Venezuela prepares to send 15,000 metric tons of aluminum to the United States through an agreement with Mercuria Energy Group and Heeney Capital. This shipment marks the first aluminum export from Venezuela to the U.S. in years, signaling a broader revival of commercial ties beyond oil. The cargo, produced by state-owned Venalum, is scheduled to depart on Friday.

It could be announced during the G20 energy summit in Houston this week. The deal reflects Washington's effort to secure access to critical minerals away from China. Venalum, built in the 1970s by CVG and a Japanese consortium, was once Latin America's largest smelter with 430,000-ton annual capacity.

Years of underinvestment and blackouts have reduced its output. The 15,000-ton load is valued at nearly $50 million and represents weeks of reduced production. The shipment carries symbolic weight as a G20 announcement, though it is a small fraction of annual U.S. aluminum consumption.

Mercuria and Heeney did not immediately comment. Venalum and Venezuela's Ministry of Information did not respond to requests for comment.