U.S. Export-Import Bank: Analyses of Risk Management & Exposure Limits

From fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2012, the U.S. Export-Import Bank’s (Ex-Im) outstanding financial commitments (exposure) grew from about $59 billion to about $107 billion, largely in long-term loans and guarantees. Factors associated with this growth include reduced private-sector financing following the financial crisis and Ex-Im’s authorisation of direct loans – a product not offered by export credit agencies in some other countries – to fill the gap in private-sector lending. This book discusses how Ex-Im’s business changed in recent years and possible reasons for these changes; how Ex-Im determines credit subsidy costs, loss reserves and allowances, and product fees, and how these processes account for different risks; how Ex-Im’s financial portfolio has performed and the budgetary impact of its programs; and the extent to which Ex-Im has a comprehensive risk-management framework.