BRUSSELS - Belgian crude-oil shipping group Euronav on Thursday said its daily rates for very large crude carriers (VLCC) had increased in the first quarter from the fourth, thanks to a strong global tanker market. Euronav said its VLCC tankers earned $75,000 a day, with less than half of the available days fixed, compared to an average of $61,482 in the fourth quarter. The daily rate for Suezmax tankers, smaller than the VLCC and hence being able to navigate the Suez Canal, was largely unchanged in the first quarter compared to the fourth, Euronav said. Euronav said that taking into account the new vessels entering the global shipping market and a constant scrapping rate, demand and supply were in balance and should remain so for the foreseeable future.