Vale's iron ore production up 0.8% in Q2 2026

Brazilian mining powerhouse Vale announced a modest 0.8% year-on-year increase in iron ore production for the second quarter of 2026. The company produced 84.3 million tons between April and June, a significant 20.9% jump from the first quarter. This volume represents the highest second-quarter output since 2018, signaling a strong performance.

Vale attributed the year-on-year growth primarily to increased production from its Southeast System, bolstered by the Capanema project, higher productivity at Alegria, and the restart of operations at Água Limpa. Additionally, record second-quarter production at S11D and contributions from VGR1 played crucial roles. These gains helped offset production declines in the North System due to lower raw material availability in Serra Norte, and in the South System, which was impacted by the prolonged shutdown of Fábrica and Viga since January.

Sales of iron ore, Vale's main product, also saw a positive trend, increasing by 3.1% year-on-year to 79.7 million tons. This rise was driven by the sale of existing stockpiles and the overall increase in production.

Beyond iron ore, Vale's performance in other key minerals was also strong. Copper production climbed 6.3% year-on-year to 98,400 tons, and nickel production rose 4.2% to 42,000 tons in the second quarter. Sales for both copper and nickel also experienced growth, with copper sales up 9.7% and nickel sales up 7.2% during the same period.