Imported diluents remain critical to Venezuelan heavy crude production, and Wood Mackenzie’s 2025 tracking highlights just how concentrated these flows have become. Venezuela imported an average of ~67.3 kb/d of naphtha last year, with the US supplying ~39 kb/d and Russia ~23.8 kb/d, underscoring the country’s reliance on these two major sources.
Early 2026 activity reinforces this two-way trade dynamic. Since flows resumed in early January, all observed crude shipments from Venezuela have headed to US ports, while US-origin naphtha is fixed for the opposite journey. The Hellespont Protector, chartered by Vitol, is currently loading in Houston with ~14.8 kb/d of heavy naphtha, scheduled to discharge at Jose later this month.
Crude flows remain active into the US Gulf Coast. Chevron-chartered Minerva Gloria and Searuby lifted Boscan from Bajo Grande, bound for New Orleans and Corpus Christi, while the Nave Photon and Mediterranean Voyager loaded Merey 16 and Hamaca blend from Jose, both heading to Freeport, Texas. Additional vessels tracked over the weekend point to sustained US-bound activity even as Asia-directed exports remain paused.
If these patterns persist, US short-haul dominance could reshape trade flows in the Americas. For deeper insight into tanker flows explore Wood Mackenzie’s VesselTracker, to track all the Venezuelan liftings.
