Vale´s Production Report for the fourth quarter of 2019 (4Q19) was announced on Tuesday, February 11th. Vale ended 2019 with the steady commitment to resume and stabilize production, while implementing the highest safety standards across its operations.
Sales volumes of iron ore fines and pellets reached 312.5 Mt in 2019, in line with the annual guidance of 307-312 Mt.
Vale's iron ore fines production in 2019 totalled 302.0 Mt, 21.5% lower than in 2018, while pellets production was 41.8 Mt in 2019, 24.4% lower than in 2018. The operational disruption which followed the Dam I rupture, with interdictions at the Vargem Grande, Fábrica, Brucutu, Timbopeba and Alegria operations, together with the stronger than usual weather-related seasonality in 1H19, caused major impacts in production, partly offset by the S11D ramp-up, inventory drawdowns, and the gradual resumption of the Vargem Grande, Brucutu and Alegria operations.
On a quarterly basis, Vale's iron ore fines1 and pellets sales amounted to 88.9 Mt in 4Q19, 4.4% higher than the previous quarter and higher than production. The share of premium products totalled 87% in 4Q19.
Despite the combined impacts on production, Vale's iron ore fines production guidance in 2020 is kept at 340-355 Mt.