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Trade Finance · LCs · Inventory Finance

Business Loan to
Import Stock & Inventory

Name: Mortgagefy
Address: Sydney, NSW, AU
Telephone: +61432634648
Price range: Free

By the Mortgagefy Team · Credit Rep 532656 of ACL 348324 · Published 2026-10-15 · Last reviewed 2026-10-15

Fund the 90-180 day working-capital gap between supplier payment on dispatch and your customer paying the invoice - with letters of credit, trade loans or inventory finance.

Start Your Free Assessment 0432 634 648

Free Business & Commercial Assessment

Takes under 3 minutes. We'll match you with the right lender for your situation.

Who this is for

Australian importers and wholesalers whose working capital is tied up between paying overseas suppliers and collecting from local customers.

Importer paying 100% on dispatch or 30% deposit + 70% on BL
60-120 day ocean shipping time from supplier to Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane
30-60 day customer payment terms post-landing
Need letters of credit for new supplier relationships
Carrying inventory for e-commerce, retail or B2B distribution
Growing fast and running out of working capital at bigger scale

The real challenge

Importer cash flow is a 180-day cycle: pay deposit day one, pay balance on bill-of-lading (day 15-45), stock arrives at the port (day 60-100), sits in your warehouse while you distribute, customer pays 30-60 days after invoice. That's $200k-$2m per shipment tied up for 3-6 months.

Specialist trade finance covers each stage: letters of credit (LCs) give your overseas supplier payment assurance; trade loans fund the shipment to port; inventory finance covers warehouse holding; invoice finance bridges the final 30-60 days.

How Mortgagefy helps

Full trade finance panel. LCs, trade loans, inventory, invoice finance - we structure the right combination for your cycle.
LC specialists. Big banks have retreated from mid-market LCs; specialist non-banks fill the gap. We know who's still writing LC business.
FX hedging support coordinated alongside the trade facility so FX risk doesn't eat your margin.
Honest cost math. We model the dollar cost of the trade facility vs the margin on each shipment - so you're pricing products accurately.

Need to model repayments first? Try our Sydney home-loan calculators for an indicative figure.

How it works

Trade scoping

60-min call - supplier payment terms, shipping times, customer terms, average order size, growth plan.

Facility design

Combine LC + trade loan + inventory + invoice finance as the pattern needs.

Lender shortlist

Specialist trade finance lenders matched to your trade volume.

Rollout

4-8 weeks from scoping to live facility; FX hedging coordinated in parallel.

Get a personalised answer in 2 minutes

Free, no obligation. We'll match you with the right lender for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

What's a letter of credit?

Bank-issued payment guarantee to your overseas supplier - the supplier is paid by the issuing bank on presentation of shipping documents, you reimburse the bank. Makes new supplier relationships possible that would otherwise require full prepayment.

Can I get an LC facility as a mid-market importer?

Yes - specialist non-bank trade finance providers write LC facilities from $500k. Big banks have mostly withdrawn from under-$5m LC business.

What's inventory finance?

Loan secured by appraised value of stock in your warehouse. Typically advances 60-80% of stock value, repaid as goods sell. Different from invoice finance (which advances against invoices, not stock).

How do I structure for a 180-day cycle?

Common structure: LC covers supplier payment, trade loan covers shipment-to-port, inventory finance covers warehouse holding, invoice finance covers post-sale 30-60 day gap. Four facilities working together through the cycle.

Does the lender want FX hedging in place?

For USD-denominated trade, specialist lenders prefer to see FX hedging on major shipments. Reduces supplier payment cost volatility. We coordinate with FX brokers.

What's the typical cost?

Varies by facility and tenor. Rough guide: LC fees 1-2% per transaction, trade loans 1-1.5% per month, inventory finance 8-14% p.a., invoice finance 2-4% per invoice. We model total dollar cost per shipment so you can price accurately.

Get your free trade finance assessment

LCs, trade loans, inventory and invoice finance - full-cycle trade coverage for importers. Specialist lenders who understand the 180-day cycle.

Start Your Free Assessment Call 0432 634 648

Related guides

Import / Export Business Loan

Broader import/export business lending.

Invoice Finance Australia

Post-landing invoice-to-cash bridging.

Supply Chain Finance Australia

Buyer-led supplier early-settle alternative.

Working Capital Loan

Line of credit for ongoing operational needs.

Manufacturer Business Loan

Related manufacturer finance.

Retail Business Loan

Retail-specific inventory finance.

Information checked October 2026. This information is general in nature and does not take account of your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Business, commercial and development finance eligibility, pricing and documentation varies by lender and changes frequently. Confirm current requirements with your chosen lender and seek professional advice before applying. Mortgagefy — Credit Representative 532656 of ACL 348324.

Business Loan toImport Stock & Inventory