who does venezuela sell oil to

Venezuela currently sells most of its oil to China , with smaller but important flows to the United States (via Chevron under specific authorizations) and to political allies like Cuba, plus other Asian buyers through intermediaries.

Main buyers today

• China is by far the main customer, taking around 80–85% of Venezuela’s crude exports in recent data, largely because Chinese refineries can handle its heavy crude and often pay via barter or loan repayment schemes.

• The United States buys a limited share through Chevron, which has special approval to lift Venezuelan crude that goes mainly to Gulf Coast refineries.

• Cuba receives smaller but regular volumes of crude, gasoline and jet fuel as part of long‑standing political and energy cooperation.

How sanctions shape who buys

• U.S. and European sanctions restrict direct sales to many Western companies, so Venezuela leans on Asian customers, especially China, and on traders who re-route crude.

• Some cargoes move through intermediaries and “blending hubs,” which can obscure final destinations but still leave China and a few Asian refiners as the main end buyers.

Recent trends and “latest news”

• In 2025, Venezuela’s exports climbed back toward roughly 900,000+ barrels per day, with China still dominating and the U.S. slowly re‑emerging as a secondary outlet through Chevron.

• When U.S. licenses are tightened or expire, shipments to the U.S. and Europe fall and more barrels are redirected toward China and other Asian buyers instead.

Mini FAQ style view

• Who buys the most oil from Venezuela?
  China, by a wide margin, recently taking about four‑fifths of total exports.

• Is the U.S. buying Venezuelan oil again?
  Yes, but in controlled volumes through Chevron under specific U.S. government authorizations.

• Do any other countries still get Venezuelan oil?
  Yes: Cuba and some other Asian markets receive smaller volumes, often via swaps or trader‑mediated deals.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.