Beijing restricted fuel exports in March after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran disrupted Middle Eastern crude supplies. The world's top importer relaxed the curbs in July and is managing diesel, gasoline and jet fuel shipments on a monthly basis.
However, China started a week-long holiday on Thursday without giving major refiners in the world's largest refining hub a green light to export fuel products to regions other than Hong Kong and Macau in October, the sources said.
It was not clear whether Beijing would resume permitting refiners' exports after the holiday ends on October 7, the sources said, adding it could depend on domestic fuel inventories and refining output, Reuters reported.
China's National Development and Reform Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment during a public holiday.
Global markets are grappling with the loss of fuel supplies from the war of aggression against Iran and Ukraine's attacks on Russian refining infrastructure, and China's move could drive prices in some countries to new highs.