Commodities trader Vitol Group has loaded its first oil shipment from Venezuela’s shore storage tanks, a step that could help resolve supply issues and allow Venezuela to increase its oil production.

The vessel ICE Energy loaded 500,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude over the weekend, as shown in shipping documents reviewed by Bloomberg. This oil is set to be sent to Bullen Bay in Curacao for storage, according to the documents.

Vitol and Trafigura Group were given the responsibility by the Trump administration to market up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil after the U.S. took control over the country's oil industry earlier this month.

Since the U.S. forces took action against Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's oil exports, which are crucial for the country's economy, have dropped significantly. The companies that used to ship oil to Asian markets have disappeared due to the increased U.S. naval presence in the area.

This month, oil exports have fallen by more than half to about 177,000 barrels per day compared to December figures. Oil that would typically be exported is now filling domestic storage tanks, leading to the shutdown of some oil wells.

Vitol has not commented on the situation. Along with Trafigura and Chevron Corp., they are the only companies allowed by the U.S. to export Venezuelan oil.

The cargo loaded by Vitol is the first directly from onshore storage tanks, which receive oil through pipelines. Previously, the company and Trafigura managed 4.8 million barrels of Venezuelan crude that was already on ships, and that oil is currently being unloaded at storage facilities in the Caribbean.

Curacao's tank farms, remnants of the now-closed Isla refinery, can store millions of barrels. Traders are currently storing oil there during the winter when demand is lower, but they may start sending it to markets as demand rises in the spring.