Indian refiners say offers of Venezuelan oil limited, most going to US

SOUTH GOA, India, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Indian oil refiners are only being offered small volumes of Venezuelan crude as most supply is heading to the United States, four refining executives said on Tuesday, slowing the return of the South American supply to the world's third-largest importer.

Trading houses Trafigura and Vitol began marketing Venezuelan oil this month after an agreement between Caracas and Washington for the U.S. to control 50 million barrels following its capture of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro on January 3, with proceeds going to a U.S.-supervised fund.

Since then, Indian refiners - Reliance Industries Ltd RELI.NS, Indian Oil Corp IOC.NS Hindustan Petroleum Corp HPCL.NS and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd MRPL.NS have been looking to buy Venezuelan crude.

"Offers are not there. Traders are looking to meet their commitment to the U.S. market," one executive said, referring to Vitol and Trafigura. The executives declined to be named as they are not authorised to speak to media. Vitol and Trafigura did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Indian refiners have also previously said that discounts on Venezuelan crude are not wide enough to make it attractive for them to purchase.

The trading firms have sold Venezuelan crude to U.S. and European refiners including Valero VLO.N, Phillips 66 PSX.N, Repsol REP.MC and Vitol's Saras refinery in Italy.

A Bharat Petroleum Corp BPCL.NS executive said it plans to tie up with another firm to buy Venezuelan oil as the quantity it needs is small at about 200,000 barrels.