After a long search for a port to receive Russian oil, a ship subject to American sanctions was finally accepted in China. Current events illustrate how supply chains are being modified in response to U.

A tanker sanctioned by the US this month has discharged Russian oil in China after an unusually long journey in which it changed its destination from Shandong province, a hub for independent refiners.

US sanctions on Russian oil exports are prompting Russia to redirect Aframax tankers from western ports to the Far East to service exports of ESPO crude to China.

Freight rates for Russian ESPO Blend oil loading from the Far Eastern port of Kozmino have jumped fivefold amid a lack of vessels after fresh U.S. sanctions cut availability of tankers, three traders said and data showed.

In China, newly sanctioned tankers face delays offloading oil despite meeting waiver requirements. Three of them discharged Russian ESPO and Sokol crude during Jan. 15-17 while tanker Olia offloaded at Shandong's Yantai port on Sunday after carrying its ESPO cargo for nearly three weeks, according to LSEG data.

Last month, Kpler said Iran was gearing up to shift stockpiles of its crude in Chinese ports ahead of any tighter US sanctions imposed by president Donald Trump. This could total 20m barrels from storage in China’s Dalian and 5m barrels held in Zhoushan. The full amount is the equivalent of 25 suezmax cargoes.

Trade for Russian oil loading in March has slowed significantly in Asia as a widening price gap between buyers and sellers has emerged, particularly in China. This disruption follows new U.S. sanctions,