Distributing a product

Market shares

Sambil, Almacenes Exito

Organizations in the retail sector

We can identify professional tradeshows on your sector.

Market access procedures

International Conventions

Party to the Montreal protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer

Main International economic cooperation

Venezuela is part of the WTO, the World Bank, the CEPALC: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the ALADI: Latin American Integration Association, the MCCA (CACM): Central American Common Market. It has signed the Promotion and Protection of Investment Agreement of 1993, and is a partner of MERCOSUR. The country withdrew from the Andean Community, which brings together several countries of the Southern Cone, in 2006.

Non tariff barriers

Some export controls are seldom used. Some mineral resources may be controlled when exported. Re-export of equipment goods is normally not allowed except if the import is temporary.
Import licenses are rarely obligatory, but some products are subject to an import license: firearms and explosives require an import license from the Ministry of the Interior.
Import certificates are required for certain products subject to special control. All foodstuffs and agricultural imports are subject to obtaining health and phytosanitary certificates to be allowed to be exported.
Medicines, food products and cosmetics need to be registered with the Ministry of Health.
If alcohol products are imported, a label has to be fixed around the corking system of the bottle. Imported cigarettes must also undergo this procedure.

For further information, visit the website of the Commission for Currency Administration.

Customs duties and taxes on imports

12%

Customs classification

Import taxes Customs duties are contained between 5 and 20% (there are certain exceptions like private vehicles: 35%). On average: 12%. The tax on wholesale transactions is 16.5% (on CIF price + import duty + Customs charges). In the free zone of Margarita, this duty is applied only to services. The duty on luxury products ranges from 10 to 20% , depending on the product. This duty is calculated on the result of the wholesale tax mentioned above. There is a specific tax for oil products and their derivatives. The import of private second-hand or new vehicles, but not pertaining to the current year, is prohibited except for a private person within the framework of his changing residence, and it is the same for second-hand clothes or used tires. The import of pork meat and its derivatives is prohibited. Within the framework of the WTO, compensatory duties are established on basic agrifood products: milk, certain cheeses, cereals... Dumping duties are applicable to some products such as jeans originating from China.

Import procedures

Observations: The exporter is advised to follow the importer's instructions and for products requiring registration (food products, pharmaceuticals and perfumes), to ensure that the procedures have been carried out before shipping. On the whole, procedures are quite slow and the Venezuelan importer must provide a certain number of documents with the collaboration of the exporter.

 

To know what import procedures are, see the Commission for Currency Administration:

Importing samples

Samples may not exceed 30 centimeters. Pure chemical products and alcoholic sweets cannot be considered as samples. Samples are exempted from customs duty.

For further information

Aduanas de Venezuela

We can indicate you which are the customs duties applied to your product.

Find out the local taxes that apply to your product.

Organizing goods transport

Main useful means of transport

The road network is very widespread and a lot of goods transit by truck. Goods travel by plane or by boat from La Guaira, Puerto Cabello or Maracaibo. Basic industrial products pass through Matanzas and Puerto Ordaz. Oil and gas by Amuay, Puerto la Cruz, Punta Cardon, El Tablazo, Bajo Grande and La Salina.

Ports

The airline company Avensa
The airport of Caracas

Airports

Ministry of Infrastructures

Sea transport organizations

Ministry of Infrastructures

Air transport organizations

National Institute of Civil Aviation (INAC)

Road transport organizations

Ministry of Infrastructures

Rail transport organizations

Ministry of Infrastructures

Get a ballpark figure for transportation costs for your product in this country through a shipping estimate.

Identifying a supplier

Type of production

Tthe oil industry, representing 80% of the exports, also represents 50% of fiscal returns and 25% of the total GDP. Despite stagnating production, the prices on the international market are rising in this sector. The concern is however that in the coming years we will see a deterioration of the oil infrastructures: the striking increase of the governmental taxation of oil company PDVSA's profits leaves it with few means to maintain its costly infrastructure or to continue prospecting in areas that are difficult to reach.

The manufacturing sector alone provides 20% of the GDP. This sector is impeded by the lack of private investment. Main productions are iron work and aluminium work, textile and clothing, which have been growing for several years. These are dynamic sectors driven by exports, by the improving productivity and by the restarting of interior consumption. Food preparation is hampered by the growth of imports and by the price control imposed by the government on products of vital need. Cement and automobile industries are dynamic branches and the State encourages investment in this sector.

Business directories

GUIA

Manufacturers associations of the main industries

Association of the plastics industry
Association of the chemical industry

Trade Agencies and their representations abroad

Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Chamber of Commerce of Caracas

Enterprises federation

Association of very small, small and medium enterprises

Standards

National standards organizations

FONDONORMA
SENCAMER
COVENIN

Integration in the international standards network

The structure managing Venezuelan standardization and norms is composed of two entities: the FONDONORMA (Funds for Normalization and Quality Certification), a private non-profit association, and another body of the Ministry of Commerce, the SENCAMER. This new organism is a member of the ISO (International OrganizatIon of Standardization), of COPANT (Panamerican StandarDs Commission) and of the IQ Net (International Certification Network).

Some importers have met some difficulties: no foreign standard has been recognised and hence Venezuela makes it compulsory to obtain a certificate.

Classification of standards

The COVENIN has prepared more than 300 compulsory standards as much for the domestic market as for the import market. The institution itself does not exist anymore (replaced by FONDONORMA), but the norms are still referred to as the "Norms COVENIN". FONDONORMA issues a NORVEN seal of quality to local manufacturers for specific products and services.

Online consultation of standards

Consult the standards on COVENIN, FONDONORMA.

Certification organizations

FONDONORMA

Find out the standards and labelling requirements that apply to your products.

Intellectual Property

National organizations

Venezuela is a member of the Paris Convention (for industrial property) and of the Berne Convention (authors copyrights). It is however very difficult to implement control in this country, to protect patents, trademarks, designs etc.. It is therefore preferable to register these goods and services within the country. It should also be noted that the country is not a signatory to the Rome Convention (which deals with the protection of artists and interpreters). For more information, please consult the SAPI: Service Autonome de la Propriété Intellectuelle.

Regional organizations

Venezuela is a member of WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) and a member of the WTO. For more informations contact the Ministry of Justice.