Brazil’s Port of Natal to begin iron ore exports in 2028 after terminal lease

Brazil’s Port of Natal is set to begin exporting iron ore in the second half of 2028, following the lease of its North Yard to Indian company Fomento do Brasil Mineração in a public auction held last Thursday, February 26, at São Paulo’s B3 stock exchange.

The company is expected to sign the concession contract within the next 90 days and carry out operational upgrades over the following two years, according to Alan Jones Tavares, Fomento’s ports and logistics manager.

Fomento plans to invest up to 55 million reais ($55 million) in the North Yard over the 15-year concession period. In the coming days, the company will submit investment plans and required documentation to the Rio Grande do Norte Port Authority (Codern) and Brazil’s waterway regulator, ANTAQ.

Tavares said the project marks a milestone not only for the company but for the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Although the state has previously attempted to export iron ore, operations were unsuccessful due to a lack of port infrastructure adapted for bulk mineral handling.

“This is different from what was done before. We are going to put Rio Grande do Norte on the global mining map, not just the Brazilian one,” he said.

The company expects annual exports of about 2,200 metric tons of iron ore starting in 2029. During the initial ramp-up phase in the second half of 2028, the goal will be to reach the highest possible shipment volumes to key international buyers.

The following breakdown identifies the key export hubs for iron ore during the first month of 2026, according to newly released data from Datamar:

Iron Ore Export Ports | January 2026 | WTMT

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

While projected volumes are modest compared with Brazil’s large-scale mining operations, Tavares said the ore extracted in Rio Grande do Norte has distinct geological characteristics sought by steel producers.

“It differs from most of the ore we are used to seeing in places like the Quadrilátero Ferrífero in Minas Gerais or the Carajás mines. It has unique geological features that make it richer and less contaminating,” he said.

The mineral, officially classified as pellet feed and informally referred to as “green ore,” was identified through geological studies commissioned by Fomento in the Borborema Potiguar microregion, which includes the municipalities of Tangará, Serra Caiada, Sítio Novo and Senador Elói de Souza.

Development of the deposit is part of the company’s Ferro Potiguar project and is expected to proceed in parallel with port preparations.

According to Tavares, the mining project is currently undergoing environmental licensing with the state’s environmental agency, Idema. The process also involves the relocation of families living in areas designated for extraction.

He said mining operations and the ore processing plant will move forward once the relocation process is completed, aligning with port upgrade works to ensure synchronized start-up.

“Everything needs to move in step — production, logistics to the export point and port operations. It all has to function like clockwork to ensure we can handle output efficiently,” he said.

Source: Tribuna do Norte

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