The Zhitong Finance App learned that according to statistics from the People's Bank of China, at the end of the third quarter of 2026, financial institutions' RMB loan balances were 283.44 trillion yuan, up 4.8% year on year, and RMB loans increased 11.52 trillion yuan in the first three quarters.
1. Steady growth in loans to enterprises and institutions
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, the loan balance of local and foreign currency enterprises and institutions was 198.95 trillion yuan, up 8.0% year on year. The growth rate was 3.3 percentage points higher than various loans, and increased by 12.74 trillion yuan in the first three quarters.
Looking at the term, the balance of short-term loans and bill financing was 70.19 trillion yuan, up 11.8% year on year, and increased 6.04 trillion yuan in the first three quarters. The balance of medium- to long-term loans was 124.93 trillion yuan, up 6.0% year on year, and increased 6.53 trillion yuan in the first three quarters.
By use, the fixed asset loan balance was 79.40 trillion yuan, up 2.4% year on year, and increased 2.12 trillion yuan in the first three quarters. The operating loan balance was RMB 84.07 trillion, up 11.2% year on year, and increased by RMB 7.96 trillion in the first three quarters.
II. The overall steady growth of medium- and long-term industrial loans
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, the balance of medium- and long-term loans in the local and foreign currency industry was 28.06 trillion yuan, up 5.6% year on year. The growth rate was 0.9 percentage points higher than various loans, and increased 1.46 trillion yuan in the first three quarters. Among them, the balance of medium- and long-term loans for the heavy industry was 23.63 trillion yuan, up 4.6% year on year; the balance of medium- and long-term loans for the light industry was 4.43 trillion yuan, up 11.0% year on year.
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, the balance of medium- and long-term loans in the local and foreign currency service industry was 76.84 trillion yuan, up 6.2% year on year. The growth rate was 1.5 percentage points higher than various loans, and increased by 3.95 trillion yuan in the first three quarters. The balance of medium- to long-term loans in the service sector excluding the real estate industry increased by 9.2% year on year; the balance of medium- and long-term loans in the real estate industry decreased by 5.6% year on year.
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, the balance of medium- and long-term loans in local and foreign currency infrastructure-related industries was 45.36 trillion yuan, up 4.3% year on year, and 1.69 trillion yuan in the first three quarters.
3. Inclusive small and micro loans continue to grow
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, the balance of RMB inclusive small and micro loans was 38.50 trillion yuan, up 6.7% year on year. The growth rate was 1.9 percentage points higher than various loans, and increased 1.93 trillion yuan in the first three quarters. The balance of operating loans to farmers with credit of less than 5 million yuan per household was 10.17 trillion yuan, an increase of 36.5 billion yuan in the first three quarters. The student loan balance was 440.4 billion yuan, an increase of 49.6% over the previous year.
4. The growth of green loans is relatively steady
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, the balance of green loans in local and foreign currencies was 49.22 trillion yuan, up 13.0% year on year, and 4.41 trillion yuan in the first three quarters.
By use, the balances of green infrastructure upgrade loans, green and low-carbon energy transition loans, ecological protection and restoration, and utilization loans were 22.12 trillion yuan, 8.73 trillion yuan, and 5.43 trillion yuan, respectively. By industry, the balance of green loans for the transportation, warehousing, and postal industries was 9.33 trillion yuan, an increase of 1.02 trillion yuan in the first three quarters; the balance of green loans for the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas and water was 9.17 trillion yuan, an increase of 221.9 billion yuan in the first three quarters.
5. Stable growth in agricultural loans
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, the balance of agricultural loans in local and foreign currency was 54.29 trillion yuan, up 5.6% year on year. The growth rate was 0.9 percentage points higher than various loans, and increased 2.78 trillion yuan in the first three quarters.
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, rural loan balance was 41.04 trillion yuan, up 5.4% year on year, and 2.12 trillion yuan in the first three quarters; farmers' loan balance was 18.70 trillion yuan, up 0.8% year on year, up 296.5 billion yuan in the first three quarters; agricultural loan balance was 7.58 trillion yuan, up 9.0% year on year, and 692.5 billion yuan in the first three quarters.
6. Real estate loans have slowed down
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, the balance of RMB real estate loans was RMB 50.08 trillion, down 5.2% year on year, and decreased by 1.90 trillion yuan in the first three quarters.
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, the balance of real estate development loans was 12.37 trillion yuan, down 9.1% year on year, and decreased by 817.9 billion yuan in the first three quarters. The balance of personal housing loans was 35.91 trillion yuan, down 4.1% year on year, and reduced by 110 billion yuan in the first three quarters.
7. Loan support for science and innovation enterprises remains stable
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, 307,300 technology-based SMEs received loan support. The loan rate was 51.1%, 0.9 percentage points higher than at the end of the previous year. The loan balance for local and foreign currency technology-based SMEs was 4.27 trillion yuan, an increase of 20.1% over the previous year, and the growth rate was 15.4 percentage points higher than various loans.
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, 292,700 high-tech enterprises received loan support. The loan rate was 58.2%, 0.9 percentage points higher than at the end of the previous year. The loan balance for high-tech enterprises in local and foreign currency was 22.09 trillion yuan, an increase of 17.2% over the previous year, and the growth rate was 12.5 percentage points higher than various loans.
8. Household operating loans increased slightly year-on-year
At the end of the third quarter of 2026, the balance of domestic and foreign currency household loans was 82.25 trillion yuan, down 2.0% year on year, and 1.03 trillion yuan in the first three quarters. Among them, the operating loan balance was 25.64 trillion yuan, up 1.7% year on year, and increased 538.3 billion yuan in the first three quarters. The balance of consumer loans excluding personal housing loans was 20.69 trillion yuan, down 2.8% year on year, and decreased by 473.6 billion yuan in the first three quarters.
This article was edited by the Central Bank, Zhitong Finance Editor: Li Fu.