Venezuela's purchases of oil byproducts refined in the United States recorded a remarkable increase from January-July 2013, compared to the same period in 2012.

Oil-related imports figures during this year mirror the deterioration of the refining capacity of the Venezuelan oil industry.

Statistics disclosed by the US Energy Department show that Venezuela's purchases of oil byproducts from the US averaged 89,000 barrels per day (bpd) in January-July, a 78% increase compared to the 50,000 bpd Venezuela imported on average in the same period in 2012.

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), a fuel oxygenate (24,000 bpd), and diesel (21,000) were the main items imported by Venezuela between January and July 2013.

According to the Central Bank of Venezuela, by the end of the first half of the year, oil imports hit USD 6.1 billion, exceeding by 24% the amount recorded in 2012 (USD 4.9 billion.)

Data show that in July 2013, Venezuela's average imports of refined products from the US stood at 64,000 bpd, an 8% increase with respect to July 2012 (59,000 bpd). However, they shrank by 42% compared to June 2013 (110,000 bpd).

In July 2013, Venezuela's imports included 32,000 bpd of MTBE, 15,000 bpd of finished fuel, and 14,000 bpd of diesel.

As for exports, Venezuela's oil sales to the US fell by 14.4% in July 2013, compared to the same month in 2012. The Department of Energy reported that Venezuelan exports amounted to 924,000 bpd in July 2013, lower than 1.08 million bpd exported in July 2012.

In July 2013, Venezuela shipped 871,000 bpd of crude oil to the US, 15.6% less than the 1.03 million exported in July 2012. Regarding byproducts, sales increased by some 6,000 bpd, or 12.7%, jumping from 47,000 bpd to 53,000 bpd.

From January-July 2013, Venezuela's oil exports to the US dropped by 10.6% to 865,000 bpd.