According to an announcement from
Brazil-based Samarco - the joint venture formed by equal
investments from CVRD and
BHP Billiton - the company is planning to reduce its pellet shipment to
China from the 4.2 million tons recorded in 2006 to four million tons in 2007.
The 4.2 million tons in 2006 accounted for 28 percent of the company's total sales. Apart from the shipments to
China, the company exported 21 percent of its 15 million tons
production to other Asian countries, 21 percent to
Europe, 21 percent to
Africa and the
Middle East, and the remaining nine percent to South and
North America.
The company is not planning to increase its
production until its new pellet facility is completed in 2008.