Venezuelan state-run PDVSA’s oil sales abroad in 2024 stood at $17.52 billion, according to a results document seen by Reuters on Friday, as exports jumped due to US licenses allowing foreign partners to operate in the sanctioned OPEC member.
There are no comparative figures from previous years because PDVSA has not published its results since 2016, and it did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Venezuela has some of the world’s largest reserves of oil, but its crude output remains at a fraction of what it was a decade ago after a lack of investment, mismanagement at PDVSA and US sanctions on Venezuela’s energy industry since 2019.
The licenses to US oil major Chevron and other foreign firms in Venezuela have allowed a slight recovery in oil output and exports since 2023.
In late May, however, Washington revoked those licenses to take Venezuelan crude bound for US and European refineries.
PDVSA’s crude oil and fuel exports averaged 805,500 barrels per day (bpd) last year, according to preliminary data from its 2024 financial and operational results.
That would be an over 15 per cent hike from almost 700,000 bpd in 2023, according to data and documents viewed by Reuters.
According to PDVSA’s results, the OPEC member produced an average of 952,000 bpd in 2024, compared with 783,000 bpd in 2023 reported by OPEC.
President Nicolas Maduro and his government have always rejected sanctions by the United States and others, saying they are illegitimate measures that amount to an “economic war” designed to cripple Venezuela.
Maduro and his allies have cheered what they say is the country’s resilience despite the measures, though they have historically blamed some economic hardships and shortages on sanctions.
Crude production was above 1 million bpd in the first quarter of 2025, according to the results documents, and authorities have said that exports continue to perform normally.
In June, crude and fuel exports were 844,000 bpd, and were directed to China, according to shipping data and documents.>
