration Risk

Covers receivables from one specific customer who represents a significant concentration risk to your business. Ideal when a single client accounts for a large share of your revenue.

Best for: Vendors heavily dependent on one major client (e.g., ancillary suppliers to OEMs, IT outsourcing firms with one anchor client)
How it works: The insurer evaluates the specific buyer's creditworthiness and provides a coverage limit for trade with that buyer only
Premium: Highest per-unit premium because all risk is concentrated on a single buyer
4

Single Contract / Specific Transaction Policy

Project-Based

Covers a single large contract or transaction rather than ongoing trade. Ideal for one-time large orders, capital goods sales, or project-based deliveries.

Best for: Large one-off transactions, capital equipment sales, long-term project contracts with extended credit terms
How it works: Coverage is issued specifically for one contract/order with defined delivery and payment milestones
Premium: One-time premium based on contract value, buyer credit profile, and payment terms
5

Export Credit Insurance (ECGC)

Government-Backed

Provided by the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC), a government-backed entity. Covers both commercial and political risks for Indian exporters selling to international buyers.

Best for: Indian exporters of goods and services to international markets
Products: Standard Policy (whole turnover export), Specific Shipment Policy, Specific Buyer Policy, IT/ITeS sector policies, and small exporter policies
Political risk coverage: War, civil disturbance, government import/export restrictions, payment transfer blockades, exchange rate controls
Benefit: ECGC cover helps exporters get better bank financing terms — banks accept ECGC-covered receivables more readily as collateral
6

Domestic Credit Insurance (DCIP)

Growing Market

Covers receivables from domestic buyers within India. A rapidly growing segment as Indian businesses increasingly recognize the value of protecting their local receivables.

Best for: Manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers selling on credit to domestic buyers
Providers: ECGC (Domestic Credit Insurance Policy), ICICI Lombard, HDFC ERGO, Bajaj Allianz, Tata AIG
Coverage: Typically 75–90% of the invoice value, with the seller retaining 10–25% co-insurance

Who Benefits from Trade Credit Insurance?

Any business that sells on credit terms — whether domestic or international.

Manufacturers

Protect your receivables from distributors and retailers. Essential when extending 30–90 day credit to your channel partners.

Distributors & Wholesalers

You sit between the manufacturer and retailer — with thin margins, even one large default can wipe out profits. TCI is critical risk management.

Exporters

International trade adds political risk and cross-border collection challenges. ECGC and private TCI protect your export receivables.

IT & Services Companies

Service companies with large outstanding invoices from clients — especially those with concentration risk in a few key accounts.

Commodity Traders

High-volume, low-margin commodity businesses where a single buyer default can be devastating. Essential for agri, metals, and chemical traders.

Growing Businesses

Companies expanding into new markets or onboarding new buyers. TCI lets you extend credit confidently, backed by the insurer's buyer assessment.

Key Benefits of Trade Credit Insurance

Bad Debt Protection

Recover 75–95% of your insured receivables if a buyer defaults. Transforms unpredictable bad debt into a manageable, insured cost.

Buyer Intelligence

Insurers continuously monitor your buyers' creditworthiness. You get early warning signals before defaults happen — invaluable market intelligence.

Better Bank Financing

Banks are more willing to lend against insured receivables. TCI can improve your working capital financing terms and reduce collateral requirements.

Confident Growth

Extend credit to new buyers and enter new markets with confidence. The insurer's credit assessment helps you make informed decisions about new relationships.

Worried About Your Receivables?

Let's discuss how trade credit insurance can protect your cash flow and support your business growth.

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