On August 14, 2026, the SBA opened its International Trade Loan (ITL) Program to a new group of small businesses: companies across 28 energy-sector NAICS codes, covering oil and gas extraction, coal and metal-ore mining, mineral mining, and drilling support services. SBA is calling it the "90% Energy Guarantee," and it's the third time this year the agency has used the same playbook — expanding who can access the ITL program's guarantee rather than changing the guarantee itself.
What actually changed
Here's the part that's easy to misread: the ITL program's guarantee has been up to 90% for years — well above the 75% guarantee SBA offers on standard 7(a) loans over $150,000. That's not new. What changed on August 14 is who qualifies for it.
The ITL program was originally built for exporters — small businesses developing new export markets or hurt by import competition. In 2026, SBA has been widening that eligibility sector by sector:
- May 1, 2026: Manufacturers in NAICS Sectors 31–33 became eligible under the "Made in America Guarantee."
- Mid-2026: Food-supply-chain businesses (agriculture, production, logistics) became eligible under a "Grocery Guarantee." SBA says it has approved $82 million in capital through this track since it launched.
- August 14, 2026: Energy-sector businesses across 28 specific NAICS codes became eligible under the "90% Energy Guarantee," per SBA News Release 26-82.
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler framed the move as an incentive for lenders, not a new eligibility test for borrowers: "By establishing a 90% Energy Guarantee, the Trump SBA is offering lenders more incentive to deploy capital to the local businesses expanding America's energy production and distribution." SBA also disclosed that its Made in America track has already put $110 million into manufacturers' hands since May — a data point on how fast lenders have been using the earlier version of this same mechanism.
Who qualifies under the Energy Guarantee
The release names 28 NAICS codes as eligible, effective immediately. In plain terms, that list covers:
- Crude petroleum and natural gas extraction (NAICS 211120, 211130)
- Coal mining — bituminous, lignite, and anthracite (212111–212113)
- Metal ore mining — iron, gold, silver, copper, uranium, and other metals (212210–212299)
- Stone, sand, gravel, and other nonmetallic mineral mining (212311–212399)
- Support activities for oil and gas drilling and other mining operations (213111–213115)
If your business isn't classified under one of these codes, this specific guarantee doesn't apply to you — but the ITL program's ordinary export-related eligibility, or the Made in America / Grocery tracks if you're in manufacturing or food supply, might.
Being on the NAICS list doesn't waive standard SBA underwriting. ITL loans still run through SBA's regular 7(a) infrastructure: your business still needs to meet SBA size standards, have reasonable credit and financials, and work with a participating lender who submits the loan under this guarantee. SBA's own program terms describe ITL proceeds as usable for acquiring, constructing, renovating, or expanding U.S.-based facilities and equipment, plus working capital — the standing $5 million program ceiling applies unless SBA states otherwise for this specific track.
How it compares to standard 7(a)
| Standard 7(a) | ITL Program (incl. Energy Guarantee) | |
|---|---|---|
| SBA guarantee | 75% (loans over $150K); 85% (loans $150K or less) | Up to 90% |
| Maximum loan | $5 million | $5 million |
| Use of proceeds | Broad general-business purposes | Facilities, equipment, and working capital tied to export/eligible-sector activity |
| Eligible borrowers | Most small businesses meeting SBA size standards | Exporters, import-affected businesses, plus manufacturing/food-supply/energy sectors added in 2026 |
A higher guarantee doesn't change your loan terms directly — it changes how much risk your lender is carrying. SBA guarantees compensate the lender if a borrower defaults, not the borrower. In practice, a 90% guarantee versus a 75% guarantee often gives lenders more room to say yes on deals they might otherwise pass on, or to extend somewhat more favorable terms, because less of the exposure sits on their own books. It's not a guarantee of approval, and it's not a promise of a specific rate — those still come down to your financials, your lender's own underwriting, and current market pricing.
What it means in practice
If your business falls under one of the 28 energy NAICS codes above and you're planning a facility expansion, equipment purchase, or need working capital tied to production or distribution, this is worth raising with a lender that offers SBA ITL financing specifically — not every SBA-approved bank does. Ask whether they're processing loans under the Energy Guarantee, since it's a new track and not every lender has updated their pipeline yet.
If you're outside those 28 codes, the standard 7(a) program, SBA Express, or one of the other SBA products already on the books may still fit — the Energy Guarantee doesn't replace those, it adds one more door for a specific set of businesses. Not sure where your business fits in the broader SBA lineup? Our full SBA 7(a) guide walks through eligibility across all the program's variants, and this breakdown of SBA's 2026 loan-limit increase covers the other major SBA change already in effect this year.
If you think your business qualifies, apply at apply.clearvaluelending.com/business-financing and note that you're looking into SBA International Trade Loan / Energy Guarantee financing — we'll route the file to a lender working with this program.
This content is educational and does not constitute financial or legal advice. SBA program rules, guarantee rates, and NAICS eligibility lists are subject to change. Verify current program details at sba.gov before making financing decisions. ClearValue Lending is a funding platform, not a lender, broker, or financial advisor.