Brazilian miner and iron ore producer Vale unveiled this week a $8 billion free cash flow target by the end of 2018, according to a company’s presentation to investors.
The estimate is up from $3.4 billion last year, and should be slightly higher in 2019. Vale said the estimate excludes disinvestments, adding that the improved free cash flow will allow the company to reduce debt and better pay shareholders.
In the same presentation, Vale CEO Fabio Schvartsman there has been a “supply side reform” coming from the Chinese steel industry. As a result, such a reform is increasing capacity and steel prices in China.
In addition, Vale said investments in mining declined as exhaustion of mines should increase. “All these factors are structurally increasing higher quality iron ore demand,” Schvartsman said.
He said clients are paying higher premiums for higher quality iron ore, with a 62 to 65 Fe content, as opposed to discounts given to 58 to 62 Fe content commodity.