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Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
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Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
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Oil prices rebounded sharply in early Asian trading on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela, triggering fresh geopolitical risk premiums in the energy market. The move came after crude prices had slumped to multi-year lows in the previous session amid concerns of a global supply glut.
Brent crude futures for February delivery rose 0.8% to $59.38 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 1% to $55.75 per barrel. Earlier in the session, WTI prices surged as much as 1.7%, briefly touching $56.19 per barrel. The rebound offered short-term relief after both benchmarks fell to their lowest levels in nearly five years due to oversupply fears.
President Trump announced the blockade via social media, stating that the U.S. would target all sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela and formally labeling the Nicolas Maduro government a “foreign terrorist organization.” The announcement marks an escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign against Venezuela, which Trump has accused of facilitating illegal drug trafficking and criminal activity into the United States. Last week, U.S. forces seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast, and Trump has previously hinted at the possibility of military action.
According to ING analysts, Venezuela exported approximately 600,000 barrels per day of oil in November, with the majority shipped to China. These exports are expected to decline following the latest U.S. actions, potentially tightening short-term supply conditions.
Despite the rebound, oil prices remain under pressure from broader macro factors. Analysts continue to warn of a significant global oil surplus in 2026, driven by record U.S. crude production, steady output from OPEC+ producers, and slower demand growth, particularly from China. Additionally, optimism surrounding potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine has weighed on prices, as eased sanctions could allow more Russian oil to return to global markets.
Further influencing prices, the American Petroleum Institute reported a sharp 9.3 million-barrel drop in U.S. crude inventories last week, far exceeding expectations. However, increases in gasoline and distillate inventories pointed to softer fuel demand, limiting the upside for oil prices in the near term.
