The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) increased by 0.6 percent compared to the previous month and reached 5.3 billion GEL by March 1, 2010. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 11.6 million GEL (1.0 percent), while the volume of loans in foreign currency increased by 18.4 million GEL (0.5 percent).

By the end of February 2010 commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 553.7 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (0.9 percent or 5.0 million GEL more compared to previos month) and 2.5 billion GEL worth of loans in foreign currency (1.3 percent or 30.6 million GEL more, respectively).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 46.6 percent. Compared to January the volume of loans provided for trade increased by 3.1 percent or 42.5 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 664.4 million GEL by March 1, 2010 (1.2 percent or 8.2 million GEL decrease compared to the previous month). 11.6 percent fall on construction, amounting to 348.1 million GEL (0.03 percent or 92.0 thousand GEL increase, respectively). Thus, 80.3 percent of the total volume of lending to the legal entities falls only on three sectors – indubvhstry, construction and trade.

The volume of lending to individuals decreased by 0.3 percent or 6.1 million GEL, during the past month, and constituted 2.0 billion GEL by March 1, 2010.

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