Shandong Port Group, which oversees key ports in northeast China, has banned all tankers sanctioned by the US from docking, unloading, or receiving services at its facilities. The restriction applies to major oil hubs, including Qingdao, Rizhao, and Yantai—significant destinations for sanctioned crude from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.
According to notices obtained by Reuters, the ports will no longer accommodate vessels listed by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The move comes amid reports that the outgoing Biden administration is preparing one of its largest sanctions packages targeting Russia’s so-called "dark fleet" of tankers.
Meanwhile, with Donald Trump set to take office on January 20, expectations are growing that his administration will intensify enforcement on Iranian oil exports. The new restrictions by Shandong Port Group could have major implications for global crude flows and the operations of sanctioned vessels in Asia.