Norwegian lender DNB has seen its shipping loan portfolio reduced by NOK 10.52bn ($1.2bn) over the last year.

At the end of the first quarter, the gross carrying amount of the book was NOK 52.86bn, against NOK 63.38bn at 31 March, 2018.

The reduction was described to TradeWinds as "a wanted development" by a DNB spokesperson.

Of these loans, NOK 394bn were classed as at the highest level of risk, stage three, down from NOK 621m last year.