Feb 4 (Reuters) - Venezuela's oil exports rose 15% to

some 867,000 barrels per day in January, driven by an increase

in shipments by U.S. major Chevron Corp ( CVX ) from its joint

ventures with state firm PDVSA, and more cargoes to China, data

based on vessel movements showed.

The administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden last

year did not renew a broad authorization for sanctioned

Venezuela to freely export its oil, but granted individual

licenses to some PDVSA partners and customers, allowing exports

to flow to markets such as the U.S., Europe and India.

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. does not need

Venezuela's oil, but has not taken any action to amend or revoke

licenses as his government makes initial contacts with

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose re-election last year

was not recognized by Washington.

In January, Chevron ( CVX ) increased exports of Venezuelan oil to

294,000 bpd, the highest since the U.S. producer began shipments

under its license in early 2023, and above a previous high of

280,000 bpd in October, according to LSEG data and PDVSA's

internal exports records.

All Chevron's ( CVX ) cargoes went to the U.S. for processing at its

own refineries and sales to others.

China remained the largest market for Venezuela's oil last

month with 442,000 bpd, 21% above the 364,000 bpd shipped to

that destination in December.

Venezuela's exports to Europe doubled to 63,000 bpd from

30,500 bpd in December, while shipments to India averaged 60,100

bpd, in line with previous months. Exports to Maduro's political

ally Cuba declined to less than 10,000 bpd of fuel, from 29,000

bpd the previous month.

Stable crude processing operations in Venezuela's largest

oil producing region, the Orinoco Belt, contributed to higher

exports, according to one of the internal documents.

However, inventories of heavy crude there, which are

essential for exports, fell to 6.2 million barrels from 7.5

million barrels at the end of December, which could lead to

lower exports this month.

Venezuela also exported 360,000 metric tons of oil

byproducts and petrochemicals in January, above the 209,000 tons

of the previous month.

PDVSA and its joint ventures imported 111,000 bpd of heavy

naphtha and other fuels last month, below the 130,000 bpd of

December, according to the data.