- Business
- Vale S.A. produces and exports iron ore, iron ore pellets, nickel, copper, cobalt, manganese, ferroalloys, gold and silver; it also provides integrated logistics services through railroads, ports and maritime terminals, and engages in energy generation to support its mining operations. Founded in 1942 and headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the company operates mines, processing plants and logistics infrastructure primarily in Brazil, Canada and Indonesia, with presence in over 20 countries serving global steel producers, battery manufacturers and industrial customers. Its main business segments include Iron Solutions for high-grade iron ore and pellets from deposits like Carajás and S11D, Energy Transition Materials encompassing Class 1 nickel, copper concentrates from Salobo and Sossego, and cobalt, as well as Coal and other products. Vale recently completed a US$2.5 billion strategic partnership in April 2024 under which Manara Minerals acquired a 10% stake in Vale Base Metals to accelerate copper and nickel production toward 900kt/year and 300kt/year respectively over the next decade; it sold a 50% stake in its Vale Oman Distribution Centre to Apollo Global Management for US$600 million to fund growth; and in September 2025 obtained an operating license for the Serra Sul +20 Mtpy expansion at its S11D mine, a US$2.8 billion project to boost iron ore capacity by 20 million tonnes annually with trial operations slated for H2 2026.