SINGAPORE, March 12 (Reuters) - China has ordered an immediate ban on refined fuel exports in March in a further step to pre-empt ‌a potential domestic fuel shortage caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, four sources with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday. The ban, issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), includes shipments of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel, the sources said.

The halt applies to cargoes ⁠that had yet to clear customs as of March 11. The restriction on outbound flows goes beyond last week’s move by Beijing urging refiners not to agree to new exports and to try to cancel shipments they had already committed to.