The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) increased by 283.8 million GEL (5.4 percent) compared to May 1, 2008 and exceeded 5.5 billion GEL by May 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 26.1 percent and constituted 1.3 billion GEL, while the volume of loans in foreign currency grew by 21.8 percent and exceeded 4.2 billion GEL.

By the end of April 2009 commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 497.6 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (46.2 percent less than a year ago) and 2.5 billion GEL worth of loans in foreign currency (15.4 percent more than a year ago).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 46.8 percent. During the past 12 months the volume of loans provided for trade decreased by 4.1 percent and amounted to 1.4 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 20.1 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 609.4 million GEL by May 1, 2009 (1.6 percent higher than in the same period of 2008). 12.5 percent fall on construction, amounting to 377.7 million GEL (9.5 percent decrease compared to the same period of the past year). Thus, 79.3 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 significantly, by 13.6 percent, during the past 12 months, and exceeded 2.2 billion GEL by May 1, 2009.

 

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