A Research Report Submitted for Fulfillment of the Requirements for Award
of the Degree of Masters of Science in Business administration in Corporate
Management (MBA-CM) of Mzumbe University
The main aim of this study was assessing the roles of trade finance on commercial
banks performance in Tanzania a case of Exim Bank. The study was carried out
with reference to three specific objectives which were, examining the extent to
which exchange rate fluctuations affect trade finance at Exim bank, identifying the
challenges / risks which face trade finance at Exim bank and determining the
effects of trade finance on banks financial performance. Study was descriptive
in nature. The study was centered at Exim bank headquarters in Dar es Salam city.
The researcher used secondary data and primary data. The secondary was extracted
from the banks financial statements from 2012 to 2017. The study used purposive
sampling technique to obtain few respondents from Exim bank for the interview.
Data reliability and validity was test through the use of Cronbach Alpa. It has
been found that trade finance is of vital importance in the facilitation of international
and domestic trade. Banks have become good intermediates of trade finance
hence they have increased seller’s offer and minimized buyers risk or cost.
The result shows exchange rate had received the p -value of 0.999. which is
greater than 0.5 therefore trade finance is negatively affected by exchange rate
volatility or fluctuations. Exchange rate volatility diminishes the profitability rate
of the sellers and buyers as well. Also exchange affects the business volume,
transactions, suppliers payment and even the confidence of investors. There are
number of challenges that affect trade finance at banks the major ones are
long time or duration for the business to be completed. The business can take
even three months, it affects business circulation of the business. The other risk are
product risk , manufacturing risk as well transportation risk. Lastly, trade finance
has direct positive influence on the banks performance in terms of increase on
both interest and non- interest incomes. Trade finance positively leads to
increase in the bank ‘s deposit size. Eventually, trade finance leads to liquidity of
the bank. These have been the SMEs hindrance in Tanzania for various years
regardless of the expansion of worldwide commercial banks