It could be described as a 'vacuum', a 'void', or simply a 'gap', and its consequences have been feared. The impact of Europe’s deleveraging on trade finance in Asia was feared because trade is so crucial to the region, and trade finance effectively its lifeblood.
And now the nature of Asia's trade finance landscape left behind by the retreat of some European banks is beginning to take shape. State agencies and Asian regional banks have stepped in to fill the gap, while the traditional players are steadily growing so they can benefit in the long run from the new trade patterns that are emerging in Asia.
