text: Venezuela non-oil exports rise 10.6 pct in July . CARACAS 1996-08-29 Venezuela 's non-traditional exports , which exclude oil and iron , rose 10.6 percent in July to reach $ 334 million compared to $ 302 million in June , according to the Central Office of Statistics and Information ( OCEI ) . " The rise was due to the end of exchange controls , " OCEI said . Foreign exchange controls were removed April 22 as part of a wider IMF-sponsored program . Nevertheless , exports over the first seven months of the year were 16.8 percent lower than during the same period last year , at $ 2.240 billion compared to $ 2.693 billion . Over the seven months , the private sector accounted for 76 percent of total exports , with " common metals " the strongest export sector accounting for $ 951 million , or 42.5 percent of total exports . " Chemical products " came next with a 13 percent share , then " transport materials " with nine percent , and finally foods , drinks and tobacco with 6.3 percent . Colombia was the chief market for Venezuela 's non-traditional exports with 27.4 percent . The U.S. followed with a 24.6 percent share . -- Caracas newsroom , 582 834405 REUTER JPR