The US blockade on sanctioned tankers in and out of Venezuela is impeding the country's shadow fleet loadings, which had primarily gone to China, while changing US restrictions on the country's crude sales are set to lift US imports.
Since the US' capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, it does not appear any shadow fleet tankers have loaded in Venezuela, according to ship research firm TankerTrackers.com. This indicates that the US action against such vessels — including the seizure of a 5th tanker in the Caribbean earlier today — is discouraging illicit activity out of Venezuela.
Prior to the US blockade China had been importing about 430,000 b/d of Venezuelan crude, Argus surveys indicate.
US president Donald Trump's statement that up to 50mn bl of Venezuelan crude will be delivered directly into the US Gulf formalizes a rapid redirection of flows away from the dark fleet ships previously bound for China, according to tanker shipbroker Odin. The move will likely heighten Chinese demand for Iranian and Russian grades of crude where supply remains ample and pricing competitive, Odin said.
The US seized two tankers on 7 January: the Russian-flagged Marinera, which previously went by other names, was seized off of the coast of Ireland; and the M Sophia, which was part of the flotilla of 16 tankers that defied the US blockade previously.
The US seized the VLCC Skipper in early December, and another tanker, Centuries, later in the month.
Chevron continues to load crude
Two Chevron-operated tankers carrying Venezuelan crude are set to arrive in Texas mid-January after loading in Jose Terminal and departing the country on 7 January, vessel tracking data shows.
The Mediterranean Voyager, laden with an estimated 443,000 bl of Hamaca, and the LR2 Nave Photo, laden with an estimated 158,800 bl of Merey crude, both loaded in Jose Terminal on 5 January, departed from Venezuela on 7 January and are set to arrive in Freeport, Texas, on 15 January, according to Vortexa.
The Mediterranean Voyager has a documented history of engaging in Chevron-linked Venezuelan crude transport to US Gulf refineries built to process heavy grades.
Chevron lost its license to import Venezuelan crude in May 2025, but it was reinstated in August, at which point the company slowly resumed its imports. Chevron is currently the only US producer operating a joint venture with Venezuela's state owned PdV.
