Venezuelan crude sales to the U.S. fall 13 pct in Aug

Venezuelan crude sales to the United States declined almost 13 percent last month to 712,870 barrels per day (bpd) due to fewer shipments of crude blends and upgraded oil from the Orinoco Belt, according to Thomson Reuters trade flows data. Venezuela's crude output has significantly declined this year amid a longer-than-expected cycle of low prices, affecting exports to state-run PDVSA's main customers, including companies in the United States. PDVSA and its joint ventures sold 43 crude cargoes to the U.S. in August. Main receiver was its own unit Citgo Petroleum, followed by refining firms Valero Energy and Phillips 66 . Separately, refiners Axeon Specialty Products and PBF Energy made spot purchases of Venezuela's diluted crude oil (DCO), Boscan and Hamaca crudes. More…