Brazil mining sector sees 2025 revenue, investment and trade surplus jump

The performance of the mining sector in Brazil confirmed its’s relevance to the national economy, according to data consolidated by the Brazilian Mining Institute (IBRAM). This information was presented in an online press conference held on February 3, 2026, led by Vice President Fernando Azevedo and Director of Mining Affairs Julio Nery.

The sector’s revenue totaled R$ 298.8 billion in 2025, a 10.3% increase compared to 2024. Iron ore accounted for R$ 157.2 billion, equivalent to 52.6% of total revenue, despite a 2.2% decrease in the value of revenue from this substance. Minas Gerais, Pará, and Bahia led the sector’s revenue for the year, with shares of 39.9%, 34.5%, and 4.5%, respectively, confirming the regional concentration of mining activity in the country.

The following chart compares monthly Brazilian iron ore exports from January to November over the last four years, according to DataLiner data. It is worth noting that Vale is the primary owner and agent for these shipments.

Iron Ore Exports | Jan-Nov | 2022-2025 | WTMT

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

International trade

In foreign trade, the sector exported approximately 431 million tons of mineral products, a 7.1% increase in volume, resulting in revenues of approximately US$46 billion, a 6.2% increase in dollars compared to 2024. Iron ore accounted for 62.8% of total exports.

Mineral imports totaled US$8.5 billion in 2025, with a slight increase of 0.1% in value and a decrease of 1.3% in tons, reflecting less external dependence on some strategic inputs.

Brazil’s mineral trade balance reached US$37.6 billion for the year, equivalent to 55% of the total Brazilian trade balance, which closed at US$68.3 billion. This result reinforces the role of the mineral sector as one of the main pillars of the country’s foreign trade. In 2024, this share of the trade balance was 47%.

The tax contribution from mining also increased. Total tax and charge collection from the sector grew by approximately 10% in 2025, reaching R$ 103 billion. Of this total, the Financial Compensation for Mineral Exploration (CFEM) amounted to R$ 7.9 billion. In 2024, the sector had collected R$ 93.4 billion in taxes and charges.

In the labor market, the mineral extraction industry registered 229,312 direct jobs in November 2025, excluding oil and gas. Between January and November, 8,330 new formal jobs were created in the sector.

Investments

Medium-term prospects indicate an expansion of investments. The estimate for projects in the mineral sector for the period 2026 to 2030 is US$76.9 billion, a value 12.5% ​​higher than that projected in the previous cycle.

Critical and strategic minerals account for a significant portion of this movement. Projected investments in these substances reach US$21.3 billion by 2030, a 15.2% increase compared to the previous projection, signaling the sector’s alignment with the demands of the energy transition and global reindustrialization.

Previously, the total value of investments in mining, for the period 2025-2029, was US$ 68.4 billion, IBRAM points out.

Fonte: IBRAM

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