Venezuela's oil exports bottlenecked by port failures, Reuters reports

Venezuela's oil production is surging, but its ports are struggling to keep up. Deteriorating infrastructure means some oil tankers face waits of up to 30 days to load crude, significantly impacting exports.

Obsolete facilities, frequent power outages, and quality concerns are the primary culprits behind these operational delays, according to maritime data and industry sources. These issues are not only slowing down shipments but also complicating the United States' strategy to accelerate Venezuelan crude exports following a strategic agreement with international companies.

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The speed of crude transfer from tanks to ships is incredibly slow, forcing tankers to occupy the docks for longer than allocated for loading operations.

The strain on infrastructure is expected to intensify as several partners of Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa) prepare to market their share of production independently under new contractual terms. For months, Pdvsa and its partners have been unable to surpass 1.25 million barrels per day in exports, despite rising production, dwindling reserves, and strong international demand.

Buyers last encountered similar waiting periods during a U.S. maritime blockade in late 2025. While interim president Delcy Rodríguez has pursued a plan to revive oil shipments, logistical problems continue to prevent exports from matching production growth. Decades ago, when Venezuela produced over 3 million barrels daily, its terminals could handle more than 2.5 million barrels per day, with ships waiting less than a week.

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If a ship arrives to unload imports, the wait is prolonged even further due to the lack of fuel storage capacity.