The imposition of US sanctions against Venezuela has altered naphtha trade flow, with tankers booked to carry product there seen failing and others sailing laden seen rerouted as charterers seek new destinations. Receive daily email alerts, subscriber notes & personalize your experience. Register Now Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA typically procures heavy naphtha from the US Gulf Coast to help thin the country’s heavy crude and enable transportation by pipeline from oil fields to markets, while at the same time selling natural gasoline and light virgin naphtha for use as gasoline blendstocks in the US. With US sanctions preventing trade with PDVSA however, signs are already emerging that it will struggle to find alternative suppliers of diluent. Indian refiner Reliance, a regular supplier of US heavy naphtha to PDVSA, halted the discharge of a naphtha cargo docked at a Venezuelan port last week. “The real question is […]