One of the widely‐predicted consequences of the global financial crisis is a shortage of trade finance that will exacerbate declines in trade volumes. Many commentators and policymakers have predicted such a shortage, and the G20 London Summit committed to substantial increases in trade finance. Should development practitioners be concerned about whether decreasing availability of trade credit will undermine export performance in sub‐Saharan Africa? Telephone interviews were conducted with a small number of exporting firms in the garment and horticulture sectors in sub‐Saharan Africa. These firms did not face problems with trade finance. These firms did, however, face problems with declining demand in export markets and pressures on margins because of exchange‐rate movements. There are also indications that trade finance restrictions are hitting other developing regions, particularly Latin America and the Caribbean, and that firms that do not have well‐established trading relationships are more vulnerable to shortages of trade finance.