Hong Kong-based Global Commodities Consultants on Wednesday became the latest company to deny it sold a cargo of oil to North Korea, as the chain of companies linked to a seized vessel lengthens.

Global Commodities Consultants confirmed in a statement it had bought the cargo of oil from Trafigura but said it had “on-sold” it to another company, which it said it believed was based in Taiwan.

South Korea last week seized a Hong Kong-based vessel, the Lighthouse Winmore, following accusations it had broken UN sanctions by secretly transferring 600 tonnes of refined petroleum to a North Korean ship in international waters in October. US President Donald Trump has threatened trade action against China for allowing fuel supplies to reach Pyongyang despite sanctions over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.