Mercuria Joins List of Traders Vying for Venezuela Oil

Commodities trader Mercuria Energy Group is exploring Venezuelan oil trades, according to people with knowledge of the matter, after the Trump administration eased some sanctions on the South American country.

AB Commodities, which recently made hires to help lead an expansion into the US, is also applying to trade Venezuelan cargoes under a general license issued by the US Treasury Department last week, as well as a special license, a spokesperson said. The Treasury license will allow for a variety of activities that could expedite the movement of Venezuelan crude, including exporting, selling, storing and refining that oil.