US operation in Venezuela seen having limited impact on supply chains

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US OPERATION IN VENEZUELA SEEN HAVING LIMITED IMPACT ON SUPPLY CHAINS

January 6, 2026

A recent U.S. military operation in Caracas is expected to have only limited effects on global container supply chains, with disruptions largely confined to Venezuela, according to logistics platform Freightos.

The company said the strike that shut La Guaira — Venezuela's second‑largest container port — will cause local delays, but the presence of the larger Port of Cabello nearby and the country's relatively small role in global trade mean wider impacts are "unlikely."

"The disruption is real locally, but unlikely to ripple beyond Venezuela," Freightos said in a brief commentary on January 5.

It noted that the closure of La Guaira will delay cargo for importers and exporters that rely on the port, but the overall impact to global supply chains will be minimal.

"That said, Venezuela is a relatively small container market, and capacity can be partially rerouted through the Port of Cabello, about 60 miles west. As a result, we don't expect meaningful knock-on effects for regional or global container shipping," the report added.

U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during a military operation in Caracas on January 3, 2026. The couple was flown out of Venezuela and transported to New York, where they are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of federal court appearances.

Maduro and Flores face U.S. federal charges, including narco‑terrorism and drug‑trafficking offenses, stemming from indictments first issued in 2020 and updated in early 2026. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges.