Sanctions / Venezuela and United States
OFAC issues a licence for certain Venezuelan oil activity
OFAC issued Venezuela-related General License 46 on 29 January.
- Review cut-off
- Review window
- 2026-01-28 to 2026-01-29
- Published by Caracal Intelligence
Historical review. Published after the period covered. The cut-off is the end of the review date in UTC. We compare source dates and known updates with this cut-off. Some sources lack exact times or earlier versions. Business effects below are possible outcomes, not confirmed losses.
Reported event · 2026-01-29
What happened
OFAC issued Venezuela-related General License 46 on 29 January. The licence authorised certain activities involving Venezuelan-origin oil, subject to its stated conditions and exclusions.
Evidence: [1]
Caracal analysis / Possible effects
Global logistics
Eligible transactions could require tanker capacity, terminal slots, and supporting maritime services. Carriers and banks would still need to confirm that the parties and services fell within the licence.
Trade and supply chains
The decision could create a limited route for oil trade. It did not remove all Venezuela sanctions or authorise every vessel, payment method, or counterparty.
Industries to watch
Oil traders, refiners, storage operators, shipowners, and trade finance teams should review the actual licence text before they accept business.
- Oil
- Refining
- Shipping
What to check next
- Screen all parties and vessel ownership.
- Check the licence scope, reporting duties, and payment conditions.
Sources and evidence limits
[1] US Office of Foreign Assets Control · Official licence notice · Published 2026-01-29
OFAC issues a licence for certain Venezuelan oil activity — source report
This entry describes General License 46 as issued. It does not apply later replacement licences to January transactions.
Sources and claims checked on . This check compares the brief with dated source reports. It does not independently confirm every reported incident. Check current conditions before you change an operating plan.