Euronav Q2 net profit up 23 pct, positive on Q3

BRUSSELS, July 22 (Reuters) - Belgian crude oil transporter Euronav's (EUAV.BR) net profit rose by 23 percent in the second quarter as freight rates remained extremely strong.

Net profit came in at $127.6 million versus $103.9 million in the same period last year, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. The figure included $17 million of positive reevaluations of non cash items, such as interest rate hedges.

Analysts were expecting a figure of around $105 million, excluding the reevaluations.

Euronav said it would be proposing a interim gross dividend of 1.00 euro per share.

It also said that VLCC rates remained very strong in the third-quarter.

"Nearly half of the third quarter available days for the spot VLCCs have been booked at rates higher than the average of those achieved in the first semester," Euronav said.