Vale's production and sales in 3Q22
Rio de Janeiro, October 17th, 2022
- Iron ore production increased 21% q/q to 89.7 Mt, reflecting the dry season in the Northern System and higher third-party ore purchases and production in the Southern System.
- Sales of iron ore fines and pellets increased 6.0% q/q to 77.6 Mt. The usual production-to-sales gap in Q3 resulted from transiting inventories across the supply chain, which Vale expects to revert in the next quarter, depending on market conditions.
- Nickel production increased 51% q/q to 51.8 kt, as refineries came back from a maintenance period in 2Q22 and the conclusion of the furnace 4 rebuild at PTVI. Nickel sales increased 13% q/q, but lagged production due to sales commitments in 4Q22 during scheduled maintenance, low availability of containerships impacting Onça Puma and shipping congestion in the UK in 3Q22.
- Copper production increased 33% q/q to 74.3 kt, following extended maintenance at Sossego mill in the first half of the year, better plant performance at Salobo in the quarter and the recovery of copper from copper precipitate holding facilities in North Atlantic operations. Copper sales were up 37% q/q, in line with higher production.
Production summary
% change | |||||||||||||
000' metric tons | 3Q22 | 2Q22 | 3Q21 | 9M22 | 9M21 | 3Q22/2Q22 | 3Q22/3Q21 | 9M22/9M21 | 2022 | ||||
Guidance | |||||||||||||
Iron ore1 | 89,701 | 74,108 | 88,689 | 226,937 | 231,222 | 21.0% | 1.1% | -1.9% | 310-320 | Mt | |||
Pellets | 8,256 | 8,672 | 8,341 | 23,852 | 22,637 | -4.8% | -1.0% | 5.4% | 34-38 | Mt | |||
Nickel2 | 51.8 | 34.2 | 30.2 | 131.8 | 120.2 | 51.5% | 71.5% | 9.7% | 175-190 kt | ||||
Copper | 74.3 | 55.9 | 69.2 | 186.8 | 219.3 | 32.9% | 7.4% | -14.8% | 270-285 kt | ||||
- Including third-party purchases, run -of-mine and feed for pelletizing plants. Excluding Midwestern System volumes .
- Nickel production in 2Q22 was restated from 34. 8 kt.
Sales summary
% change | ||||||||||
000' metric tons | 3Q22 | 2Q22 | 3Q21 | 9M22 | 9M21 | 3Q22/2Q22 | 3Q22/3Q21 | 9M22/9M21 | ||
Iron ore1 | 69,049 | 64,318 | 66,725 | 185,713 | 190,631 | 7.4% | 3.5% | -2.6% | ||
Pellets | 8,521 | 8,843 | 8,037 | 24,375 | 21,955 | -3.6% | 6.0% | 11.0% | ||
Nickel | 44.3 | 39.3 | 41.8 | 122.6 | 137.2 | 12.7% | 6.0% | -10.6% | ||
Copper | 70.5 | 51.5 | 65.4 | 172.2 | 210.8 | 36.9% | 7.8% | -18.3% |
1 Including third-party purchases and run -of-mine. Excluding Midwestern System volumes .
1
Businesses' highlights in 3Q22 | |
Iron Ore and Pellets operations | |
• Northern System production increased | |
Iron ore fines production (3Q22 vs. 2Q22) | |
q/q benefiting from the dry weather in | |
third quarter 1 . Performance y/y was | |
mainly impacted by lower ROM | |
availability at Serra Norte, due to slower | |
licensing processes. At S11D, mine | |
movement was flat y/y, but the need to | |
process more waste yielded a lower strip | |
ratio and iron ore production. |
- Southeastern System production was flat q/q.
- Southern System production increased q/q mainly due to (i) higher third-partypurchases; (ii) additional production and sales of run-of-minefrom Paraopeba Complex; and (iii) solid performance at Vargem Grande, boosted by several productivity initiatives implemented in the previous quarters.
- Pellets production was slightly lower q/q. As a result of portfolio optimization and market conditions, Vale decided to prioritize production of direct reduction pellets in Oman plants.
- All-inpremium totalled US$ 6.6/t2 (vs. US$ 7.3/t in 2Q22) due to lower market premiums for low-alumina products and the absence of seasonal JV's dividends. The negative effect was partially offset by record contractual pellet premiums and an improved product portfolio quality mix with a larger share of blended products.
