Why banks insure structured commodity trade finance risk: evidence from a worldwide survey

Abstract

We identify major drivers of the demand for credit insurance, using a worldwide survey among banking executives in the structured commodity trade finance business. Our results show that a bank’s propensity to purchase insurance increases in its experience and expertise with the product, the impact of insurance coverage on its balance sheet, the risk of the underlying transaction, as well as the intensity of broker relationships. Other factors, such as the size of the commodity trade finance portfolio, the competitiveness of the insurance price, and the risks arising from commodity price volatility, seem to be of lesser relevance.