AsianFin -- China’s state-run iron ore buyer has instructed major steelmakers and traders to suspend purchases of all new cargoes from BHP Group, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The halt underscores growing trade frictions between Beijing and one of its biggest suppliers of the key steelmaking ingredient. It was not immediately clear how long the suspension would last or whether it applied to spot contracts only or also to long-term supply agreements.

China is the world’s largest consumer of iron ore, with imports largely dominated by Australia’s BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue, as well as Brazil’s Vale. Any disruption in supply deals between China and BHP could have ripple effects across global commodity markets.

Neither BHP nor China’s state-owned buyer immediately commented on the report.