Spain’s crude oil imports from Venezuela have this year reached levels not seen since 2009, according to data released on Friday by Cores, an arm of Spain’s energy and environment ministry.
In August, Spain imported 303,000 metric tons of crude from Venezuela, with the total so far this year topping 2 million tons. That is just shy of the 2.1 million tons registered in 2009 at this time of the year.
OPEC member Venezuela’s oil exports reached high levels in August, though power blackouts and equipment outages led to a decline in September.
The country has increased its exports to North America and Europe this year, helped by U.S. licences and authorisations to partners of state oil company PDVSA.
Under a deal authorised by the U.S. that exempted it from sanctions, Spain’s largest oil company Repsol REP.MC agreed to receive oil from PDVSA as payment for debt. It has increased import volumes this year as part of the agreement.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Pietro Lombardi, Editing by Mark Potter)