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Venezuela's oil exports approach 1 million bpd sustained by sales to Asia

Venezuela's oil exports jumped last month on higher sales to its mainstay Asia customers, and approached 1 million barrels each day (bpd), a level not seen considering that early 2020, according to deliver monitoring data.

Under U.S. sanctions since 2019, Venezuela's exports of crude and improved products have been highly volatile. Lack of financial investment and regular fires and blackouts at the South American country's aging oil facilities put a ceiling on production and sales.

State oil business PDVSA, its joint ventures and other state business last month delivered an average of 974,033 bpd of crude and fuel, primarily to China. It was the second consecutive month of boost, according to Reuters analysis of tanker movements.

November's overall represented a 10% increase from a modified average of nearly 885,000 bpd in October, and stood 57% above the very same month a year ago, the data showed.

Sales to Asia, home to the country's biggest purchasers, jumped to some 613,000 bpd from 526,000 in October. Shipments to the United States by manufacturer Chevron under a license given by Washington fell to 238,000 bpd from 280,000 bpd the previous month, while exports to Europe increased to 85,000 bpd from 31,000 bpd.

The inbound federal government of President-elect Donald Trump is expected to revise U.S. policies towards Venezuela, which might lead to certify changes or renegotiations with the administration of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The export increase occurred in spite of a big explosion and fire at one of PDVSA's main natural gas centers, which struck output of products, consisting of methanol.

Venezuela's exports of oil by-products and petrochemicals, including methanol and petroleum coke, declined to 330,500 metric tons in November, from 362,000 heaps in October, according to the information.

The OPEC nation also increased exports to its political ally Cuba to 38,000 bpd from 28,000 bpd the previous month.

Venezuela imported 87,000 bpd of heavy naphtha and gas mix stock last month through U.S.-authorized swap agreements with U.S. and European partners, slightly above the 81,000 bpd of October.

(source: Reuters)