Define the foreign buyer on the export transaction
Identify the legal entity buying your goods or services, its country of registration, and the business address. Include the registration number and website where available. If a distributor or intermediary is buying from you, clarify whether that business or the end customer is the intended report subject.
Your business address belongs to your own account information. The report country should follow the company being researched. This distinction is particularly useful when a transaction involves a purchaser, consignee, and parent company in different markets.
Review the available buyer information
A report may include company background, registration and ownership, financial information, payment references, public records, and a credit assessment. Availability and depth vary by country and company. The report’s dates and qualifications matter as much as its headline assessment.
If a bank or insurer will review the information, obtain their current requirements first. Ask which legal entity, documents, financial periods, and report age they expect. Contact our team about those requirements before placing an order; acceptance remains the third party’s decision.
Credit reporting and export credit insurance
A foreign buyer credit report is company information. Export credit insurance is a separate product with its own application, underwriting, and coverage terms. Buying a report here does not purchase insurance or secure approval for a financing or insurance application.
Similarly, a company credit report does not replace export-controls or sanctions checks. Follow your organization’s export review process and confirm the scope of any separate services you require.
Choose the available report type
Same Day reports use existing sources for faster delivery where offered. Freshly Investigated reports involve gathering information when you order. Compare the report types, then check the current price and estimated delivery for the subject country.
Will purchasing a report guarantee insurer or lender approval?
No. A lender or insurer makes its own decision under its current requirements. Confirm those requirements and ask about the available report information before ordering.
Choose the information for your review
Compare a company registry search with a business credit report, then use our sample report walkthrough to understand dates, financial fields, and payment information.
Further reading for international businesses
EXIM publishes an overview of the purpose and contents of foreign buyer credit reports. Use it as background; request the current requirements for your own application from the reviewing organization. EXIM: export evaluation and foreign buyer credit reports (opens in a new tab).
Practical guides for your company review
- Who owes the invoice? Check your international customer’s identity
Reconcile the buyer, invoiced company, delivery recipient, and payer before using a credit report to review an international sales account.
- Business credit report vs trade credit insurance
Compare company information with contractual insurance protection, and clarify the separate roles of a credit report, insurer decision, and buyer review.
Prepared by International Credit Reports.