A Brazilian court has temporary suspended the activities of a Vale’s iron ore port in the city of Vitoria, in the state of Espirito Santo, the company said on Thursday.
According to Vale, a Brazilian court ordered the "temporary suspension of activities" of its Tubarao port, one of Latin America’s largest ports, which is responsible for the shipment of about 30 percent of the company’s iron ore output. The port handles coal and also serves the needs of ArcelorMittal in Brazil.
The court decision said it suspended the activities of the port, preventing both ArcelorMittal and Vale from using it commercially at both its iron ore and coal piers, due the pollution of the air and the sea.
Vale said on Thursday it will appeal the decision. ArcelorMittal said the operation of the port was Vale's responsibility.
According to Vale, the port loaded 82.5 million mt of iron ore in the first nine months of 2015 to supply steelmakers around the world.
Vale already faces a BRL 20 billion lawsuit over the burst of an iron ore waste dam, which collapsed in the city of Mariana, killing 17 people.
Vale said it was surprised to learn about the port’s suspension.