Vale Reports Strong Third-Quarter Iron Ore, Copper, and Nickel Output

Written by Amir Richani for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Vale SA (NYSE:VALE) (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), one of the world's largest iron ore producers, reported output of 91 million metric tons of iron ore in third-quarter 2024, setting the highest quarterly volume since fourth-quarter 2018. The production was 12.9% higher than the previous quarter and 5.5% stronger than third-quarter 2023.

The performance was backed by a production increase of 1.9 million tons from Brazil's Northern System, guided by a higher performance from the S11D mine, which produced 22.1 million tons in the third quarter. The Southeastern System, also in Brazil, produced 3.6 million tons more year over year due to better performance at the Conceição 1 & 2 facilities in Itabira and higher production from Brucutu due to the resumption of three wet processing lines last year and the commissioning of another one in September. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Plant Database can click here for the Conceição plant profile and click here for the Brucutu plant profile.

The Vale's iron ore guidance for this year is between 323 million and 330 million tons, with the company already reaching production of 242.3 million tons between January and September.

The miner also produced 86,000 metric tons of copper in the third quarter, 9.3% higher than in the second quarter and 5.3% more than the same period last year. This was the result of an additional 2,600 tons more from Sossego in Brazil due to higher mined volumes and feed grades to the mill and 4,700 tons more from Canada due to improved performance from the Sudbury mine. Subscribers can click here for the Sossego plant profile and click here for the Sudbury plant profile

However, the Salobo copper mine, located in Brazil, continues to face lower output due to a fire in a conveyor belt that impacted the Salobo 3 plant. The Salobo 1 and 2 plants increased ore processing year over year. Subscribers can click here for the Salobo plant profile.

Copper guidance for this year has been set between 320,000 and 355,000 tons.

Finally, Vale produced 47,100 metric tons of nickel, 68.8% more than in the second quarter and 11.9% higher year over year. The company's four nickel mines increased output due to higher grades, better operations and availability

The biggest output boost came from the Sudbury mine with an increase of 5,600 tons year over year, "resulting from the improved performance of the mine-mill-smelter-refinery flowsheet. Sudbury mines and mill performed well, with a 20% increase in ore production and mill throughput" year over year, said the company.

Nickel guidance for this year is between 153,000 and 168,000 tons.

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