Bank credit at the end of the first quarter of 2011 was up by 24.7% year on year and by 2.9% since the beginning of 2011. Outstanding credit to the mining industry rose by 53.5% year on year, while outstanding credit to agricultural enterprises, construction and manufacturing grew by 32%, 19.4% and 15.5% for the three sectors respectively, suggesting expansionary plans in all of these industries. Credit to service-oriented industries, including hotels and restaurants and financial services, also grew strongly on an annual basis. BI now expects growth in loans in 2011 as a whole to exceed the rate of 23.5% that was outlined in banks' business plans for the year.

Meanwhile, cement sales were up by 6% year on year in the first quarter of the year, to 10.3m tonnes, up from 9.7m tonnes in the first quarter of 2010, according to the Indonesian Cement Association (ASI), as demand was boosted by residential property developments and infrastructure projects, including toll roads and bridges, that are now under construction. The ASI expects sales to total 43m tonnes in 2011.