And their number one customer is /was US. CITGO is a Venezuelan government owned corporation. Venezuelan oil is high in sulfur and other contaminates and is super thick. We are practically the only country in the world that has refineries to handle it. I heard that China was modifying their refineries to use it but that takes time and money........................
For decades, Lagovan asphalt from Vz was the preferred roofing flux for making shingles in the US. Millions of tons of the stuff were delivered in tankers to the south and east coast and went into virtually all shingle makers’ products. The Vens discovered they could charge a premium for the asphalt, but then the revolutionaries had a better idea.
Blend the stuff off and sell it to China at a lower netback.
A Socialist breakthrough !