76.5% of chemical companies operate below 40% of capacity

76.5% of companies in Venezuela's chemical and petrochemical sector keep their production below 40% of their installed capacity, according to the latest Encuesta de Coyuntura de Asoquim, reported by the portal Banca y Negocios on September 23, 2026.

This business sector supplies essential inputs to strategic industries such as food, pharmaceuticals and hydrocarbons. However, the president of the association, Reinaldo Gabaldón, warned that operating capacity has been restricted in recent years due to the breakdown of supply chains and difficulties in obtaining raw materials.

According to the same survey, 55% of companies will keep their investments frozen in the face of competition from massive imports and the exchange-rate gap. At the same time, the official exchange rate set by the Banco Central de Venezuela stands at 853.50 bolívares per dollar and 976.55 bolívares per euro as of that date.

In other news, the daily El Nacional reported that measures applied by the Banco Central de Venezuela to control the exchange-rate gap could further restrict access to credit for the private sector, in a scenario of lower foreign currency supply during the month of September.