Browse Data and Analysis

Food availability in Venezuela has improved since reaching an all-time low in 2019 as the result of informal dollarization of the economy, lower inflation, increased private sector activity, and a growth in domestic production and imports.

On May 4 and 5, 2022, Venezuela’s National Supermarkets Association held an event entitled “Radiography of the Retail Sector in Venezuela 2022.” The goal of this event was to evaluate the Venezuelan retail sector situation including changes in retail and consumer trends, emerging threats, and new opportunities for growth.

Venezuelan seafood production totaled 241,000 MT in 2021, growing by 16 percent compared to 2020. Seafood products are Venezuela’s largest agricultural export, accounting for more than 54 percent of the total value of agricultural exports in 2021.

Venezuelan milk production reached 1.5 billion litres in 2021, just a 2 percent increase from 2020. The formal dairy industry processed 12 percent of this output, only working at 20 percent of their capacity, due to the collapse of the market and Venezuelan consumers favoring artisanal cheeses.

This report identifies the export certification requirements by agricultural and food product. The Venezuelan ministries issue import permits, import licenses, and register processed food products. This report reflects minor changes from the 2021 report.

This report is an annual update of Venezuela's agricultural product import standards and enforcement mechanisms for U.S. exporters of agricultural commodities, foods, and beverages. Venezuela remains a complicated but promising market for U.S. agricultural products. The market has grown by 260 percent since 2019, illustrating opportunities exist.

While Venezuela poses unique challenges as an export market, opportunities are growing for U.S. food and agricultural exporters to enter and expand in the market. Domestic production cannot meet consumer demand, leading to a continued dependence on...

Venezuelan agricultural imports grew by 33.1 percent in 2021 due to a stabilization of the economy and a recovery in consumer demand. Nevertheless, agricultural imports fell by 5.1 percent in volume due to significant commodity prices increases.

This report is an annual update of Venezuela's agricultural product import standards and enforcement mechanisms for U.S. exporters of agricultural commodities, foods, and beverages.

This report identifies the different export certification requirements currently in place by product. The Maduro regime, through its different Ministries, issues import permits, import licenses, and conducts processed food product registrations. Post updates only minor changes in this report.