How to Minimize Currency Exchange Risk when Paying Overseas Suppliers? (2024)

How to Minimize Currency Exchange Risk when Paying Overseas Suppliers? (1)

Looking to make a business overseas money transfer? You don’t have to be at the mercy of exchange-rate fluctuations if you know the best methods to hedge currency risk.

Foreign currency risk is part and parcel of making overseas payments. Yet, this shouldn’t faze you once you discover effective ways to mitigate currency risk. With the right currency risk management solutions, global businesses like yours can diminish uncertainties and volatility within the FX markets.

Why do exchange rates matter to your business?

If you have decided to take your business global, it’s crucial to consider the effect exchange rates can have on your bottom line. First, you have to accept that doing business internationally carries the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. These fluctuations happen for various reasons, such as supply and demand, economic performance, inflation reports and geopolitical developments.

Exchange rates matter because they significantly impact your overseas costs and eat into your profit margins. Therefore, you must keep a sharp eye out for competitive exchange rates to maximize your returns. Being aware of exchange-rate volatility is only the first step – you need to develop a currency risk management strategy that protects your profits time and time again.

Remember, even the slightest fluctuation in the exchange rate can lead to brutal costs, especially where large sums are involved. So, a critical skill in international business is identifying competitive exchange rates to hit your targets.

What are the best ways to hedge your exchange-rate risk?

You may have no control over how and when exchange rates fluctuate, but that doesn’t mean all you can do is cross your fingers and hope for the best. There are two main ways to minimize currency risk on your overseas payments.

Forward Contracts

When you utilize a forward contract, you lock in your desired rate for a future payment. A forward contract is one of the best specialist currency tools for protecting against market volatility. So, while there may be some uncertainty within FX markets, your business is not entirely helpless when making cross-border payments.

You can easily forecast your business expenses since you have better control over the currency exchange rates for future payments. When you use a money transfer provider like MTFX, you can lock in your desired exchange rate for up to 12 months, giving you long-term control over your business funds flow.

Market Orders

Market orders are another currency risk management solution that allows you to set upper and lower limits for your trades. Thus, you can lock in gains or control downside risk by targeting a specific rate. A market order offers more flexibility than a forward contract because it doesn’t have a scheduled date. Instead, your payments are only processed when the desired rate is reached.

So, if you don’t have a strict delivery date for your funds, you can set targets better than the prevailing rates. Or you can use hedge funds or Spot Loss orders to ensure your trade is complete before the market moves beyond your risk threshold, preventing further loss.

Once the market aligns with your target, MTFX’s automation technologies will trigger the trade. Again, market orders enable you to budget effectively while capitalizing on profitable rate movements.

Can a dedicated currency specialist help mitigate the risk?

Now that you know about currency risk management tools, you may wonder where to get this advanced service. Consider using a currency specialist like MTFX to help mitigate exchange-rate fluctuations. Doing so offers the following benefits:

  • Save money – With market orders, you can take advantage of potential opportunities that increase the value of your transfer, depending on how the market moves.
  • Get expert guidance – The currency market can have many twists and turns. So it helps to have dedicated FX specialists that understand your needs and provide tailored advice based on the market’s current state.
  • Leverage FX tools – MTFX provides access to the best FX tools to make the most of your transfer. The list includes currency rate alerts, currency charts, and a live rate currency calculator.

Besides helping manage your exposure to exchange rate changes, MTFX offers competitive and bank beating rates. You’ll get rates 3-5% lower than what you would get from your bank and lower fees.

MTFX’s secure, safe, and 24/7 online platform allows you to set up an automated regular payment plan. This translates to hassle-free and cost-effective international payments that take the sting out of currency fluctuations.


Protect your business from adverse exchange rate movements with MTFX

You can do a lot to protect your business when making overseas payments.

An MTFX business account is the vehicle that will help you navigate dramatic exchange-rate fluctuations. After all, why gamble away your profits when you can take the stress out of the international payments process by using trusted risk management solutions?

With an MTFX account, you can:

  • Minimize currency risk easily and efficiently
  • Enjoy higher and stress-free business growth
  • Gain more financial control of your business

Open an account with MTFX today to benefit from minimal currency risk and quick, easy money transfers.

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How to Minimize Currency Exchange Risk when Paying Overseas Suppliers? (2024)

FAQs

How to Minimize Currency Exchange Risk when Paying Overseas Suppliers? ›

These risks can be mitigated through the use of a hedged exchange-traded fund or by the individual investor using various investment instruments, such as currency forwards or futures, or options.

How can foreign exchange risk be minimized? ›

These risks can be mitigated through the use of a hedged exchange-traded fund or by the individual investor using various investment instruments, such as currency forwards or futures, or options.

How to manage currency risk in international business? ›

A company can avoid forex exposure by only operating in its domestic market and transacting in local currency. Otherwise, it must attempt to match foreign currency receipts with outflows (a natural hedge), build protection into commercial contracts, or take out a financial instrument such as a forward contract.

