Loco Swap Gold · LCORE Abu Dhabi · Bullion Settlement

Loco Swap Gold: What It Is and How LCORE Facilitates It in Abu Dhabi

A loco swap exchanges equivalent quantities of gold between two delivery locations — essential for aligning physical positions with trading and settlement requirements without moving metal.

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Physical Movement
Instant
Ownership Transfer
LBMA
Compatible Metal
ADGM
Reg. No. 28158
The Mechanism

What is a loco swap:
the standard explained

A loco swap is one of the oldest instruments in the bullion market — originating in the London market where "loco" simply means "at the location of." To sell gold "loco London" means selling gold that is physically in London. A loco swap exchanges those location rights.

Classic Structure

Party A holds 500 kg loco London. Party B holds 500 kg loco Abu Dhabi. They agree to swap: A takes Abu Dhabi ownership, B takes London ownership. No bar moves. Documentation transfers. Done in hours.

Economic Logic

Transport cost for 500 kg London to Abu Dhabi: ~$15,000–25,000 + insurance + customs. A loco swap costs a fraction of this and completes same-day. The loco basis (price differential) reflects supply/demand at each location.

Market Standard

Loco swaps are the standard mechanism used by central banks, LBMA members, and commodity trading houses to rebalance geographic gold exposure. London, Zurich, New York, Singapore, Abu Dhabi are the primary loco centres.

LCORE's Role

Abu Dhabi as a
loco swap centre

LCORE's vault position — ADGM-licensed, LBMA-compatible metal, pre-customs airport location — makes it a natural loco swap counterparty for parties seeking Abu Dhabi exposure without physical shipment.

For Sellers Seeking AUH Exposure

A mining company or trader with London loco gold can obtain Abu Dhabi vault rights via loco swap with LCORE — gaining UAE neutral jurisdiction without shipping the metal out of London.

For Buyers Needing London Delivery

A party with Abu Dhabi-stored gold needing London delivery can swap with an LBMA member — obtaining loco London rights while LCORE retains the physical metal in Abu Dhabi for another counterparty.

Settlement Bridge

For commodity trade settlements, a loco swap can transfer gold rights from one jurisdiction to another as part of the payment mechanism — particularly useful when the physical bar does not need to move.

LBMA-Compatible Metal

LCORE accepts and stores LBMA Good Delivery bars. This ensures the metal is acceptable to any LBMA member as a loco swap counterparty — full interoperability with the global bullion market.

Use Cases

Who uses
loco swap gold

CounterpartyObjectiveLoco Swap Role
Central BanksRebalance geographic reservesTransfer rights London ↔ Abu Dhabi without shipment
Trading HousesReduce transport / insurance costsSwap location rights between vault centres
Commodity FundsMeet redemption in specific locationObtain local vault rights via swap
Exporters with blocked USDTransfer gold value cross-jurisdictionRights transfer without physical movement or SWIFT
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Why do gold traders use loco swaps instead of physically moving gold?
Physically moving gold is expensive (insurance, freight, handling) and slow (3–7 days). A loco swap achieves the same economic result — gold at a different location — by matching holders with complementary needs. It is faster, cheaper, and eliminates physical transit risk.
What is the loco differential between Abu Dhabi and London?
The loco differential reflects the cost of physically transporting gold between the two locations. London is the global price benchmark (zero differential by convention). Abu Dhabi typically trades at a small discount or premium depending on regional demand; LCORE provides current indicative differentials at inquiry.
Can an LCORE loco swap convert physical gold into a loco-London paper position?
Yes. An LCORE loco swap can convert your physically held Abu Dhabi gold into a loco-London book position with a qualified counterparty — providing access to London market liquidity while your physical gold remains at Etihad Secure Logistics. The reverse (converting loco-London exposure into Abu Dhabi physical) is equally available.
Who can access LCORE's loco swap gold services?
Institutional counterparties only: family offices, commodity traders, sovereign entities, mining companies, and corporate treasuries. Minimum $5M. Full KYC/AML/source-of-funds onboarding required before access.
How is loco swap gold regulated at LCORE?
ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) under FSRA regulatory oversight. English Common Law jurisdiction. LCORE Reg. 28158. Lloyd's of London insurance $250M per shipment. All operations comply with UAE AML/CFT requirements.

Discuss a loco swap structure.

Institutional loco swap enquiries. LBMA-compatible metal. ADGM-licensed vault. Minimum $5M.

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