| 6. | Cash and cash equivalents |
| (a) | This caption is made up as follows: |
| | | 2017 | | 2016 | | ||
| | | US$(000) | | US$(000) | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
| Cash | | | 327 | | | 290 | |
| Bank accounts (b) | | | 51,953 | | | 48,754 | |
| Time deposits (c) | | | 162,271 | | | 31,500 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | 214,551 | | | 80,544 | |
| (b) | Bank accounts earn interest at floating rates based on market rates. |
| (c) | As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, time deposits were kept in prime financial institutions, which generated interest at annual market rates and had original maturities of less than 90 days, according to the immediate cash needs of the Group. |