A day in the life of Wanying Zhang, Freight Analyst

Wanying is a Freight Analyst at Vortexa, based in Singapore. She specialises in generating unique insights on fleet behaviour and analysing vessel movements to identify market shifts across clean and dirty trades in the East of Suez region. Prior to joining Vortexa, she spent three years as a Commercial Analyst with a shipowner.

Fun fact: Wanying spent eight years as a kid playing the pipa and guzheng, two traditional Chinese string instruments, and can still make them sing.

What does day-to-day life in your role look like?

As a freight analyst, my day-to-day is a mix of market monitoring, data analysis, and client engagement. I start by tracking market news and developments to identify emerging trends. A key part of my work is transforming complex shipping data into clear, actionable insights for discussions, reports, and presentations. It’s a fast-paced role where no two days are ever the same.

What would you say is the most interesting aspect of your role?

For me, the most interesting aspect of my role is connecting the dots between real-time market movements and the data behind them. I get to dive into complex shipping and freight trends, uncover patterns others might miss, and then turn those findings into insights that help clients and colleagues make better decisions. The mix of industry knowledge, data analytics, and fast-changing market dynamics keeps the work exciting and fresh every day.

What was your path to joining Vortexa? 

With a background in shipping and freight, I’ve long been fascinated by the power of technology and data to illuminate market dynamics. Discovering Vortexa felt like the ideal bridge — an opportunity to apply my freight expertise while working with advanced data analytics and technology to uncover deeper, real-time insights into the market.

What kind of qualities does a person need to have to succeed at Vortexa?

Curiosity, adaptability, and proactiveness are key — you need to be eager to learn, comfortable with change, and ready to take initiative. 

What do you like about the culture? 

The culture at Vortexa is open, collaborative, and supportive. You’re surrounded by passionate, smart people from diverse backgrounds who are always willing to share ideas and knowledge. It’s an inspiring environment where you feel valued and can constantly learn and grow together as a team.

Who do you collaborate with?

I work closely with my colleagues who focus on Flows, to analyse oil and gas supply and demand patterns. I also work with our data analysts to ensure data accuracy and collaborate across teams to refine our datasets so that our analysis reflects real market conditions.

What are the first three things you do on a Monday morning? 

Grab a coffee, catch up on weekend market moves, and check Slack messages

What energises you most about working as a Freight Analyst at Vortexa?

What energises me most is the constant challenge of linking fast-moving market events with data-driven insights. Every day brings fresh trends to explore and new stories to uncover in the data.