Market Invoice compares the UK providers that fit this need, and you can get 3 free quotes through eCapital, our introduction partner. The best export invoice finance in the UK is Bibby Financial Services (export finance for a wide range of overseas markets, with bad debt protection and FX) for breadth, or HSBC (global bank network, strong in Asia-Pacific) for businesses trading heavily with the Far East. Export factoring bridges the long payment cycles that make international trade hard on cash flow. We ranked every provider by geographic reach, currency capability, and FCI membership.
What this page covers
This page covers
UK export invoice finance providers ranked by geographic reach, FCI membership, and currency support
Not covered here
How export factoring works step by step (see /guides/export-invoice-finance/), domestic invoice finance comparison (see /compare/)
Export Providers Compared
| Provider | International reach | FCI Member? | Multi-Currency | Advance Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MarketInvoice3 free quotes | Not a lender or a panel. Tell us about your business and eCapital, our introduction partner, handles your enquiry and comes back to you with quotes. Free to you: eCapital pays us a fixed fee per introduction. | ||||
| Bibby | Wide range of overseas markets | Ask provider | Yes (FX service) | Up to 85% | Widest reach |
| HSBC | Global bank network | Ask provider | Yes | Up to 95% | Asia-Pacific trade |
| Close Brothers | Not published | Ask provider | Ask provider | Up to 90% | Bank-backed, individually priced |
| Novuna | Not published | Ask provider | Ask provider | Up to 90% | Combined domestic + export |
How Export Factoring Works
You ship goods to an overseas buyer and raise an invoice in their currency. Your UK factoring provider advances a set percentage of the invoice value in GBP (published maximums run from 85% to 95% in the table above), often within 24 hours. The provider's correspondent factor in the buyer's country then manages collection - chasing payment in the local language, under the local legal framework.
This is critical because chasing a German buyer from Birmingham is difficult. Chasing a Chinese buyer is nearly impossible. The FCI network solves this by placing a local factor between you and the debtor. When payment arrives, the balance (minus fees) is released to you. Currency conversion happens at agreed rates, eliminating FX surprises. For a complete walkthrough, see our export invoice finance guide.
Choosing by Region
- Europe - the most common export route; all four providers will quote. export facilities are priced per deal.
- North America - Bibby and HSBC both fund North American invoices. Compare FX terms as well as fees on large USD invoices.
- Asia-Pacific - HSBC is the clear leader. Their physical presence across Hong Kong, Singapore, mainland China, and India means direct relationships rather than correspondent factors.
- Middle East & Africa - HSBC has a strong presence in the UAE and Saudi Arabia; ask each provider which territories they will fund.
Export Credit Insurance
Most export factoring facilities include credit insurance as standard or as an add-on. This protects you if the overseas buyer defaults - the insurer pays out, not you. For exporters selling to emerging markets or unfamiliar buyers, this is often the deciding factor. Bibby offers bad debt protection alongside its export finance, so funding and protection can be arranged together.
Without credit insurance, exporting on open account terms is a gamble. A £150,000 invoice to a buyer in Turkey or Brazil carries real default risk that domestic factoring doesn't face. The insurance adds a premium to costs but removes the catastrophic downside.
For a complete breakdown of how export factoring, credit insurance, and letters of credit interact, see our export invoice finance guide.
Founder & Managing Director, Muswell Rose, founder and PSC of Best Business Loans Ltd
Adam is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and a founder of Best Business Loans Ltd, the company behind Market Invoice. He spent over three years as managing director of Penny, a UK invoice finance business, and his career runs through insurance, mortgages, commercial finance and fintech lending. He writes the Market Invoice library.
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