Trade finance compliance that checks documents, goods and vessels together.
In trade finance, value moves through documents, goods and ships, not just payments – which makes it one of the hardest financial crime channels to control. We design review processes for letters of credit, collections, guarantees and supply-chain finance that cover trade-based money laundering (TBML), sanctions and export control in one pass.
When to bring us in
- Trade operations checks documents, compliance checks parties – and goods value, route and vessel fall through the gap.
- The supervisor or internal audit asks for a TBML-specific risk assessment and documented red flags.
- New products such as supply-chain finance or digital platforms do not fit existing review processes.
- Correspondent banks ask about your trade finance control framework.
- Shadow-fleet exposure, transshipment and pricing anomalies should be caught systematically – not by chance.
What we do for you
- 01
TBML risk assessment
Assess products, corridors, commodity groups and customer segments – based on FATF and Egmont Group typologies.
- 02
Review process and control framework
An end-to-end review from intake (MT700, MT4xx, MT760, SCF) to release: which party, which document, which check, who decides – aligned with the Wolfsberg Group, ICC and BAFT Trade Finance Principles.
- 03
Red-flag catalogues
Over- and under-invoicing, quantities and goods descriptions, multiple financing, transshipment, AIS gaps and dual-use goods – with clear escalation criteria.
- 04
Vessel and goods checks
A method for IMO, flag and route checks and price plausibility; vendor-neutral selection and integration of suitable data sources.
- 05
Data sources and automation
Requirements for screening and data vendors, selection, integration and calibration – with TFI TradeCore and TFI TradeScreen if you wish.
- 06
Training
Practical training for trade operations, relationship management and compliance – built on real patterns.
Deliverables that last
- TBML risk assessment by product and corridor
- Review playbook per instrument
- Red-flag catalogue with escalation matrix
- Data-source concept and vendor assessment
- Calibration and test evidence
- Training materials
Our tools for this
One access point for country risk, regulatory change and reviews – the results of our advice keep running here day to day.
The screening workspace in TFI TradeCore: parties, networks, shell companies, vessels, corridors and 15 TBML typologies – every hit with evidence.
Evidenced trade routes, ports and chokepoints, plus a trade-flow classification per country – every classification with its source.
New typologies, alerts and judgments on trade finance, daily and from primary sources.
- Wolfsberg Group, ICC and BAFT: Trade Finance Principles
- FATF and Egmont Group: Trade-Based Money Laundering – Trends and Developments (2020)
- FATF and Egmont Group: Trade-Based Money Laundering – Risk Indicators (2021)
- ICC rules UCP 600, URC 522 and URDG 758
- Directive (EU) 2015/849 as amended, EU AML Regulation (AMLR) and national AML law (in Germany: GwG)
- SWIFT message types MT 7xx, MT 4xx and MT 760
Frequently asked questions
How is TBML different from other money laundering?
In TBML, value is moved through trade transactions – via false prices, quantities or goods descriptions, multiple invoicing or phantom shipments. The anomaly sits in documents and goods flows, not in the payment alone.
We are not a bank but a factoring or SCF provider. Is this relevant?
Yes. Factoring, forfaiting and supply-chain finance providers carry the same TBML and sanctions risks, often with smaller teams. We scale processes to your size.
Do we have to use TFI TradeCore?
No. Our advice is tool-neutral and works with your existing systems. TradeCore is an option if you want to bring controls, approvals and evidence together in one platform.
Other practice areas
Trade finance compliance: let’s talk about your case.
In a demo we show you TFI TradeCore on your products, countries and use cases – and discuss where advisory or an audit gives you the most leverage. No obligation, confidential, and with specialists in trade finance.
or write to info@tradefinance-intelligence.com