Commodity traders reaped substantial profits off the back of market volatility in 2022 and 2023. With their war chests armed, they pursued a policy of diversification – across financing, business lines and investments.

The trade finance industry has suffered a trio of ailments since the end of 2024 with the shuttering of three different non-bank lenders. While the circumstances across the three cases vary, market conditions are posing problems for lenders of all sizes. How can the community reflect on these events, and what options are borrowers left with?

TXF spoke with Marie-Laure Gastellu, global head of trade finance services at Societe Generale, to outline the latest measures the bank has in place to handle geopolitical risks affecting trade and how new digital platforms are being integrated into trade finance services.