The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) increased by 1.4 percent compared to the previous month and exceeded 5.3 billion GEL by April 1, 2010. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 75.8 million GEL (6.3 percent), while the volume of loans in foreign currency decreased by 3.3 million GEL (0.1 percent).

By the end of March 2010 commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 591.1 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (6.8 percent or 37.4 million GEL more compared to previos month) and 2.5 billion GEL worth of loans in foreign currency (0.8 percent or 19.5 million GEL more, respectively).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 47.1 percent. Compared to February the volume of loans provided for trade increased by 3.0 percent or 42.1 million GEL and exceeded 1.4 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 22.1 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 677.4 million GEL by April 1, 2010 (2.0 percent or 13.0 million GEL increase compared to the previous month). 11.7 percent fall on construction, amounting to 359.0 million GEL (3.1 percent or 10.9 million GEL increase, respectively). Thus, 81.0 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 individuals increased by 0.4 percent or 7.3 million GEL, during the past month, and exceeded 2.0 billion GEL by April 1, 2010.

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