SINGAPORE, April 16 (Reuters) - PetroChina International, trading vehicle of state energy giant PetroChina has appointed its global crude oil team leader as the new head of its Americas operation, senior trade sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Liu Qiang will start his new role, based in Houston, later this month and will head a 100-strong team, one of the PetroChina's largest global trading operations that turned around nearly 100 million metric tons of oil, gas, chemicals and power annually.

Liu confirmed his move to Reuters.

The Americas operation oversees the Chinese oil major's crude oil productions in Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela and Canada.

PetroChina, the country's largest trader of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has in recent years also signed up long-term purchase agreements of U.S. LNG.

It also owns 15% stake in LNG Canada, a new liquefaction project led by Shell that is being built in British Columbia with shipments beginning in 2025.

Before the new posting, Liu, 37, worked in Brazil and also briefly in Houston as a crude oil trading manager before relocated back to Beijing last year as the global crude oil team leader.

Liu is one of PetroChina International's recent promotions of younger managers. Earlier this year the state energy trader, also known as Chional, appointed Luo Yizhou, a long-time crude oil trader in his mid-40s as its president. (Reporting by Chen Aizhu; editing by Miral Fahmy)