Venezuela October oil sales stall as freight costs surge

Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA has stalled October-loading crude sales as a spike in shipping costs complicates price negotiations with buyers. The freight surge, likely tied to tanker availability or sanctions-related logistics, raises the effective cost of Venezuelan barrels and may reduce near-term export volumes. This adds to supply-side friction in an already tight crude market, though the duration and scale of the disruption remain uncertain.