HomeIndustry Trends12 Daily Signals Driving VLCC Profit Today

12 Daily Signals Driving VLCC Profit Today

September 19, 2025

📊 Subscribe to the Ship Universe Weekly Newsletter

VLCC rates are jumping and minutes matter. This report gives shipowners and operators a fast morning read that turns volatility into clear actions. Start with the TD3C print, then scan the 12 daily signals covering supply tightness, routing, bunker spreads, congestion, and insurance. The goal is simple: decide whether to fix now, hold, or reposition while protecting TCE and cash flow.

1️⃣ TD3C spot rate and TCE (MEG → China)
Bottom-line impact
Summary
TD3C is the benchmark VLCC Arabian Gulf to China Worldscale assessment. It translates into a daily TCE using standard voyage math and gives the quickest read on market heat. Scan this first each morning to anchor fixing decisions, positioning, and route choices, then confirm with the AG position list and the front of the FFA curve.
Expand for details
Signal Importance
  • Fastest indicator of VLCC market strength on the core MEG to China lane.
  • TCE conversion links the print to real earnings you can compare to break even by vessel cohort.
  • Meaningful moves often precede changes in the AG position list and near dated FFAs.
Triggers and actions
  • Clear rise versus recent average → bring fixtures forward and widen laycans.
  • Front month FFA trades above physical by a clear margin → consider partial hedges and add voyage optionality.
  • TCE near or below break even → slow steam on ballast or pivot to alternative long haul lanes.
Quick TCE sense check
Convert the Worldscale assessment to freight revenue, subtract bunkers, port costs, routing fees, insurance adders, and daily OPEX, then divide by voyage days. If your estimate sits within five percent of published TCE ranges you have a solid base for action.
Common pitfalls
  • Overlooking bunker changes at load and discharge hubs.
  • Ignoring war risk or security routing costs when comparing Cape and Suez.
  • Using stale speed and consumption after weather or fouling.
Operator checklist
  • Capture the latest TD3C print and implied TCE at market open and after London lunch.
  • Run the sense check using current bunker prices and chosen routing.
  • Coordinate with chartering on timing and laycan flexibility based on the move.
  • Cross check with AG position list, congestion, and war risk tiles.
2️⃣ AG VLCC position list (7 and 14 day)
Bottom-line impact
Signal Importance
  • Direct read on near term supply in the main loading region.
  • The 7 day list drives prompt fixtures while the 14 day list shapes expectations one fixing cycle ahead.
  • Sharp drops often precede higher TD3C prints and firmer owner terms.
Triggers and actions
  • 7 day list falls into lowest quartile → bring fixtures forward and widen laycans by 2 to 4 days.
  • 7 day tight but 14 day normal → expect brief firmness then mean reversion. Take cover on prompt only.
  • Both 7 and 14 day tight → hold for better ideas, request optionality, and lift speed on best positioned ballasters.
  • Lists rise above median → fix quickly if you are long on days or bunker costs are rising.
Quick read guide
Use a simple banding for the 7 day list. Tight equals bottom quartile. Neutral equals middle fifty percent. Loose equals top quartile. If 7 day is tight and 14 day is neutral or tight, owner leverage improves. If 7 day is loose and 14 day is tight, expect noise today but firmer outlook into the next window.
Common pitfalls
  • Counting non workable ships that are off position or on subjects.
  • Ignoring weather or canal routing that delays arrivals by more than one day.
  • Missing new ME export programs that can pull extra ships into prompt windows.
Operator checklist
  • Compare 7 and 14 day lists to your historical quartiles for this season.
  • Cross check with AIS ballast speeds and the share of Cape routing on current voyages.
  • Sync with chartering on laycan flexibility and optional discharge terms.
  • Pair with bunker spread and war risk tiles before final pricing.
3️⃣ TD3C FFA curve (front month and next quarter)
Bottom-line impact
Signal Importance
  • Links today’s spot to near dated expectations for earnings stability or fade.
