
Letters of Credit in New and Risky Trade Corridors: Demand, Constraints, and the Role of the Confirming Bank
Letters of credit remain a key instrument for protecting exporters in new and risky trade corridors — but in 2026, confirmation is becoming the bottleneck. We analyze how limits, correspondent network contraction, compliance costs, and sanctions clauses affect the availability and cost of confirmed LCs, and what alternatives exist when no bank is willing to confirm.















