Venezuela has hiked oil exports since April as clandestine operators acquire large tonnage for the risky tanker trade, according to data providers.

Figures from Kpler showed the Opec member exported 540,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude last month, the highest monthly figure since November 2020.

The cargoes were lifted by six VLCCs, four suezmaxes, one aframax and one panamax.