What is the solution to exchange rate risk? ›

These risks can be reduced or even avoided by using hedging contracts such as options, money market hedges, forward contracts, swap contracts or by setting up a foreign exchange policy.

How to eliminate transaction exposure in a foreign currency payable? ›

One way that firms can limit their exposure to changes in the exchange rate is to implement a hedging strategy. By purchasing currency swaps or hedging through futures contracts, a company is able to lock in a rate of currency exchange for a set period of time and minimize translation risk.

Which tool is used for reducing foreign exchange risk? ›

Use financial instruments to mitigate currency risk

The two main products are forward contracts and currency options.

What steps could you take to minimize international risk? ›

In this article, we will explore 15 strategies to mitigate risks in international trade and compliance, ensuring smoother and more profitable operations.
  1. Conduct Comprehensive Market Research. ...
  2. Partner with Reliable Local Agents. ...
  3. Diversify Suppliers and Customers. ...
  4. Ensure Clear and Compliant Contracts.

How to mitigate risk in international trade? ›

Mitigating risks in international trade involves a blend of market understanding, financial tools like forward contracts and currency options, political risk insurance, regulatory compliance, diversification, and the use of technology.

How to hedge against foreign exchange risk? ›

Companies that have exposure to foreign markets can often hedge their risk with currency swap forward contracts. Many funds and ETFs also hedge currency risk using forward contracts. A currency forward contract, or currency forward, allows the purchaser to lock in the price they pay for a currency.

How to avoid exchange rates? ›

A good rule of thumb when traveling is to select the local currency during payment to avoid conversion fees and to use a card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. Cash withdrawals from international ATMs are also subject to fees.

How do you control foreign exchange rates? ›

The control of foreign exchange trading is the government's way to manage the exchange rate at the desired level, which can be at an overvalued or undervalued rate. The government can create a fund to defend currency volatility to stay in the desired range or get it fixed at a certain rate to meet its objectives.

How do you solve for foreign exchange rate? ›

Divide your current (home) currency by the exchange rate. For example, suppose that the USD/EUR exchange rate is 0.631 and you'd like to convert 100 USD into EUR. To do this, simply multiply the 100 by 0.631 and the result is the number of EUR that you'll receive: 63.10 EUR.

How do you keep exchange rates stable? ›

A fixed or pegged rate is determined by the government through its central bank. The rate is set against another major world currency (such as the U.S. dollar, euro, or yen). To maintain its exchange rate, the government will buy and sell its own currency against the currency to which it is pegged.

How do you manage foreign exchange transaction risk? ›

3 Ways to Manage Foreign Exchange Risk
  1. Establish a forward contract with a bank or foreign exchange service provider. ...
  2. The exporter accepts foreign currency payments only with cash in advance. ...
  3. Match foreign currency receipts with expenditures.

How do you reduce currency risk? ›

3 Ways to Protect Against Foreign Currency Risk
  1. Diversify Your Investments in Countries with Strong Currencies. ...
  2. Hedge Currency Risk with Exchange-Traded Funds. ...
  3. Invest in Companies That Operate in Other Countries.
Jan 25, 2024

What can one do to avoid paying foreign transactions fees? ›

The best way to avoid foreign transaction fees is to acquire a no-foreign-transaction-fees credit card, if you qualify for one. Next in line are checking accounts or debit cards with no foreign transaction fee. It is also possible to avoid the fee by paying in the local currency for purchases.

How can I reduce my forex risk? ›

What Are The Risk Management Strategies For Forex?
  1. Use Stop Loss Orders. ...
  2. Use Trailing Stop Loss Orders. ...
  3. Make Sure You Are Properly Capitalised. ...
  4. Identify Your Trades Quickly. ...
  5. Be Prepared to Lose Money. ...
  6. Use Stop And Limit Orders. ...
  7. Use Margin For Long Positions. ...
  8. Combine Different Strategies.

How can foreign exchange be controlled? ›

The control of foreign exchange trading is the government's way to manage the exchange rate at the desired level, which can be at an overvalued or undervalued rate. The government can create a fund to defend currency volatility to stay in the desired range or get it fixed at a certain rate to meet its objectives.

How can we save foreign exchange? ›

7 essential FX tips to save you money
  1. Stay in your banking network. ...
  2. If you have the option, pay in local currency. ...
  3. A credit card might not be the best option. ...
  4. Avoid weekends when exchanging your money. ...
  5. Check for any hidden fees. ...
  6. Choose a larger exchange shop. ...
  7. Open a multi-currency bank account.

How do you deal with foreign exchange market? ›

Steps Required To Trade Forex
  1. Step 1: Research and select a broker. ...
  2. Step 2: Open a forex trading account. ...
  3. Step 3: Verify your identity. ...
  4. Step 4: Fund your forex account. ...
  5. Step 5: Research currencies and identify trading opportunities. ...
  6. Step 6: Size up your first forex trade. ...
  7. Step 7: Monitor and manage your position.

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