Agricultural imports spike to 99.6% in one year

Minister of Food Carlos Osorio told El Universal last July that the priority of the Venezuelan government is to ensure ready access to foodstuffs wherever they come, "even imported." Official numbers show that such strategy is in full swing.

According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), in the first half of this year, imports of the sector of plants and animals jumped 99.6% compared the same term in 2011.

Between January and June of 2012, imports of that sector summed up USD 2.5 billion; in the first half of 2011, imports totaled USD 1.26 billion.

Overall dependence

INE numbers show that Venezuelan imports advanced 28.3% between the first half of 2011 and the first half of 2012, from USD 15.82 billion to USD 20.30 billion.

Electrical materials got the largest amount of funds, that is, USD 6.40 billion or a hike of 25.8%.

rbarreiro@eluniversal.com