Exportkreditbolag

Exportkreditbolag refers to a government-backed financial institution that provides financing, insurance, and guarantees to support a country’s exporters. The term is used in Swedish and other Nordic languages and describes entities that aim to reduce the financial risks associated with international sales and to improve access to affordable credit for buyers abroad.

Typical products include direct or seller financing for foreign buyers for medium- and long-term purchases, loan guarantees that back banks providing export credit, and insurance against political and commercial risks. Some agencies also offer working capital facilities, credit risk assessment services, and advisory support to exporters and lenders.

Most exportkreditbolag are publicly owned or publicly guaranteed and operate within a framework of national policy and international rules. They are often required to comply with OECD arrangements on officially supported export credits and with competition and state-aid rules in their jurisdiction. Funding may come from government budgets, capital markets, or a combination of both, and profits are typically reinvested in the agency.

The agency’s mandate is to promote national exports, diversify industry, and support strategic sectors. Critics note potential distortions from state-backed financing and the risk that subsidized terms may affect private lenders. In practice, exportkreditbolag coordinate with private banks and export credit insurers to share risk and leverage private capital.