NEW YORK: The United States in April imported more oil from Venezuela than any nation other than Canada and Saudi Arabia, but flows may be interrupted if the US enacts sanctions following the controversial vote in the South American country.

Deadly protests rocked Venezuela on Sunday as voters broadly boycotted an election for a constitutional super-body that would give more power to unpopular leftist President Nicolas Maduro.

The US imported more than 800,000 barrels a day of Venezuelan crude in April, the latest month of complete data available from the US Energy Department. Refiners of late have cut back on Venezuelan imports, shifting to a diet of light, sweet crude to reduce dependence on heavy imports.

The largest importer of Venezuelan crude in that month was Citgo Petroleum Corp, followed by Phillips 66 and Valero Energy Corp.