Small mines can get govt help to export

The Turnbull government has changed the rules for its export credit agency so it can finance small resources projects that can't get loans from banks.

Small resources projects, including coal mines, can now get loans from the federal government's export credit agency.

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo says changes to the mandate of the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation were needed because it was getting harder for some resources projects to find funding through banks.

Any available money will not duplicate other government support and in particular, companies cannot double-dip into it and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.