The SAR's exporters face higher insurance premiums this year because of surging bankruptcy in the United States and fallout from Argentina's debt default.
Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC) commissioner Cheung Kam-kay said the corporation had to charge exporters more for their export credit insurance due to increased risk levels in overseas markets.
He said insurance premiums must reflect increased default risks. 'It is a fact that the risks are much greater now than before.'
The increase depended on negotiation with reinsurance companies, he said.
Government-owned ECIC offers export credit insurance to 100,000 exporters in the event that foreign buyers default or delay payment for more than four months, or go bankrupt.
Mr Cheung said poor economic conditions in the US had seen compensation paid to exports increase 250 per cent in the past nine months.