Vale reached record iron ore production in 2016, following the startup of its S11D mine in the city of Canaa dos Carajas.
Vale said iron ore production in 2016 totaled 348.8 million mt, 0.9 percent up, year-on-year. The Brazilian miner attributed the increased output to a better performance at its mines and plants in the North System, which compensated for diminished output at other systems.
Vale’s Carajas or North System produced 148.1 million mt of iron ore in 2016, 14.3 percent up, year-on-year, thanks to both increased operational performance and due to the startup of the company’s S11D mine.
As for Q4, Vale produced 92.3 million mt of the commodity, 4.5 percent up, year-on-year.
The company’s manganese and ferroalloys production in 2016 totaled 2.4 million mt and 124,000 mt, respectively, 2.9 percent down, year-on-year, and 25.3 percent up, year-on-year.