  • Supports decisions on fixing early, adding laycan flexibility, or holding for better ideas.
  • Provides a clean base for hedging part of exposure while keeping upside optionality.
Triggers and actions
  • Front month trades above physical by a clear margin → advance fixtures and consider light hedges.
  • Front month below physical with a rising next quarter → hold if position allows and seek optional discharge terms.
  • Curve shifts from backwardation to contango → expect softer prompt; secure cover on prompt stems.
  • Sudden parallel move higher across months → tighten bids and lift speed on best positioned ballasters.
Quick use guide
Read three points each morning. First compare front month to spot for a today versus near term signal. Next compare front month to the next quarter for path of travel. Finally look at the daily change in the whole strip to gauge momentum before you agree terms.
Common pitfalls
  • Comparing FFAs to spot without adjusting for bunkers or routing differences.
  • Over hedging and capping upside when physical position is already short.
  • Ignoring liquidity. Thin days make prints noisy and less reliable.
Operator checklist
  • Note the front month versus spot relationship before you price any fixture.
  • Use the next quarter as a sanity check on holding versus fixing now.
  • Keep hedge sizes modest and aligned with exposure duration.
  • Cross check with the AG position list and bunker spread tiles for confirmation.
4️⃣ Middle East crude export programs (Saudi, Iraq, UAE)
Bottom-line impact
Signal Importance
  • Primary driver of VLCC demand in the Arabian Gulf across the month.
  • Cargo timing influences laycan clustering, port congestion, and demurrage exposure.
  • Extra program barrels often trigger last minute tonnage pulls that lift TD3C and firm owner terms.
Triggers and actions
  • Program increases or surprise add ons → pre position ballasters and widen laycans.
  • Front loaded programs → expect early tightness and stronger owner leverage. Advance fixtures on early windows.
  • Back loaded programs → hold if position allows and plan speed to hit late month stems.
  • Program cuts or slippage → fix quickly on prompt tonnage and reduce optionality requests.
Quick read guide
Start with the total VLCC equivalent stems for the month. Check weekly distribution to see if cargoes bunch in the first half or the second half. Map each program update to expected AG list changes and adjust ballast speeds and routing to capture the most attractive laycans.
Common pitfalls
  • Treating all program barrels as VLCC size when some are split across smaller classes.
  • Ignoring crude grade and destination mix which can change preferred routes and cycle times.
  • Underestimating port and terminal constraints during clustered laycans.
Operator checklist
  • Log monthly program totals and weekly split for Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE.
  • Align ballast plans with front or back loaded weeks to meet preferred laycans.
  • Coordinate with chartering on optional discharge and speed settings when extra stems appear.
  • Cross check with AG position list, TD3C spot, and bunker spread tiles before pricing.
5️⃣ West Africa and US Gulf arbitrage to Asia
Bottom-line impact
Signal Importance
  • Arbitrage into Asia increases voyage length and cycle time which reduces effective VLCC supply.
  • US Gulf and West Africa liftings to China and India rise when Middle East differentials are less attractive.
  • Resulting repositioning can lift TD3C and related routes by tightening lists across regions.
Triggers and actions
  • Asia pays up for Atlantic grades relative to Middle East sour → expect more USG and WAF stems to Asia and a tighter AG list. Hold or widen laycans if you have position.
  • USG to Asia freight softens while Brent Dubai spread favors Atlantic grades → pre position candidates in the Atlantic for eastbound VLCCs.
  • Persistent Cape routing on eastbound voyages → add time buffers and revisit bunker strategy due to longer legs.
Quick read guide
Watch Asia buying of US WTI and West African light sweets when Middle East grades price higher. A pickup in VLCC fixtures from the US Gulf or Angola and Nigeria to China and India is a clear sign that long-haul draws are active. Pair this with routing choices around the Cape of Good Hope which extend cycle times and amplify the ton mile effect.
Common pitfalls
  • Assuming arbitrage is open without checking netbacks after freight and routing.
