US tanker sanctions disrupt Iran's oil route to China

US sanctions on tankers carrying Iranian crude are disrupting the trade's transfer leg off Malaysia, where cargoes are usually moved to other ships before going to China, Bloomberg reports. Fewer vessels are available for that middle stage, and Chinese independent refiners, which take about 90% of Iran's exports, face higher prices and are looking for supplies from Africa and elsewhere in the Middle East. The US added 20 crude tankers to its sanctions on 11 October and 12 more in the following weeks. The Shanaye Queen was renamed Marigold in November and switched from the Malaysian to the Guyanese flag, according to the report.

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