May 8 (Reuters) - Canada's Suncor Energy ( SU ) is

leasing Aframax vessels in the Pacific and selling direct to

customers, seeking to maximise profits on oil being shipped on

the newly completed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX), the

company said on Wednesday.

TMX, which began commercial operations last week, will ship

an extra 590,000 barrels per day (bpd) from Alberta to Canada's

Pacific coast and is expected to increase access to markets in

Asia and the U.S. west coast.

The expansion opens up new trading opportunities for

Canadian producers. Oil market participants are keenly watching

where the barrels of mainly heavy sour crude will end up, as the

new source of supply could disrupt oil flows into different

regions of the world.

Calgary-based Suncor is a committed shipper on TMX and

Canada's second-largest oil producer.

The company expects most crude will be sold in California,

as well as markets in Asia, Dave Oldreive, Suncor's executive

vice president of downstream said on a first quarter earnings

call.

The company is also transacting directly with customers

rather than selling through third-party commodity trading shops,

he added.

"Our trading offices in Calgary, Houston and in London have

been working to strengthen those relationships along the west

coast and in Asia, which is where we expect the volumes to

clear," Oldreive said.

"We've leased Aframax vessels that were operating in the

Pacific, this gives us an advantage on shipping costs."

Suncor on Tuesday reported first-quarter profit that beat

analysts' estimates, thanks to strong demand for refined

products and record oil sands production.

The company's shares were last up 0.8% at C$54.23 on the

Toronto Stock Exchange.