Last October, Washington issued a
six-month general licence for transactions involving Venezuela’s oil and gas
sector following an electoral roadmap agreement signed by Venezuelan president
Nicolas Maduro and opposition politicians in Barbados. Since then, Maduro has
not stuck to his promises for a free election.
Since the exemption was granted, the US has been importing 26% of
Venezuelan crude, totalling 142,000 barrels per day, according to Vortexa. China remains the top destination for
Venezuelan barrels, averaging 293,000 barrels per day in 2023.
“Oil exports have picked up in Venezuela
over the last two years as the US has eased sanctions since the start of 2023,”
analysts at Braemar noted.
“These developments show the potential fragility of oil sanctions
relief deals as well as ongoing US commitment to upholding the other end of the
deal in such a case,” tanker experts at rival broker Gibson suggested.