Venezuela’s February oil exports rise, but shipping delays persist

Venezuela's oil exports slightly increased in February to some 670,000 barrels per day (bpd), but ongoing shipping delaysworsened a bottleneck of tankers waiting to load, according to documents and vessel monitoring data. State-run oil firm PDVSA's customers have rushed to send tankers to Venezuela in recent months to pick up crude and fuel before the United States potentially reimposes oil sanctions. Restrictions could resume on April 18 when an existing license expires, the U.S. has said, with PDVSA struggling to deliver cargoes ahead of the deadline.