  • Ignoring load port constraints and STS availability for USG long haul liftings.
  • Underestimating weather and security routing that extend USG and WAF voyages to Asia.
Operator checklist
  • Monitor US Gulf and West Africa fixtures to China and India as a proxy for long-haul demand.
  • Track Brent Dubai and key grade differentials that signal Atlantic barrels are competitive into Asia.
  • Confirm likely routing around the Cape of Good Hope and adjust speed and bunker plans accordingly.
  • Cross check with AG position list and TD3C spot to time fixing and pricing.
6️⃣ Ton-mile stretch and routing share (Cape vs Suez)
Bottom-line impact
Signal Importance
  • More Cape routing increases ton miles and days on the water which tightens position lists.
  • Cycle time changes flow through to TCE via longer hire and different bunker consumption patterns.
  • Routing shifts often coincide with canal fee dynamics, security conditions, and insurance adders.
Triggers and actions
  • Observable increase in Cape share on eastbound or westbound legs → expect firmer spot prints. Hold or widen laycans if position allows.
  • Stable Suez routing with limited queues → anticipate shorter cycles. Fix prompt if you are long on days.
  • Security advisories that affect Red Sea transits → recheck insurance and reroute economics before pricing.
  • Material bunker price moves at Cape refueling hubs → revisit ROB plans and speed ladders.
Quick read guide
Track the weekly share of voyages using the Cape of Good Hope versus Suez on your key lanes. Combine that with average ballast speeds and discharge congestion. Rising Cape share plus lower ballast speeds is a strong signal that effective supply is tightening and that owners have better leverage in negotiations.
Common pitfalls
  • Ignoring weather that changes Cape leg durations and fuel burn.
  • Comparing routes without including canal tolls, security surcharges, and waiting time risks.
  • Assuming Cape saves cost for every grade or destination. Some trades still favor Suez on timing.
Operator checklist
  • Log weekly Cape versus Suez shares on your core voyages.
  • Pair routing share with AG position list and TD3C spot to guide fixing timing.
  • Align bunker lifts with the chosen route and season. Adjust ROB and speed to hit laycans.
  • Confirm insurance and security requirements for the selected corridor before final terms.
7️⃣ AIS fleet behavior (avg ballast speed, ballast and laden ratio in AG and WAF)
Bottom-line impact
Signal Importance
  • Average ballast speed reflects owner expectations. Slower ballast suggests confidence in firmer rates ahead.
  • Ballast to laden ratio shows how many ships are available versus committed. More laden share reduces prompt supply.
  • Regional reads in AG and WAF foreshadow changes in TD3C and Atlantic eastbound activity.
Triggers and actions
  • Ballast speeds trend lower while laden share rises in AG → hold on price, widen laycans, and pre position for stronger prints.
  • Ballast speeds rise and ballast share grows in WAF → expect easier fixing. Secure prompt stems quickly if you are long on days.
  • Sharp weekly drop in ballast count near load areas → lift speed on best positioned tonnage to capture early cargoes.
  • Convergence between AG and WAF behavior → prepare for cross basin pulls that reshape both lists.
Quick read guide
Track three numbers by region each morning. Average ballast speed over the last seven days. Ballast vessel count within your arrival window. Share of ships that are laden versus ballast. A pattern of slower ballast, fewer ballasters inbound, and a higher laden share is a high confidence signal that effective supply is tightening.
Common pitfalls
  • Including vessels that are off hire, on subjects, or outside practical arrival windows.
  • Reading short term weather slowdowns as a structural signal.
  • Ignoring routing changes that affect average speeds and arrival timing.
Operator checklist
  • Log weekly averages for ballast speed and ballast to laden ratio in AG and WAF.
  • Filter to workable ships only based on draft, ETA window, and location.
  • Cross check with AG position list, TD3C spot, and routing share to confirm direction.
  • Adjust ballast speed, ROB plans, and laycan flexibility to match the signal.
