The silent line item
You agreed a price in dollars; your revenue is in local currency. Between the purchase order and the payment date, the exchange rate becomes an uninvited partner in your deal — and it always takes its share from your margin.
How much rates actually move
:::chart Typical 90-day currency swing vs USD (importer currencies)
Stable pegged currencies | 0
Managed float (Gulf, Egypt) | 4
Free float emerging markets | 9
High volatility currencies | 18
:::
The five defenses, ranked by accessibility
Tool Cost Complexity Who can use it
--- --- --- ---
Price in your own currency Free None Sellers with leverage
Pay faster / shorter terms Free None Any buyer
Natural hedge (match income + costs) Free Planning Businesses with both sides
Forward contract 0.5–2% Bank relationship Established importers
Currency account (hold USD) Bank fees None Most businesses
Practical rules
- Shorten the exposure window — the days between PO and payment are the risk; compress them.
- Quote validity works both ways — if you give 30-day prices, your supplier''s currency risk is in your quote.
- Hold the currency you spend — a USD account converts once, at a rate you choose.
- Never speculate to recover — doubling down on a rate move is how importers become gamblers.
> You cannot predict exchange rates. You can only decide how long you stand in front of them.
Keep deals in one currency
Prebro deals are denominated in USD end to end — quote, contract, invoice, and payment — so both sides always know exactly which number is real.