* Venezuela’s main industrial lobby, Confederación Venezolana de Industriales (Conindustria), has said that the country’s industrial production declined by 7.6% over the first six months of 2023. This figure was calculated from Conindustria’s latest industrial survey, which identified a 12.7% drop in industrial production between April and June, during which the industrial sector was operating at just 31.7% of its capacity. Respondents in the survey attributed the decline to low demand in Venezuela, a lack of financing, and competition from imported and smuggled products.