LONDON, Nov 16: Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia has hired four more very large crude carriers (VLCCs) to the United States, boosting December spot shipments to 17 million barrels, shipping brokers said on Tuesday.

They said the kingdom, acting through Vela International Marine, Saudi Aramco's chartering arm, had booked the Younara Glory, the Crude Creation, the Folk Star and the Marjan to haul 290,000 tons apiece in a December16-23 timeframe.

That brings bookings to date for December by the oil giant to at least eight, or 17 million barrels.

Last week, the kingdom confirmed it had booked three VLCCs to carry 290,000 and a fourth to lift 280,000 tons to the United States for January arrival.

Saudi Arabia has been a regular charterer on the spot market this year.

Spot bookings fell to three VLCCs or six million barrels in November, down from 16 million barrels in October and 14 million spot barrels in September.

Saudi sells its oil to global refiners using its own massive fleet of 23 VLCCs and ULCC-class ships, with additional spot chartering on top to move the barrels if needed. Spot chartering by its Vela arm is almost exclusively reserved for US supply.

It also sells its exports free-on-board to international oil companies which buy the barrels straight from any one of its oil terminals.-Reuters