Supplier deposit
The upfront payment that gets your order into production, often due the day you confirm the order.
Import and supplier funding
Trade Finance for Australian Importers and Wholesalers
Your supplier wants a deposit before production and the balance before shipping. Trade finance covers both, so your goods leave port on time.
The long gap
What is trade finance and who uses it?
Importing stretches cash flow like nothing else. You might pay a deposit when you place the order, the balance before the container ships, then freight, customs clearance and any duties or taxes, all before a single unit is sold. From order to sale can easily take months, and the money is gone for the whole journey.
Trade finance is the umbrella term for funding that bridges that journey. For most small and medium Australian importers, wholesalers and distributors, it means a business loan or credit facility used to pay suppliers upfront, repaid once the goods arrive and sell.
Through Loanster, trading businesses can typically access unsecured or cash-flow options from $5,000 to $500,000, sized on turnover and bank statements. For bigger shipments, property-secured loans run from $20,000 to $5,000,000. When the supplier wants paying by tomorrow, fast funding is possible for eligible applicants with documents ready.
Trade finance is funding that lets a business pay suppliers, often overseas, before the goods arrive and sell. For Australian SMEs it usually means a short-term business loan or credit facility repaid from sales. Loanster considers unsecured options of $5,000 to $500,000 for trading businesses and property-secured loans of $20,000 to $5,000,000 for larger shipments, with fast settlement possible.
Where the money goes
The costs trade finance can cover
Importers face several payment points, and funding can be lined up for each one.
Pre-shipment balance
The remaining amount many suppliers want before goods leave their port, and the biggest single cash hit.
Landing costs
Freight, customs clearance and any duties or taxes. Ask your accountant and customs broker what applies to your goods.
How does trade finance work for a small business?
In its simplest form, you borrow the money to pay your supplier, the goods ship and land, you sell them to your customers, and you repay the loan from the proceeds. The term is matched to that cycle, which might be a few weeks for a local supplier or several months for an overseas order.
Businesses that import regularly often prefer a revolving facility, so each new order can be funded as the last one is repaid. A business line of credit can work well for that rhythm.
How fast can I get trade finance?
Same-day funding is possible for smaller unsecured amounts when the application is complete. For property-secured loans, $20k to $250k can be possible the same day and up to $5m within 24 to 48 hours.
Send the supplier's pro forma invoice or purchase order with your enquiry. It shows the lender the amount, the payment terms and the deadline at a glance, and it removes a round of questions.
- Supplier pro forma invoice or purchase order
- Recent business bank statements
- ID for directors
- Your expected shipping and sale timeline
- Rates notice, if offering property as security
What do lenders want to know about an import deal?
Lenders want confidence that the goods will arrive and sell. They'll look at your trading history, your track record with the supplier, and how quickly similar shipments have sold in the past. A business that has imported the same lines for years is a much easier yes than a first-time importer.
Our guide to how lenders read bank statements shows what they look for. Have a simple answer ready to "how will this be repaid?" Something like "the stock sells through our existing retail customers within six weeks of landing" gives the lender exactly what it needs.
Apply today… cashed up tomorrow!
Need the funds this week?
Start the 60-second enquiry now. When your documents are ready and the deal is straightforward, being cashed up as soon as tomorrow is possible for eligible applicants.
An example of trade finance in practice
Imagine a Brisbane distributor of outdoor furniture. A large retail chain doubles its spring order, and the overseas manufacturer wants the balance before the containers are loaded. The distributor's cash is still tied up in winter stock. A short-term business loan pays the manufacturer, the containers ship on schedule and the retailer's payment clears the loan a few months later.
Without funding, the distributor would have split the order or missed the season, and possibly the customer too.
Trade finance or stock finance?
They overlap. Trade finance focuses on paying suppliers early in a long supply chain, often before you physically have the goods. Stock and inventory finance is broader and suits local purchases too. Many businesses use both, depending on where the goods come from.
If customers pay you on long terms once the goods are delivered, invoice finance can cover the other end of the cycle.
Can I get trade finance with bad credit?
Bad credit and ATO debt are considered case by case. Strong recent trading, a long relationship with your supplier and a clear sales plan count for a lot. If you own property, secured options can make approval easier and allow larger amounts.
If your business is still new to importing, start with a smaller order and build a track record that makes the next funding round simpler.
Get your next shipment funded
The enquiry takes about 60 seconds and there's no credit check when you first enquire. A real person reads it, and your details aren't sprayed out to a crowd of lenders. Please complete it accurately, including the supplier amount and your payment deadline, so we can match you first time.
Start the 60-second enquiry and keep your supply chain moving. All loans are subject to lender approval.
Trust and process
Clear, secure finance enquiries
Loanster keeps the enquiry process straightforward: no credit check to enquire, a real person looks at your situation, and your details are not sprayed out to a pile of lenders.
Secure online enquiry
Personal details are submitted through a secure form and are not sent through URL query strings.
Australian business context
Enquiries can include ABN, BAS, ATO, bank statement and asset details where relevant.
Lender criteria apply
Approval, pricing, loan amounts and funding times depend on lender assessment.
Clear next steps
Loanster helps identify what information may be needed before a lender can make a decision.
Common questions
Trade Finance for Australian Importers and Wholesalers FAQs
Can I get a loan to pay an overseas supplier?
Yes. Paying suppliers is a legitimate business purpose. Lenders will look at your trading history, the order and how the goods will be sold.
Is trade finance only for importers?
No. It's most common for importers, but any business that must pay suppliers well before it gets paid by customers can benefit.
Do I need property for trade finance?
Not necessarily. Unsecured options for trading businesses typically range from $5,000 to $500,000. Property security allows larger amounts, up to $5,000,000.
Can trade finance cover freight and landing costs?
Landing costs are business expenses, so they can form part of the funding. Ask your accountant and customs broker which taxes and duties apply to your goods.
How long does a trade finance loan last?
Terms are usually matched to your supply cycle, from a few weeks to several months, so the loan is repaid as the goods sell.
What if my shipment is delayed?
Tell your lender early. Shipping delays are common, and a realistic timeline with some buffer built in from the start makes life easier for everyone.
Related finance options
Explore connected Loanster pages
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Invoice Finance for Australian Businesses
Explore invoice finance options that may help turn outstanding customer invoices into working capital sooner.
Working Capital Loans
Explore working capital loan options for Australian businesses managing timing gaps, stock, wages, suppliers or growth costs.
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Last reviewed: 24 October 2026
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