đąïž Vitol & Trafigura at the Center of Trumpâs Venezuela Oil Play
Two of the worldâs biggest commodity traders â Vitol and Trafigura â have emerged as key players in the U.S. push to restart Venezuelan oil exports under special licenses.
đ Whatâs happening
âą U.S. approval allows select traders to market Venezuelan crude
âą Cargoes are moving again after years of sanctions disruption
âą Oil is being sold at discounts to global buyers, including U.S. refiners
âïž Why traders matter
âą Vitol & Trafigura have the logistics, financing, and risk appetite others lack
âą Fast execution beats slower oil majors still wary of Venezuela risk
âą Traders profit from volatility, discounts, and supply dislocations
đ Bigger picture
This is a geopolitical energy reset:
âą Sanctions flexibility
âą Oil supply returning to global markets
âą Political strategy intersecting with commodity trading power
đ Market impact
More Venezuelan barrels could influence:
âą Crude spreads
âą Refining margins
âą Energy geopolitics in 2026
Smart money is watching the traders, not just the oil.
#Oil #energy #Macro #Geopolitics #Venezuela #Commodities