Venezuelan crude sales to the United States rose 10 pct in Sept

Sales of Venezuelan oil to the United States increased 10 percent in September versus the previous month to 786,835 barrels per day (bpd) due to larger exports of crude blends, according to Thomson Reuters Trade Flows data. Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA and its joint ventures have reduced shipments of grades mixed with naphtha in recent months, using more domestic and imported light oil to formulate crude blends instead, according to company sources. This strategy has resulted in an increase of Merey crude exports, a heavy blend mostly sold to the United States and Asia. More….