The Trump administration expands Venezuela’s energy influence: China’s direct exports are reduced to zero, and the United States becomes the largest buyer and acquires oil fields

The Trump administration’s influence on Venezuelan energy has grown. The picture shows the Venezuelan state-owned oil company (PDVSA) oil field. (Reuters file photo)

After Maduro was detained by the US military in January this year, Venezuela’s crude oil export landscape also underwent a major reshuffle. China was originally Venezuela's largest oil buyer, but now its direct crude oil imports have dropped to zero. On the other hand, the United States received approximately 520,000 barrels per day in August this year, accounting for nearly half of Venezuela's exports. Judging from the oil flow direction of China withdrawing and the United States advancing, the Trump administration has the upper hand in the battle for Venezuelan energy influence.

Before Maduro was arrested, China held an overwhelming position in Venezuela’s oil exports. According to Kpler statistics, from September to November 2025, Venezuela's crude oil exports to China averaged 688,000 barrels per day; at that time, Venezuela's recent crude oil exports were approximately 765,000 barrels per day, and nearly 75% went to China. By December last year, after the United States stepped up maritime pressure, the flow of exports plummeted to zero.

After Maduro's fall, oil flows changed further. S&P Global data shows that in May this year, China did not receive Venezuelan crude oil for the fifth consecutive month; in comparison, the United States received 17.1 million barrels and India received 13.5 million barrels that month. Venezuela’s total exports in May were 35.3 million barrels, and the United States took about 48%.

This trend has not been reversed since. Bloomberg quoted Kpler and ship tracking data showing that Venezuelan crude oil exports surged to 1.17 million barrels per day in June, and U.S. refiners received 687,000 barrels per day. China has not resumed purchases in July, and the United States and India continue to be the main buyers of Venezuelan oil.

In August, the latest data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea showed that Venezuelan crude oil exports were about 1.1 million barrels per day, of which about 520,000 barrels went to the United States, equivalent to about 47%; China did not receive Venezuelan oil. Compared with December 2025, when the United States only received 123,000 barrels per day, the scale in August showed a sharp increase.

The United States has not only become the main buyer of Venezuelan oil, but has also further blocked the upstream oil fields. In the latest agreement between the United States and Venezuela, the North American Blue Energy Partnership (NABEP), which is supported by the United States, has obtained the mining rights of 17 oil fields, involving approximately 65 billion barrels of proven reserves, some of which were originally operated by Chinese and Russian companies; the US government also holds 35% of NABEP's equity and priority rights to obtain some of its output. From China's direct import of Venezuelan oil to zero, to the United States taking further control of oil field interests, the Trump administration's influence on Venezuela's oil industry has significantly expanded.