Shandong Port Group has banned U.S.-sanctioned tankers from calling into its ports in the eastern Chinese province, home to many independent refiners that are the biggest importers of oil from countries under U.

The eastern Chinese province is home to several independent refiners. In the last year, it imported about 1.74 million barrels per day from from Iran, Russia and Venezuela.

The Shandong Port Group in China's Shandong Province will block tankers affected by US sanctions from using its ports. Despite its declared neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Beijing opposes sanctions on Moscow.

The ban may raise shipping costs for Shandong's independent refiners buying discounted crude from sanctioned nations.

Shandong Port Group prohibits tankers under US sanctions from entering its ports in Eastern China's province, Reuters reports. Shandong Port Group controls major ports on China's eastern coast, including Qingdao,