External debt up 54.8% yoy in 1Q08

According to the National Bank of Ukraine, external debt expanded 54.8% yoy in 1Q08 to USD 92.5 bln (60.6% of GDP). In 2007, it rose 55.1% yoy. Corporate debt jumped 65.0% yoy in 1Q08 to USD 73.7 bln: debt in banking sector hit USD 34.0 bln (+96.2% yoy), while debt in other sectors USD 39.7 bln (+45.2% yoy). Public debt grew 18.9% yoy in 1Q08, but decreased as a percentage of GDP to 10.1% from 10.7% in 2007.