Trade Credit Insurance for Exporters
Digital platform for Indian exporters to purchase trade credit insurance protecting against buyer default and political risk — making it easy to access ECGC coverage online.
At a glance
Monthly Revenue
₹2L – ₹20L
Time to First Revenue
6 months
Break-even
20-28 months
Setup Cost
₹50L – ₹1.5Cr
Gross Margin
50%
Difficulty
Expert
Start Here — This Week
Get IRDAI broker license, become ECGC distribution partner, build digital application portal, target FIEO member exporters
India MSME export losses from buyer defaults estimated at ₹50,000 crore annually; most losses are uninsured
Revenue Model
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Detailed financial model · Supplier & vendor contacts · 90-day checklist · City-wise demand data
Things to Be Mindful Of
- ECGC partnership is the fastest path — they want better digital distribution and actively seek broker partners
- Export finance integration (linking credit insurance to pre-shipment credit) is the product that banks and exporters both want
Unit Economics
Real benchmarks from Indian operators in this space
Customer Acq. Cost
20000
Lifetime Value
150000
LTV : CAC
7.5
Avg Order Value
50000
Monthly Churn
15
CAC Payback
10
Annual premium 0.3–0.8% of insured turnover; exporters with ₹1Cr+ turnover are target.
Search Demand Trend
Google Trends — India — past 5 years
Indian Competitors & Players
Know your competition before you start
Key players
| Company | Scale / Revenue Signal |
|---|---|
ECGC Government | Govt export credit insurer; slow processes, paper-heavy. |
Euler Hermes Global | Global trade credit insurance; expensive for SME exporters. |
Atradius Global | MNC insurer; minimal India-specific SME focus. |
State Business Incentives
Capital subsidies, grants & sector incentives available in your state
Select a state above to see available incentives.
Real Founder Story
Rajan Chopra
ExportSafe · Mumbai · 2022
Month 6
₹80K/month
Month 12
₹3.5L/month
Team size: 4
What Worked
SME exporters to Africa and Southeast Asia lose 5–15% annually to buyer defaults. Partnered with ECGC as distribution partner — sold ECGC policies with our digital onboarding layer. Faster than banks + ECGC direct.
Biggest Mistake
Tried to underwrite insurance ourselves. Way too capital intensive. Became insurance broker + tech layer above ECGC — asset-light and profitable from month 4.
Licenses & Registrations
Pros & Cons
Pros
- India exports at $800B+; 95% of MSME exporters have no credit insurance
- ECGC (Export Credit Guarantee Corporation) has huge coverage capacity but poor digital distribution
- Banks mandate credit insurance for export financing — creates compliance-driven demand
Cons
- IRDAI insurance broker license required
- ECGC dominates but needs better distribution partners — partnership rather than competition
- Claims underwriting requires deep international trade expertise
Real-World Proof
India exports at $775B; SME exporters represent 40% but have <5% insurance penetration
— Indian SME exporters lose ₹8,000 Cr annually to non-payment by foreign buyers — trade credit insurance adoption critical.
ECGC covers ₹1 lakh crore of exports annually; target to double by 2027
— Government-backed ECGC is the primary trade credit insurer in India — distribution partnership gives legitimate product access.
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Sources & References6
- [1]DGFT India Export Data 2024 — India exports at $775B; SME exporters represent 40% but have <5% insurance penetration
- [2]Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) Annual Report 2024 — ECGC covers ₹1 lakh crore of exports annually; target to double by 2027
- [3]Unit Economics — Annual premium 0.3–0.8% of insured turnover; exporters with ₹1Cr+ turnover are target.
- [4]Google Trends — Search demand index — India, 5-year window
- [5]DPIIT Startup Recognition Database (Dec 2023) — Ministry of Commerce & Industry — DPIIT recognised startups
- [6]MCA21 Company Master Data — data.gov.in — Ministry of Corporate Affairs — registered MSME companies
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