8️⃣ Bunker prices and spreads at key hubs
Bottom-line impact
Signal Importance
  • VLSFO and HSFO levels at Fujairah, Singapore, Rotterdam, and US Gulf drive voyage TCE sensitivity.
  • The Hi5 spread determines the daily advantage of scrubber fitted ships versus non scrubber fleets.
  • Regional price differentials influence where to lift, chosen routing, and optimal speed bands.
Triggers and actions
  • Hi5 widens meaningfully → prioritize scrubber ships on longer legs and consider slightly higher service speeds.
  • Hi5 narrows → reduce the advantage of scrubber deployment and favor fuel efficient hulls and slower ladders.
  • Sharp discount at an intermediate hub → adjust routing to lift there if laycan timing still works.
  • Fast rise in VLSFO at discharge region → bring forward bunkers earlier on route and tighten ROB management.
Quick read guide
Check four hubs each morning for VLSFO, HSFO, and Hi5. Compare the lift plan on your current voyages to the lowest practical hub on route. If Hi5 is wide, scrubber ships gain a stronger daily edge, which supports holding on price for those vessels and favoring longer Cape legs when schedule allows.
Common pitfalls
  • Comparing hub prices without freight, time lost, and quality adjustments.
  • Ignoring seasonal weather that changes expected consumption and safe reserve levels.
  • Relying on single port indications instead of a hub basket that matches your lanes.
Operator checklist
  • Log daily VLSFO, HSFO, and Hi5 for Fujairah, Singapore, Rotterdam, and US Gulf.
  • Align lift ports with forecast consumption and reserve policy for the chosen route.
  • Match scrubber ships to longer or higher consumption legs when Hi5 is wide.
  • Cross check with routing share, TD3C spot, and laycan plans before final pricing.
8️⃣ Bunker prices and spreads at key hubs
Bottom-line impact
Signal Importance
  • VLSFO and HSFO levels at Fujairah, Singapore, Rotterdam, and US Gulf drive voyage TCE sensitivity.
  • The Hi5 spread determines the daily advantage of scrubber fitted ships versus non scrubber fleets.
  • Regional price differentials influence where to lift, chosen routing, and optimal speed bands.
Triggers and actions
  • Hi5 widens meaningfully → prioritize scrubber ships on longer legs and consider slightly higher service speeds.
  • Hi5 narrows → reduce the scrubber edge and favor fuel efficient hulls and slower ladders.
  • Sharp discount at an intermediate hub → adjust routing to lift there if laycan timing still works.
  • Fast rise in VLSFO at discharge region → bring forward bunkers earlier on route and tighten ROB management.
Quick read guide
Check four hubs each morning for VLSFO, HSFO, and Hi5. Compare the lift plan on current voyages to the lowest practical hub on route. If Hi5 is wide, scrubber ships gain a stronger daily edge which supports holding on price for those vessels and favoring longer Cape legs when schedule allows.
Common pitfalls
  • Comparing hub prices without freight, time lost, and quality adjustments.
  • Ignoring seasonal weather that changes expected consumption and reserve levels.
  • Relying on single port indications instead of a hub basket that matches your lanes.
Operator checklist
  • Log daily VLSFO, HSFO, and Hi5 for Fujairah, Singapore, Rotterdam, and US Gulf.
  • Align lift ports with forecast consumption and reserve policy for the chosen route.
  • Match scrubber ships to longer or higher consumption legs when Hi5 is wide.
  • Cross check with routing share, TD3C spot, and laycan plans before final pricing.
9️⃣ Port congestion and queues (AG loadports; China and Korea discharge)
Bottom-line impact
Signal Importance
  • Added waiting and berth time lengthen voyage cycles and tighten position lists.
  • Demurrage and port cost exposure can flip a voyage from neutral to profitable or loss making.
  • Congestion clusters around laycan bunching, weather, maintenance, and safety or security checks.
Triggers and actions
  • Loadport queues rise above seasonal median → tighten laytime terms and raise offers.
