Venezuela Turmoil Could Open Opportunities for US Ag

By Ryan Hanrahan

Agri-Pulse’s Oliver Ward reported that “the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro could lead to export opportunities for U.S. ag products, although much depends on the U.S.’ next move and how consumers respond, analysts say.”

“U.S. forces on Saturday captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from Caracas and brought the pair to the U.S., where they face drug trafficking and other charges. In a press conference over the weekend, President Donald Trump said the U.S. will ‘run’ Venezuela temporarily,” Ward reported. “He told reporters that the country’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, has been sworn in and stands ‘willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.’ Rodríguez, however, has denounced the U.S. operation and is calling for Maduro’s release.”

“The situation remains in flux, with the extent of Rodríguez’s cooperation with the U.S., and the future of Venezuela’s governance, still unclear. But if the U.S. maintains a role in running the country, it could lead to economic opportunities for U.S. rice exports,” Ward reported. “The country was the eighth largest market for U.S. rice exports in 2024, according to USDA, when exports hit a 10-year high of $91 million. But exports fell sharply in 2025, recording just $17 million from January to September.”

“‘We got outcompeted by South American interests,’ Peter Bachmann, president and CEO of the USA Rice Federation, said of the decline,” Ward reported. “The change in leadership, he added, could present ‘an opportunity for either commercial sales to be reinstated and – or – potential food aid.'”

“However, Karen Hansen-Kuhn, director of trade and international strategies at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, warned that the manner of Maduro’s ouster and Trump’s further veiled threats to other governments in the region risk undermining any ag trade gains – and could harm U.S. trade interests,” Ward reported. “…’There’s bound to be a political reaction in Latin America, given our history,’ Hansen-Kuhn said. ‘It’s entirely likely that many Latin Americans will be even less disposed to buy from [the U.S.].'”

Oil Reserves Could Eventually Help Reduce Farmer Expenses

AgWeb’s Rhonda Brooks reported that “while current headlines focus on immediate geopolitical shifts and the actions of energy companies, the resulting ripple effects could eventually reduce U.S. farmers’ fuel expenses and other input costs, according to Bob Elliott, co-founder of Unlimited Funds.”

“However, Elliot emphasizes that even if Western oil companies successfully establish operations in Venezuela, it will take years to repair the damaged infrastructure there and bring a meaningful new supply of oil online,” Brooks reported. “…If Western investment is successful, Venezuela could eventually add ‘a few million barrels per day’ to the world’s supply, a volume significant enough to help drive global oil prices lower, Elliott notes. Over time, this increase in supply could ease costs for diesel and gasoline, reduce input expenses (including fertilizer and freight) and generally improve the overall cost of production for farmers.”