A cut in the price Saudi Arabia charges crude customers is a clear signal that the giant oil producer wants to shift more oil overseas, according to Clarksons Platou Securities.

And the investment bank, a division of shipbroking giant Clarksons, sees this as a clear positive for tanker owners.

Saudi Aramco has reduced prices for November loadings.

For Asian buyers, this means paying between $0.10 and $0.50 less per barrel.

Northern European customers are looking at a decrease of between $0.50 and $1, according to Reuters.

"We interpret this as the Saudis wanting to move more oil abroad, which is clearly positive for tankers," said Clarksons Platou.

This is the second month in a row in which Saudi Aramco has cut their prices.

Eco-VLCC earnings stood at $17,100 per day on average on Wednesday, according to Clarksons Platou.

But this masks some weak rates on key routes, with Fearnley Securities quoting a Middle East to South Korea spot trip at just $2,700, down 27% from the start of the week.

Despite the Chinese holidays, charterers are still active, but Middle East rates are still lagging the firming Atlantic market, one broker noted.

UK shipbroker Howe Robinson Partners said VLCC rates in the west remain at firmer levels.

"Owners appear to be maintaining the resistance for each cargo they see," the company said.

The Middle East has been relatively quiet, however, Howe Robinson said, with shipping companies managing to hold rate ideas steady and patiently waiting to see what the balance of the middle part of the month's loadings will bring.

Big tankers starting to motor?

Cleaves Securities believes rates are finally starting to move for owners of large tonnage.

VLCCs added 268% week-on-week to finish the week ending 1 October on $5,000 per day on average.

"Healthy activity in both the Atlantic and ex-Middle East, but tonnage is still plentiful," the investment bank said.

Cargoes from the US Gulf and the Caribbean heading east are now assessed at $37,000 and $34,000 per day, respectively, up 38% and 56% from the week before.

Howe Robinson reported a busier day across the suezmax sector, with increased enquiry in West Africa and the Middle East.

"Consequently, we have seen a slight improvement in rates. However, sustained enquiry is required if rates are to continue to creep up," the company added.