Venezuela-US trade balance down 31.42% in 2012

Venezuela-US trade balance in January-November 2012 was down 31.42% with respect to the same period in 2011. Exports and imports totaled USD 19.78 billion, favoring Venezuela whereas the figure in 2011 stood at USD 28.85 billion.

Based on data revealed by the Venezuelan-American Chamber of Trade and Industry (VenAmCham), the rise in imports is accountable for the drop in the balance reported in favor of Venezuela. Purchases from the United States soared 41.51% in the aforementioned period, climbing from USD 11.24 billion in 2011 to USD 15.90 billion in 2012.

For their part, Venezuela's oil imports skyrocketed in 2012 (474.96%), jumping from USD 486 million in 2011 to USD 2.79 billion. 

A blast in Venezuela's main refinery Amuay in August last year, made the country import vast quantities of compounds for gasoline and other oil byproducts processing.

Meanwhile, non-oil imports swelled 21.9%, rising from USD 10.7 billion in 2011 to USD 13.10 billion in 2012, the VenAmCham's report shows.

For their part, Venezuela's exports went down 10.98%, from USD 40.09 billion two years ago to USD 35.69 billion last year.

Oil exports slowed 11.35%, from USD 38.19 billion in 2011 to USD 34.49 billion in 2012.

A slight rise (1.17%) was reported in non-oil exports, from USD 1.18 billion to USD 1.19 billion.

Translated by Jhean Cabrera