  • China or Korea discharge delays extend past typical weather buffers → add demurrage cushions and adjust ETA strategy.
  • Simultaneous queues at load and discharge → expect stronger spot prints and slower list replenishment. Hold if position allows.
  • Noticeable easing week over week → fix prompt if you are long on days or bunker prices are rising.
Quick read guide
Track three metrics by hub. Vessels at anchorage, average berth occupancy, and median hours from arrival to all fast. Compare to seasonal medians. A rising anchorage count and longer all fast times at AG loadports or CN and KR discharge ports mean fewer ships return to the list on time and owners gain leverage.
Common pitfalls
  • Using single point snapshots without trend context.
  • Ignoring terminal maintenance windows and draft or weather restrictions that create step changes in flow.
  • Not aligning laytime definitions with local practice on notices, shifting, and sea buoy to berth timing.
Operator checklist
  • Log anchorage counts and all fast times for AG load hubs plus key CN and KR terminals.
  • Price demurrage and waiting buffers into voyage P&L when queues build.
  • Coordinate ETAs and pilotage windows to avoid peak arrival waves.
  • Cross check with AG position list, routing share, and bunker plans before agreeing terms.
🔟 War-risk and H&M adders on Red Sea and Hormuz lanes
Bottom-line impact
Signal Importance
  • War-risk and H&M adders change net TCE on trades that touch listed risk areas.
  • Premium shifts can flip the routing decision between Suez and the Cape of Good Hope.
  • Security measures, delay buffers, and crew considerations linked to these corridors affect schedule risk and costs.
Triggers and actions
  • Premiums rise into a higher band → reprice fixtures, add security costs, and test Cape routing economics.
  • Premiums ease while canal flows are stable → compare Suez time savings against fuel and canal tolls.
  • Advisories escalate or new exclusions appear → extend ETAs, confirm convoy or escort requirements, and reassess laycan flexibility.
  • Underwriters request shorter binding windows → align fixing and insurance binding to avoid gap risk.
Quick read guide
For any voyage that would cross the Red Sea or Hormuz, collect a current quote for war-risk and any H&M surcharges, estimate time in zone, then compare two cases. Case one is via Suez with premiums and canal fees. Case two is via the Cape with extra fuel and days but no war-risk exposure. Choose the higher net TCE after adding security and delay buffers.
Common pitfalls
  • Using stale premium levels when quotes can change within the day.
  • Omitting security routing, speed restrictions, or convoy delays from the P&L.
  • Forgetting that premium is often tied to time in zone and declared routing, not just a flat rate.
Operator checklist
  • Request fresh quotes from brokers before pricing any voyage touching listed areas.
  • Model Suez versus Cape with premiums, canal fees, extra fuel, and schedule buffers.
  • Confirm policy conditions on notice, routing declarations, and binding time limits.
  • Align crew, security advisories, and port call plans with the chosen route.
1️⃣1️⃣ China demand pulse (refinery runs, import quotas, SPR moves, margins)
Bottom-line impact
Signal Importance
  • Refinery runs show near term crude burn and tank draw which translates into seaborne intake needs.
  • Import quota issuance to independents governs the legal ceiling for additional crude purchases.
  • Strategic reserve buying or releases alter baseline import requirements and timing.
  • Gasoline, diesel, and jet margins drive refinery incentives to raise or trim throughput.
Triggers and actions
  • Higher nationwide run rates with steady margins → expect more VLCC fixtures into China. Hold on price and pre position tonnage.
  • Fresh quota allocation to private refiners → anticipate prompt tenders and added stems from AG, WAF, and USG. Widen laycans.
  • SPR accumulation signals → longer haul buying increases. Favor Cape routing when schedule allows.
  • Margin compression with flat runs → softer pull. Fix quickly if you are long on days and reduce optionality requests.
