Brazilian miner Vale has advanced a scheduled maintenance shutdown at its pelletizing operations in Oman amid escalating geopolitical risks linked to the Middle East conflict, according to a report by Bloomberg based on sources familiar with the matter.
The outages, initially planned for the first half of the year, have reportedly been brought forward by several weeks. The decision to carry out early maintenance at its two pellet plants in Oman reflects growing concerns over potential operational disruptions and logistical challenges in the region.
Strait of Hormuz disruptions affect shipments
Vale supplies customers across the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
However, shipments have been disrupted due to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has also forced vessels carrying Brazilian iron ore to reroute away from the Middle East.
Logistics challenges weigh on deliveries
The ongoing conflict has increased uncertainty in maritime logistics, affecting delivery schedules and trade flows across the region.
Despite the disruptions, Vale is not expected to revise its full-year production guidance. The company continues to forecast pellet output in the range of 30-34 million mt for the year.
