US Crude Imports From Venezuela Drop To Zero - Energy Information Administration

US imports of Venezuelan crude oil dropped to zero last week, Energy Information Administration (EIA) data revealed on Tuesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st March, 2019) US imports of Venezuelan crude oil dropped to zero last week, Energy Information Administration (EIA) data revealed on Tuesday.

EIA data shows that US imports of Venezuela oil hit zero the week ending March 15 after importing 112,000 barrels per day the week ending March 8.

The last large US import of Venezuelan oil came the week ending February 15 at 558,000 barrels per day.

The United States has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Venezuela. The US Treasury Department recently blocked $7 billion in assets belonging to Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has denounced the sanctions as an illegal attempt to seize Venezuela's sovereign assets.

Tensions escalated earlier this year when the United States seized billions of Dollars in Venezuelan oil assets after US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido attempted to declare himself the country's interim president. Maduro has accused the United States of trying to orchestrate a coup in order to install Guaido as a puppet leader beholden to Washington. Russia China, Mexico, Turkey and several other countries continue to recognize Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate leader.