CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan officials are predicting economic growth of about 6 per cent this year despite troubled world markets and falling oil prices.

Planning Minister Haiman El Troudi says Venezuela expects "very robust" GDP expansion even as a financial crisis afflicts the United States, its top trading partner.

El Troudi tells Venezuela's state-run news agency thatgross domestic product should finish the year close to 6 per cent.

Venezuela's economy grew by 8.8 per cent last year as world oil prices soared.

But oil has tumbled since, sinking below US$90 a barrel yesterday for the first time in eight months.

Latin America's No. 1 oil exporter relieson petroleum income for more than 40 per cent of its budget. (AP)