UAE Hits Global Trade Milestone with $235M Trafigura Loan Deal

Editorial Team

Last updated 15-04-2025

3 min

ADEX has secured a $235 million syndicated loan to support UAE exports via Trafigura.

The agreement includes contributions from SMBC and CBD, boosting UAE's global trade reach.

ADEX will fund $150 million to promote Emirati commodities in sectors like energy and metals.

This deal aims to reinforce UAE's position as a hub for regional and international trade.

The partnership aligns with the UAE's vision for a diverse and resilient future economy.

In a significant boost to the UAE’s export sector, the Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX) has sealed a syndicated loan agreement worth $235 million (approximately AED 863 million) to support Trafigura, a major global commodities trader, in purchasing goods produced in the UAE. This new deal, which features cooperation from Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and the Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), aims to drive economic diversifiation and cement the UAE’s status as a key player in the global trade arena.

Under the terms of this partnership, ADEX itself will put forward the lion’s share of funding, amounting to $150 million, to facilitate Trafigura's acquisition of locally manufactured commodities, focusing heavily on sectors like energy, metals, and minerals. Meanwhile, CBD has chipped in $65 million, and SMBC rounded off the arrangement nicely with a further $20 million. The syndicated agreement promises to open doors for Emirati products to find their way into even more international markets, perfectly aligning with the emirates’ ambitious goals for non-oil economic advancement.

Signed by Khalil Fadel Al Mansoori, Executive Director of Abu Dhabi Exports Office, together with representatives from Trafigura, SMBC, and CBD, the recent ceremony drew notable figures, including officials from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and other partners.

In a comment on the significance of the deal, Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and Chairman of ADEX's Exports Executive Committee, described the agreement as a "testament to ADEX’s mission of empowering UAE businesses to compete globally". Al Suwaidi added it would provide flexible finance solutions to help national firms expand their global footprint, reinforcing the emirates' position as a gateway for regional and international trade.

Trafigura’s Group Treasurer, Laurent Christophe, shared a similar perspective, stressing the transformative nature of the arrangement. Christophe said, “This collaboration allows us to integrate high-quality UAE commodities into our global supply chains, reaching fast-growing markets, supporting the UAE’s economic ambitions, and contributing to the country’s vision of long-term prosperity.”

Jonathan Joseph-Horne from SMBC underlined the growing international faith in the UAE’s capabilities, pointing out that this deal reflects confidence in the strength and sustainability of Emirati exports. “As a global financial leader,” Joseph-Horne remarked, “we recognise the UAE’s burgeoning influence and are proud to play a part in initiatives bolstering cross-border economic ties.”

Equally enthusiastic, Fahad Al Muhairi from CBD highlighted the forward-thinking aspects of this agreement, noting it will foster economic progress, job creation, and technological innovation. In his words, "By streamlining innovative financing solutions, we're actively contributing to realising the emirates' aspirations to solidify itself as a global trading hub.”

Overall, this new agreement is another step forward in realising the UAE’s ambitious vision for a resilient, diverse, and future-proof economy outlined in strategies like Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and We the UAE 2031. Readers familiar with Arageek will doubtless appreciate that partnerships like these demonstrate how government initiatives paired with private sector collaboration can achieve exciting new economic milestones—not just for today, but also for future generations.

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