<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001470954</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0000890447</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>VERTEX ENERGY INC.</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>001-11476</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>1331 GEMINI STREET</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:street2>SUITE 250</ns2:street2>
                <ns2:city>HOUSTON</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>TX</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>77058</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>866-660-8156</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>CHRISTOPHER STRATTON AND VICTORIA STRATTON </nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>38th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>100000</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>392610.00</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>93514346</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>11/10/2023</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>03/16/2023</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of options under a registered plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>50807</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>03/16/2023</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>03/16/2023</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of options under a registered plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>37066</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>03/16/2023</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>03/16/2023</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of options under a registered plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>11498</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>03/16/2023</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>05/09/2022</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of options under a registered plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>629</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>05/09/2023</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <remarks>Sales that were executed on November 10, 2023 are being reported on this Form 144 filed on November 13, 2023 given the EDGAR system was not accepting filings on November 10, 2023 in observance of the federal holiday.</remarks>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>11/10/2023</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates/>
            <signature>/s/ Chris Stratton</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 5368}]
144
0001470954
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000890447
VERTEX ENERGY INC.
001-11476
1331 GEMINI STREET
SUITE 250
HOUSTON
TX
77058
866-660-8156
CHRISTOPHER STRATTON AND VICTORIA STRATTON
Director
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
38th Floor
New York
NY
10004
100000
392610.00
93514346
11/10/2023
NASDAQ
Common
03/16/2023
Exercise of options under a registered plan
Issuer
N
50807
03/16/2023
Cash
Common
03/16/2023
Exercise of options under a registered plan
Issuer
N
37066
03/16/2023
Cash
Common
03/16/2023
Exercise of options under a registered plan
Issuer
N
11498
03/16/2023
Cash
Common
05/09/2022
Exercise of options under a registered plan
Issuer
N
629
05/09/2023
Cash
Y
Sales that were executed on November 10, 2023 are being reported on this Form 144 filed on November 13, 2023 given the EDGAR system was not accepting filings on November 10, 2023 in observance of the federal holiday.
11/10/2023
/s/ Chris Stratton