Chevron CorpChevron's export operations are hampered by port bottlenecks, despite privileged dock access, as it seeks alternative ports.

Venezuela's aging oil port terminals are effectively capping the country's crude exports, with tankers waiting up to 30 days to load due to infrastructure disrepair, power outages, and quality issues, Reuters reported citing shipping data, sources, and documents. The bottlenecks have kept state energy firm PDVSA and its partners from surpassing 1.25 million barrels per day of exports even as crude output rises, inventories drain, and global demand stays high. The delays are hampering the Trump administration's plan to quickly boost Venezuelan oil exports following a pact with global trading houses, and much of the $100 billion U.S. energy reconstruction plan for Venezuela's oil industry has focused on production rather than downstream repairs to export terminals and refineries. When output peaked at more than 3 million barrels per day over 20 years ago, Venezuela's terminals handled over 2.5 million barrels per day of exports with vessels in and out in less than a week. Even Chevron, which has privileged dock access after decades of partnership with PDVSA, is seeking solutions including requesting access to ports so far dedicated to domestic shipping.
Chevron CorpChevron's export operations are hampered by port bottlenecks, despite privileged dock access, as it seeks alternative ports.
PDVSA's export capacity is constrained by infrastructure disrepair, power outages, and quality issues, capping exports at 1.25 million bpd.