UKEF unveils new strategic financing for industrial growth

What is new (June 2025)

Under the Direct Lending Facility, UK Export Finance (UKEF) provides loans within an overall limit of £13 billion to overseas buyers, allowing them to finance the purchase of capital goods and/or services from UK exporters.
The loans provide for each transaction can be made in up to 8 currencies, with a value limit of £200 million (although more flexibility may be offered in limited circumstances).The funding provided is at a fixed rate of interest, based on the applicable Commercial Interest Reference Rate (CIRR) set by the OECD, or the cost of UK Government funds (National Loans Fund rates) if higher.

1. Uplift in Lending Facility

UKEF has increased its capacity by £3 billion, raising the total to £13 billion. This financing supports exporters in all eight Industrial Strategy sectors — especially clean industries, defence, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and critical minerals supply

2. £3 billion allocated for Defence Exports

Reflecting the government’s increased focus on national security, a major portion of this funding is targeted at defence-related trade.

3. Expanded Local Export Finance Manager Network

UKEF will grow its team of 24 regional Export Finance Managers to help businesses access finance more effectively within their local clusters and offer free regional expertise.

     4. Statutory Commitment Limit

UKEF also plans to legislate to have its statutory commitment limit – the entire amount of support that the department can have on its books at any one time – increased, which will enable it to support more businesses of all sizes across the UK. 

UK Export Finance Services

The aim of UK Export Finance is to ensure no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance. UK Export Finance operates at no net cost to the taxpayer.

Helping exporters win contracts

The attractive financing terms UK Export Finance can give to buyers of UK goods and services can help exporters make their offering more competitive. 

Helping exporters fulfil contracts 

UK Export Finance help companies access the working capital they need to fulfil a contract, giving them the ability to take on more contracts and increase turnover. 

Helping exporters get paid

UK Export Finance offer insurance against the risk of not being paid, or of not being able to recover the costs of fulfilling an export contract.

General Export Facility

For more information: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-export-finance

For free and independent guidance from one of UK Export Finance's export finance managers click here.

Email: customer.service@ukexportfinance.gov.uk

Telephone: 020 7271 8010