Chinese state-owned oil companies have halted seaborne imports of Russian crude oil following the imposition of new U.S. sanctions targeting Russian energy exports. The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Treasury, aim to curtail Russia’s ability to profit from its energy sector amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Industry consultancies have provided conflicting estimates regarding the scale of Chinese imports, with some suggesting the volume could have ranged from 250,000 to 500,000 barrels per day. This move by China comes amid growing global efforts to isolate Russia economically.