Analysing UKEF-supported supply chains
UK Export Finance
UK public financial bodies
UK Export Finance
Government departmentNational / International · UK exporters and overseas buyers
The UK’s export credit agency provides loans, guarantees and insurance supporting UK exporters and their customers. It belongs in the public finance landscape, although government support takes a different form from an equity investment.
- UK ownership or participation
- Export Credits Guarantee Department; no equity shareholding
- Lead department or body
- UKEF / DBT ministerial portfolio
- UK voting rights
- Not applicable
- Mandate
- Export credit and insurance
UK financial position
UK equity holdingNot applicableCurrent institutional form
UKEF is a government department, not a shareholding company.
Underlying source ↗Accounting values, paid-in capital and funding commitments have different meanings and reporting dates. These figures are not added together.
Institution finances and activity
These describe the institution or the assets it administers. They are separate from the UK government’s holding.
Total financing capacity£130bn30 June 2026 announcement
Government announced a £50bn defence export allocation on top of the existing £80bn limit. Capacity is not expenditure, paid-in equity or current exposure.
Underlying source ↗New loans, insurance and guarantees£11.2bnFY 2025–26
Annual volume of financial support, combining funded and contingent instruments; not taxpayer cash expenditure.
Underlying source ↗Ownership and accountability
UKEF is a government department working alongside DBT. Its financial support uses statutory powers and Treasury consent; ministerial and accounting-officer accountability apply rather than shareholder governance.
Research hub
6 publications relevant to UKEF · Institution-specific research shown first
Department for International Trade and UK Export Finance: Support for exports
National Audit Office
Much ado about PuFins: How the UK’s public financial institutions can unlock billions for investment
Resolution Foundation
News and announcements
View in News and announcements →- Much ado about PuFins: How the UK’s public financial institutions can unlock billions for investment ↗
Maps the expansion of UK public financial institutions and examines investment options under the fiscal rules. The authors recommend additional National Wealth Fund capital and question the case for institutions issuing their own bonds.
View in Research hub → - BBB and UKEF announce joint scheme for smaller exporters ↗
The proposed scheme aims to increase access to finance for smaller firms expanding their exports. The planned scheme is intended to improve smaller firms’ access to export-related finance.
View BBB profile → - UKEF reports £11.2bn of support in 2025–26 ↗
Its impact report covers new loans, insurance and guarantees issued during the financial year.
- Government raises UKEF capacity to £130bn ↗
A £50bn defence export fund is added to the existing £80bn financing limit.
- Analysing UKEF-supported supply chains ↗
Models the scale and composition of UK supply chains associated with UKEF support using deal data, input-output analysis and business demographics. It distinguishes economic activity linked to UKEF’s financing from the broader supply chains of its customers; the estimates are not a causal counterfactual evaluation.
View in Research hub →