988)

Imports: $10.9 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--foodstuffs,
chemicals, manufactures, machinery and transport equipment;
partners--US 44%, FRG 8.5%, Japan 6%, Italy 5%, Brazil 4.4% (1987)

External debt: $33.6 billion (1988)

Industrial production: growth rate 3.7%, excluding oil (1988)

Electricity: 19,110,000 kW capacity; 54,516 million kWh produced,
2,830 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials, food
processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly

Agriculture: accounts for 6% of GDP and 15% of labor force;
products--corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef,
pork, milk, eggs, fish; not self-sufficient in food other than meat

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and coca for the
international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities
of cocaine and marijuana do transit the country

Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million;
Communist countries (1970-88), $10 million

Currency: bolivar (plural--bolivares);
1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: bolivares (Bs) per US$1--43.42 (January 1990),
34.6815 (1989), 14.5000 (fixed rate 1987-88), 8.0833 (1986),
7.5000 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

- Communications
Railroads: 542 km total; 363 km 1.435-meter standard gauge all single
track, government owned; 179 km 1.435-meter gauge, privately owned

Highways: 77,785 km total; 22,780 km paved, 24,720 km gravel, 14,450 km
earth roads, and 15,835 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept
oceangoing vessels

Pipelines: 6,370 km crude oil; 480 km refined products;
4,010 km natural gas

Ports: Amuay Bay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, Puerto Cabello,
Puerto Ordaz

Merchant marine: 70 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 997,458
GRT/1,615,155 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 1 passenger cargo, 28 cargo,
2 container, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 17 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 11 bulk, 1 vehicle carrier,
1 combination bulk, 1 combination ore/oil

Civil air: 58 major transport aircraft

Airports: 306 total, 278 usable; 134 with permanent-surface
runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
92 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: modern and expanding; 1,440,000 telephones;
stations--181 AM, no FM, 59 TV, 26 shortwave; 3 submar