A narco terrorist not too bad to stop buying a lake of crude oil from...or maybe a demonised Patriot, in reality

AI Overview

 In the last 12 months, the U.S. has imported a limited but fluctuating amount of oil from Venezuela, primarily through a specific license granted to Chevron. 

As of late 2025, U.S. imports from Venezuela were around 120,000 to 150,000 barrels per day (bpd).  

Details on US Oil Imports from Venezuela (Dec 2024 - Dec 2025) 

Average Volume: In the first 11 months of 2024, U.S. crude oil imports from Venezuela averaged around 222,000 bpd. However, volumes fluctuated, and recent data from December 2025 indicates imports by Chevron specifically were around 120,000 to 150,000 bpd.

 Context: This volume represents a tiny share of overall U.S. imports, but it's a significant portion of the crude processed by certain U.S. Gulf Coast refineries which are configured to handle Venezuela's heavy crude. 

Mechanism: Most trade with Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PetrĂ³leos de Venezuela (PDVSA), has been under U.S. sanctions since 2019. The recent imports have been possible due to a specific license granted to Chevron, allowing it to operate its joint ventures and import the crude to the U.S.. 

Political Shifts: The trade situation is highly dependent on political developments and sanctions policies. The U.S. government has recently taken a more aggressive stance, including a naval blockade of sanctioned tankers, which has added pressure to the trade. The future of these imports remains uncertain as political actions evolve.