(Seeking Alpha, Carl Surran, 16.Jan.2019) — The White House National Security Council has told some U.S. refiners that sanctions on Venezuelan crude exports are under consideration, a signal that opposition to sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector may be weakening, S&P Global Platts reports.
While the Trump administration has sanctioned state-owned oil company PDVSA, it has resisted direct sanctions on oil flows.
Venezuela exports ~500K bbl/day of crude to the U.S.; Citgo, Chevron, PBF Energy and Valero are the largest U.S. refiners of Venezuelan crude.
***