Quick read guide
Combine four data points each morning. Nationwide refinery utilization. Latest private importer quota announcements. Public signals on strategic reserve buys or draws. Simple margin proxy from product cracks. A pattern of higher runs, new quotas, and supportive cracks is a reliable lead for more VLCC liftings and firmer lists.
Common pitfalls
  • Reading quota headlines without confirming delivery windows and grade eligibility.
  • Assuming SPR moves are permanent when they can be opportunistic and seasonal.
  • Using national run rates without checking maintenance outages that lower crude intake temporarily.
Operator checklist
  • Log weekly refinery run rate estimates and note maintenance periods by region.
  • Track private importer quota announcements and remaining balances.
  • Record public SPR activity signals and align ballast plans for likely buying windows.
  • Cross check with TD3C spot, AG position list, and Atlantic eastbound fixtures before pricing.
1️⃣2️⃣ Sanctions and shadow-fleet availability and enforcement
Bottom-line impact
Signal Importance
  • Regulatory actions, inspections, and insurance restrictions directly alter the number of workable ships.
  • Shadow fleet engagement with sanctioned trades affects how many compliant VLCCs compete on mainstream routes.
  • Port state control trends, P&I coverage rules, and banking or payment guidance influence fixture feasibility and timing.
Triggers and actions
  • New advisories or tighter insurance and banking checks → expect fewer workable ships. Hold on price and widen laycans where possible.
  • High profile detentions or accident related crackdowns → raise compliance buffers, add inspection and delay risk to P&L, and review routing.
  • Evidence of more grey tonnage lifting sanctioned barrels → anticipate some easing in mainstream lists and adjust fixing urgency.
  • Screening upgrades by terminals or charterers → verify vessel histories and documentation early to avoid last minute subjects.
Quick read guide
Track four items. Fresh regulatory notices that affect carriage or insurance. Reported detentions and vetting trends on long haul crude trades. Estimated shadow fleet utilization on sanctioned flows. Bank and insurer guidance that changes documentation requirements. A pattern of tighter checks and higher detentions signals lower effective supply and stronger owner leverage.
Common pitfalls
  • Treating grey tonnage as interchangeable with compliant tonnage without considering vetting and insurance limits.
  • Ignoring terminal and receiver specific documentation standards that can invalidate a fixture late.
  • Assuming temporary enforcement pauses are permanent and pricing too aggressively.
Operator checklist
  • Run enhanced KYC and AIS history checks on candidates early in the fixing process.
  • Confirm P&I coverage, class, and recent inspection records for any ship considered for sensitive trades.
  • Estimate the share of shadow fleet tonnage currently tied to sanctioned flows to gauge open list pressure.
  • Cross check with TD3C spot, AG position list, and routing share before setting price and laycans.
Owner playbook highlights
Fixing and timing
  • Anchor on TD3C and the FFA front to set today’s stance.
  • Use the 7 and 14 day AG lists to judge leverage.
  • Hold when Cape share rises and ballast speeds fall.
Voyage economics
  • Recheck TCE with bunkers, canal or routing fees, and insurance.
  • Exploit wide Hi5 with scrubber deployment and lift plans.
  • Price congestion and demurrage buffers where queues build.
Demand signals
  • Map Middle East programs to expected stems by week.
  • Watch Atlantic to Asia flows for ton mile stretch.
  • Track China runs, quotas, and cracks for end buyer pull.
Risk and compliance
  • Refresh war risk and H&M quotes on Red Sea and Hormuz routes.
  • Screen vessels against sanctions and insurance requirements early.
  • Align CP clauses with routing, delays, and security plans.

Use this dashboard as your morning rhythm. Scan the tiles, note the two or three signals that moved, and make one concrete call on fixing, speed, or routing. The objective is to convert today’s volatility into higher TCE and fewer surprises while keeping positioning aligned with the next cargo window.

We welcome your feedback, suggestions, corrections, and ideas for enhancements. Please click here to get in touch.
By the ShipUniverse Editorial Team — About Us | Contact


Related Posts