Privately-operated terminals in China have emerged as key players in receiving oil deliveries from US-sanctioned tankers, signaling an innovative response to increasing scrutiny on the country’s crude imports from sanctioned nations like Iran and Russia. The shift highlights how China’s smaller, independent terminals are helping circumvent the reluctance of larger, state-owned port operators to handle such shipments.
In Dongying, a port in the eastern Shandong province, private terminals have become crucial receiving points for oil. Traders familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the state-run Shandong Port Group sold at least one terminal to a private entity, facilitating the delivery of oil from sanctioned tankers.
One notable delivery occurred last week when the tanker Si He, sanctioned by the US on January 10, unloaded over 744,000 barrels of Russian ESPO crude at Dongying, according to data from commodities-tracking platform Kpler. Other independent terminals in locations such as Yangshan, south of Shanghai, and Huizhou in the south, have also facilitated similar transactions, with a shipment of Iranian oil arriving at Huizhou last month.
The emergence of these private alternatives follows a call by Shandong Port Group last month urging larger operators to reject tankers carrying blacklisted cargo. This request came amid growing international pressure, with the Biden administration’s sanctions further intensifying the trade challenges.
By utilizing these smaller, private terminals, China’s so-called “teapot” refiners—independent companies that focus on processing discounted crude—can continue importing Russian and Iranian oil while avoiding direct involvement of China’s major logistics operators. This allows large, high-profile companies in the logistics and container shipping industries to distance themselves from the controversial transactions.
In 2024, a significant portion of China’s crude imports—about a quarter—came from Russia and Iran, based on official customs data compiled. As US sanctions and export restrictions on these countries tighten, Chinese buyers have become increasingly creative in maintaining access to discounted crude, with private terminals playing a critical role in keeping the flow of oil intact.