Amid heightened geopolitical tensions, the benchmark TD3C route for VLCCs from the Middle East Gulf to China has been assessed at a level equivalent to about $647,000 per day, sharply diverging from the more cautious outlook embedded in tanker company share prices.
Recent tanker market analysis highlights that in the week ending August 28, Baltic Exchange panelists assessed the key TD3C route (Middle East Gulf–China) for VLCCs at around WS623, which translates into a round‑trip time‑charter equivalent of just over $647,000 per day. Commentators stress that such extraordinary earnings reflect a short‑term imbalance in supply and demand and are not viewed as sustainable long‑run benchmarks for freight. Complementary coverage of leading tanker operators’ results shows that fleetwide TCE rates, while significantly above last year’s levels, remain well below this TD3C peak, confirming that the extreme numbers are confined to a narrow slice of the spot market.
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