China has instructed its largest oil refiners to suspend exports of diesel and gasoline as concerns grow over potential global energy shortages triggered by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, according to a report by Bloomberg News on Thursday.
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The move comes as tensions in the region threaten vital energy supply routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane through which a significant portion of the world’s oil passes. Ongoing disruptions in the strait have raised fears of a global supply crunch and volatile energy markets.
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China, the world’s largest crude oil importer, relies heavily on Middle Eastern supplies to meet its energy needs. According to data from analytics firm Kpler, around 57 percent of China’s direct seaborne crude oil imports in 2025 came from the Middle East.
Bloomberg reported that officials from China’s top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), recently held a meeting with representatives from major refining companies. During the meeting, authorities verbally instructed refiners to temporarily halt shipments of refined petroleum products, including diesel and gasoline, with immediate effect.
The directive also reportedly asked companies to stop signing new export contracts and negotiate the cancellation of shipments that had already been agreed upon.
The suspension is seen as a precautionary measure aimed at safeguarding domestic fuel supplies as uncertainty grows over the stability of global oil flows. Analysts say China may be prioritizing its internal energy security amid fears that disruptions in the Middle East could limit crude supplies or push global prices significantly higher.
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China’s largest state-owned oil companies — including PetroChina, Sinopec, CNOOC, and Sinochem Group — as well as private refining giant Zhejiang Petrochemical, regularly receive government-issued export quotas that allow them to sell refined fuel overseas.
If the suspension continues, it could tighten fuel availability in regional markets, particularly in Asia, where Chinese refined products play a notable role in balancing supply and demand.