Corporate supply chains are facing logistic, shipping and operational challenges while also under pressure from geopolitical tensions and natural disasters, as highlighted by trade leaders at the world’s leading banks in Euromoney’s Trade Finance Survey 2024.

Balancing growth and risk is a delicate task for banks. By understanding client needs and leverage their technology capabilities, banks can not only maintain this balance but also tap into new opportunities in emerging industries. The partnership between Deutsche Bank and Chinese fintech XTransfer, highlighted by their recent success in Thailand, serves as a prime example of how tailored solutions and innovative processes can drive growth and operational efficiency.

While treasurers see promise in regulatory changes such as ISO 20022 and the digital euro, concerns over compliance pressures and potential disruptions are mounting, according to the Corporate Treasurers on Key Trends in Cash Management report, published by Euromoney earlier this month.

The role of corporate treasurers is evolving into a strategic function, driven by internal and external factors. Internally, treasurers are facing increased demands from the C-suite and business leaders. Externally, they must navigate rapid changes in real-time payments, complex liquidity and cash-management needs.

Corporate treasurers face a range of challenges in producing accurate liquidity forecasts. Not all of them can be addressed by technology alone.

Direct lending may have benefitted from the resurgence in US private equity buy outs in the first half of the year, but there may still be a return to syndicated markets.