Venezuela’s Brewing Oil Shock May Be Bigger Than Iran’s

Two threats could further disrupt Venezuelan exports, possibly taking as much crude off the market as the renewal of Iran sanctions

The oil headlines this week have all been about Iran, but the slowly unfolding disaster in Venezuela may be even more significant.

Less than two weeks before a controversial snap presidential election that would almost certainly give incumbent Nicolás Maduro a six-year term, the country’s main source of export revenue could take another drastic tumble. S&P Global Platts estimates the country’s recent crude production was 1.41 million barrels a day, at least a 30-year low except for a crippling 2002-2003 strike. And over...