The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) increased by 12.0 million GEL (0.2 percent) compared to June 1, 2008 and reached 5.4 billion GEL by June 1, 2009. The growth of overall volume of loans is a result of the growth of the foreign currency denominated loans. More specifically, the volume of loans provided in the national currency decreased by 32.3 percent and constituted 1.3 billion GEL, while the volume of loans in foreign currency grew by 17.7 percent and exceeded 4.1 billion GEL.

By the end of May 2009 commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 472.3 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (twice as little as a year ago) and 2.4 billion GEL worth of loans in foreign currency (9.7 percent more than a year ago).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 46.3 percent. During the past 12 months the volume of loans provided for trade decreased by 8.9 percent and amounted to 1.3 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 19.6 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 566.6 million GEL by June 1, 2009 (9.1 percent less than in the same period of 2008). 12.3 percent fall on construction, amounting to 357.1 million GEL (16.0 percent decrease compared to the same period of the past year). Thus, 78.2 percent of the total volume of lending to legal entities falls only on three sectors – industry, construction and trade.

The volume of lending to individuals has grown by 4.6 percent, during the past 12 months, and reached 2.2 billion GEL by June 1, 2009.

Current statistical information is published on the statistics page of the NBG’s website.