Vale’s production and sales grow

Vale’s iron ore fines production and sales increased significantly in the third quarter of 2019 as a result of continued progress in resuming operations in the South and Southeast Systems, as well as strong operating performance and normalization of shipments in the Northern system.

Iron ore fines production reached 86.7 Mt in 3Q19, 35.4% higher than in 2Q19. The resumption of Brucutu operations and the partial return of dry processing operations at the Vargem Grande Complex, announced in June and July, respectively, contributed to this result.

Vale expects to resume the remaining production of approximately 50 Mt by the end of 2021, as several milestones have been reached and others are underway, including the approval of trigger tests at the mine to resume dry processing operations and authorization of trigger tests at the TFA (Scaffolding Railway Terminal), an important step to disengage the logistics of the Vargem Grande Complex.

The Northern System showed strong operating performance with a production volume of 55.4 Mt in 3Q19, 33.3% higher than 2Q19 and 2.7% higher than 3Q18, including record production of 20.4 Mt from S11D as a result of its successful ramp-up. Vale expects to produce 90 Mt in S11D by 2020.

Vale’s pellet production totaled 11.1 Mt in 3Q19, 22.7% higher than 2Q19, mainly due to the higher productivity of the pelletizing plants after the maintenance period in 2Q19 and the resumption of Brucutu operations, which increased the quality of the pellet feed provided to plants in the Southeast System.

Sales volume of iron ore fines and pellets totaled 85.1 Mt in 3Q19, up 20.2% over 2Q19 as a result of the above mentioned production resumptions.

Finished nickel production reached 51.4 kt in 3Q19, 14.2% higher than in 2Q19, as operations gradually returned to regular rates throughout 3Q19 following scheduled and unscheduled maintenance at the North Atlantic refineries and in Asia. In Brazil, the judicial authorization to resume processing and mining operations in Onça Puma, granted in September, was another milestone reached for the stability of production. As all refineries are expected to operate at regular rates throughout the fourth quarter and with the resumption of Onça Puma, stronger production is expected next quarter.

Copper production reached 98.3 kt in 3Q19, in line with 2Q19 and 4.0% higher than in 3Q18. Salobo continues to present strong operating performance, with a record monthly production in July, totaling 50.9 kt in the quarter, up 11.4% over 2Q19, mainly due to higher levels and higher productivity at the mine and processing plants.

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