Oil exports from Venezuela have fallen sharply. This was reported by Reuters, citing shipping data, documents and informed industry sources. It comes after the United States seized a Venezuelan tanker earlier this week and imposed new sanctions on shipping companies and vessels trading with Caracas.
Since the seizure of the Venezuelan tanker, the data shows that only tankers chartered by the US oil company Chevron have sailed into international waters carrying Venezuelan oil. It has permission from Washington to operate joint ventures in Venezuela and export oil to the United States.
The tankers, carrying about 11 million barrels of oil and fuel, became stuck in Venezuelan waters, according to Reuters data and sources. Some of the cargo is in tankers on which Washington has imposed sanctions as part of measures against Iran or Russia. The United States is eyeing them as possible targets for further punitive measures, the sources added.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed on Thursday that the United States has seized a tanker used to transport oil from Venezuela and Iran, which is subject to US sanctions. “The oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States for several years due to its involvement in an illegal oil transportation network supporting foreign terrorist organizations,” the minister said. According to the media, it is the tanker Skipper.
The United States has been increasing pressure on Venezuela and its government in recent months. Off the coast of Venezuela, the US Navy destroyed several vessels that Washington said were used to transport drugs. The American authorities then declared the Sun Cartel, which the US government says is led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, to be a terrorist organization.
The sale of oil represents the most significant foreign income for the Maduro regime. Caracas sells up to a million barrels of oil a day abroad. The main customer is China, which purchases oil at a significant discount due to sanctions that prevent Venezuelan companies from entering wider international markets.
