The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) in March, 2012, compared to the previous month, increased by 145.8 million GEL (1.9 percent) and exceeded 7.8 billion GEL by April 1, 2012. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 53.3 million GEL (2.2 percent) and the volume of loans in a foreign currency increased by 92.5 million GEL (1.8 percent).

By the end of March 2012, commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 870.7 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (4.8 percent or 39.9 million GEL more compared to the previous month) and 3.5 billion GEL worth of loans in a foreign currency (3.3 percent or 112.3 million GEL more, respectively).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 47.5 percent. Compared with the previous month, in March, 2012 the volume of loans provided for trade increased by 6.1 percent or 118.0 million GEL and constituted 2.1 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 20.1 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 873.2 million GEL by April 1, 2012 (0.8 percent or 6.9 million GEL less compared to the previous month). 10.2 percent fall on construction, amounting to 443.4 million GEL (4.3 percent or 18.1 million GEL more, respectively). Therefore, 77.8 percent of the total volume of lending to the legal entities falls only on three sectors – industry, construction and trade.

The volume of lending to resident individuals increased by 0.7 percent or 21.5 million GEL, during the March 2012, and exceeded 3.2 billion GEL by April 1, 2012.