New Zealand Export Credit Office
Last updated on 22 Feb 2024

Key facts


Official government-backed agency within Treasury facilitating internationalization of New Zealand companies by providing trade credit insurance and financial guarantees.

The Treasury, 1 The Terrace
Wellington 6011
New Zealand

+64 4 917 6060

www.nzeco.govt.nz
PUBLIC
2001
Credit rating (sovereign) (S&P)
AA+
Foreign currency

Berne Union
OECD

Authorizations, exposure, and country export data


FY 2023 authorizations top products

Short term credit
82%
Loan guarantee
10%
Contract bond
6%
Export credit guarantee
1%
Surety bond guarantee
1%

2022 export destinations

Asia

58 %

Americas

17 %

Oceania

16 %

Europe

8 %

Africa

1 %

Financing modalities


`
Up to 100%

Products


  • Covers risk of a foreign buyer or foreign bank failing to make credit payments
  • Policy options:
    • Direct trade credit insurance: Issued to exporter where exporter has been declined cover on a foreign buyer by a private trade credit insurer
    • Top-up: Policy issued directly to the exporter seeking an increase to the buyer limit in excess of amount provided by private trade credit insurer
    • L/C guarantee: Issued to exporter’s bank to confirm L/C issued by foreign bank
  • Coverage:
    • Direct trade: Between 80% and 90% for commercial and political risks
    • Letter of credit confirmation: Up to 100% cover
    • Excludes disputes
  • Tenor: Maximum 360 days; usually less than 120 days
  • Fees:
    • Upon application approval, a premium is charged and must be paid prior to start of export contract
    • Premium based on commercial risk, political risk, tenor, and payment structure of export transaction
    • Minimum assessment fee NZD 500 per buyer limit
  • Guarantee to supplier’s bank
  • Use of proceeds typically to support:
    • Seasonal, multiple, or large orders
    • Purchase capital equipment to produce exports
    • Cover cash shortfalls or delayed payments caused by buyers
    • Offer operating leases to buyers
    • Provide working capital until equity investments are secured
  • Fees:
    • Initial assessment NZD 1,000
    • Per annum fee on guaranteed amount ranges from 4%–6%
  • Covers loans made to foreign buyers against non-payment
  • Tenor: Greater than 1 year; repayments in equal semi-annual installments
  • Cover: Up to 95% political and commercial risk cover
  • Premium: Priced according to transaction risks; payable in full upfront
  • Application fee: Minimum NZD 2,000 or 0.05% of requested credit amount
  • Covers production costs, net of profit margin and any advance payments which cannot be recouped by the exporter in the event of your the cancelling the contract
  • This support is provided in conjunction with either the Short-Term Trade Credit Guarantee, or Export Credit Guarantee
  • General bond guarantee:
    • Issued to exporter’s bank/bond provider to cover losses if exporter fails to properly perform contractual obligations and the bond is called
    • Cover: Up to 100% of the bond amount
    • Types of bonds that are supported: Bid bond, advance payment bond, performance bond, and warranty/maintenance bond
    • Fees: Premium based on assessment of credit and performance risks, typically 1.5%–3% per annum, and initial assessment fee NZD 1,000
  • Surety bond guarantee:
    • Guarantee issued to surety bond provider to cover losses if exporter fails to properly perform contractual obligations and the surety bond is called
    • Cover: Typically, 100% of surety bond value
    • Fees: Initial assessment fee of NZD 1000
    • If NZECO approves the application, premium is not charged for an initial bid bond or bond ability letter in support of the exporter’s tender
    • If an exporter is awarded a contract and surety bonds are issued, then NZECO will charge a premium against the surety bond amount
  • General contract bond guarantee
    • Financial guarantee which protects buyer from losses in the event exporter fails to properly perform contractual obligations
    • Cover: Typically, 100% of bond amount

Policies


  • Eligible companies must be registered in New Zealand or be an international subsidiary of a New Zealand registered company
  • Insurance policy does not cover contract cancellation or non-payment resulting from exporter’s negligence or a contract dispute unless the exporter obtains a judicial or arbitration judgment in their favor
  • Anti-bribery declaration
  • The maximum aggregate liability is NZD 740 million
  • Eligibility:
    • Written evidence by exporter to demonstrate that there are New Zealand economic benefits arising from the underlying exports
    • New Zealand registered company
  • The credit term should not exceed the economic life of the exported good
  • NZECO does not offer 100% political and commercial risk cover in respect to trade credit insurance for open account terms
  • Currencies: NZD, AUD, USD, CAD, EUR, JPY, CNY, and GBP 
Logo

© 2024 - CC Solutions LLC and Finpliance UK Limited