February 11, 2005
Venezuelan trade balance reports 41 % surplus with the US

(Daily News Venezuela) -" Latin American and Caribbean surplus in the trade of goods with the United States heightened 22 percent in 2004 to a record of $82.3 billion, the US Department of Commerce reported.

Throughout 2003, the balance in favor to Latin American and Caribbean exporters was of $67.5 billion, EFE reported. However, in December the Latin American surplus dropped 4.1 percent to $7.1 billion. Venezuelan surplus increased 41 percent, from $14.3 billion in 2003 to $20.1 billion in 2004.

In December, as a result of falling oil prices, Venezuelan surplus amounted to $1.6 billion, as compared to $1.7 billion the prior month".