Venezuela's Economy VP Calixto Ortega Sánchez reports $9 bn+ in currency sales in 2026

Venezuelan Vice President for the Economy, Calixto Ortega Sánchez, said that more than US$9 billion have been sold at official exchange tables so far in 2026, a level close to the US$13.239 billion total recorded for the entire year 2024. The government’s exchange strategy seeks to unify the official rate, which rose to 742.23 bolívars per dollar in early July, narrowing the gap between official and parallel markets. Ortega Sánchez noted that recent June earthquakes could affect market expectations, though the oil sector – the main source of dollars – was not damaged. Authorities also discussed a financing program for families and businesses affected by the quakes, offering credit in foreign currency backed by the Central Bank of Venezuela to support reconstruction without putting further pressure on bolívar liquidity.