Dec 17, 2025 - Energy & Climate
Oil prices rebound as Trump moves on Venezuela
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Crude prices bounced upward early Wednesday from four-year lows following President Trump ordering a blockade of U.S. sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela.
Why it matters: The risk of a disruption in supply has stopped — for now — a long slide that steepened this week.
The big picture: Supply growth that's well outpacing demand — and, more recently, some new prospects of a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire — have been weighing on prices.
- Venezuela is a relatively minor exporter following years of sanctions and mismanagement of its oil sector.
- The country's shipments are generally in the 700,000 to 900,000 barrels per day range.
- For context, the Saudis export over 6 million barrels per day and the U.S. supplies several million, too.
But the latest drama and escalation is enough to reverse the price trends for the moment.
- ClearView Energy Partners said "a back-of-the-envelope estimate" shows that an outright cessation of Venezuelan crude production could lift crude prices between $1.75 and $6.00 per barrel of oil.
What we're watching: How the Trump administration does — or doesn't — act further on Trump's aggressive post threatening Venezuela.
