Ody Valatsas, chartering manager of Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd., an Athens-based operator of supertankers, comments by e-mail today on supply, demand and freight rates for the ships. Charter rates for very large crude carriers, or VLCCs,  shipping oil on the industry’s benchmark Saudi Arabia-to-Japan route have declined for three consecutive sessions, sliding 1.8 percent yesterday to 47.7 Worldscale points, according to the Baltic Exchange in London. Returns from the route yesterday fell 9.3 percent to $12,255 a day.

Vessel supply “is balanced at least. I expect a few more cargoes for January dates that will absorb the January ships.”

Charter rates “should go to 70 to 75” Worldscale points by next week “and then who knows.”