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Venezuelan oil exports are on the increase as more cargoes go to China

According to shipping documents and data, Venezuela exported 844,000 barrels of crude oil and fuel per day in June. This is an 8% rise from the previous months, as more cargoes were sent to China to offset the loss of U.S. markets and European ones.

Washington terminated in late May a grouping of licenses which had authorized partners, such as Chevron and Repsol of the oil company PDVSA to transport Venezuelan crude for U.S. or European refineries.

Since then, the state-owned firm has increased its exports to Asia. It sells its crude oil and fuels through little-known middlemen who make deals with independent Chinese refiners. According to PDVSA internal documents, the cargoes included shipments of Boscan crude oil, which had previously been exported to the U.S. by Chevron.

The data revealed that 27 tankers left Venezuelan waters during June. They carried an average of 844,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and refined products, and 233,000 tons of petrochemicals and byproducts. In May, oil exports averaged 779 000 bpd. In May, the country exported 329,000 metric tonnes of petrochemicals and byproducts.

According to data and documents, exports to China were 90% of June's total. In May, it was 75%. PDVSA shipped 8,000 bpd of petroleum coke and methanol to Europe and India, as well as a few cargoes to Cuba.

Three cargoes of heavy grade Boscan crude used in asphalt production were shipped to Asia, boosting June's exports. These exports are crucial for PDVSA in order to avoid a production cutback at the Boscan oilfield. It is one of the largest oilfields in Venezuela.

PDVSA did not import diluents during June, despite having filled its tanks with imported refined product ahead of the cancellation of licenses.

(source: Reuters)