.
- Rainfall level: 31 mm at Serra Norte in 3Q22 (vs. 227 mm in 2Q22) and 36 mm at S11D in 3Q22 (vs. 237 mm in 2Q22).
- Iron ore premium of US$ 0.6/t and weighted average contribution of pellets of US$ 6.0/t.
2
Nickel operations | |
• Finished nickel production from | Nickel production (3Q22 vs. 2Q22) |
Sudbury sourced ore rose 5.1 kt | |
q/q, reaching 12.2 kt, the highest | |
production level since 1Q21. |
This was mainly due to a strong performance at Copper Cliff
Refinery after scheduled maintenance during 2Q22.
- Finished nickel production from Thompson sourced ore increased 35% q/q, as 2Q22 was impacted by scheduled maintenance at Long Harbour Refinery.
- Finished nickel production from Voisey's Bay sourced ore was 1.8 kt lower q/q as we proceed with the ongoing transitional period between the depletion of Ovoid mine and ramp-upto full production of the Voisey's Bay underground project.
- Finished nickel production from third parties increased 3.1 kt q/q as refineries returned to full operation after maintenance in 2Q22. Consumption of feed from third parties is expected to remain at higher levels than in recent years, aiming to maximize the utilization and performance of our downstream operations.
- Finished nickel production from Indonesia sourced material was 10.1 kt higher q/q, in line with the 39% increase to 17.5 kt in Nickel in matte production following completion of the furnace 4 rebuild. In addition, both downstream refineries, Clydach and Matsusaka, performed well during the quarter after maintenance during 2Q22.
- Onça Puma continued to perform well, with nickel production increasing 8% q/q. The annual maintenance of the kiln is scheduled in 4Q22.
- Nickel sales were 13% higher q/q but lower than 3Q22 production. This reflected (i) inventory buildup to meet sales commitments during planned maintenance at Long Harbour and Matsusaka in 4Q22; (ii) logistics issues at Onça Puma resulting from low availability of containerships at Vila do Conde during the quarter; and (iii) shipping congestion at UK ports impacting Clydach. Nickel sales are expected to revert in 4Q22.
3
Copper operations
• Sossego copper production was 13.3 kt Copper production (3Q22 vs. 2Q22) higher q/q following the conclusion of extended
SAG mill maintenance in June. The y/y performance was negatively impacted by corrective maintenance at the plant in September, which continued into 4Q22.
-
Salobo copper production increased 5.1 kt
q/q, despite additional planned and corrective maintenance performed in 3Q22. Consistent with our focus on plant reliability, planned maintenance activities will continue in 4Q22. - Copper production in Canada was flat q/q, as planned maintenance in Sudbury mines and mill in the quarter was offset by (i) the recovery of metal from copper precipitate holding facilities in Thompson, as part of our approach to sustainable mining; (ii) stable performance at Voisey's Bay mill following planned maintenance in 2Q22; and (iii) higher copper produced from third-party feed, consistent with increased third-party feed consumption.
- Copper sales3 were higher q/q, in line with higher production.
3 Sales volumes are lower compared to production volumes due to payable copper vs. contained copper: part of the copper contained in the concentrates is lost in the smelting and refining process, hence payable quantities of copper are approximately 3.5% lower than contained volumes.
4
ANNEX - Production and sales summary
Iron ore
% change | ||||||||||
000' metric tons | 3Q22 | 2Q22 | 3Q21 | 9M22 | 9M21 | 3Q22/2Q22 | 3Q22/3Q21 | 9M22/9M21 | ||
Northern System | 49,652 | 39,073 | 53,020 | 126,457 | 138,814 | 27.1% | -6.4% | -8.9% | ||
Serra Norte and Serra Leste | 30,678 | 22,548 | 31,961 | 75,812 | 84,177 | 36.1% | -4.0% | -9.9% | ||
S11D | 18,974 | 16,525 | 21,059 | 50,646 | 54,637 | 14.8% | -9.9% | -7.3% | ||
Southeastern System | 19,725 | 19,557 | 19,532 | 54,237 | 51,121 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 6.1% | ||
Itabira (Cauê, Conceição | 7,017 | 7,061 | 7,795 | 20,276 | 20,709 | -0.6% | -10.0% | -2.1% | ||
and others) | ||||||||||
Minas Centrais (Brucutu | 5,845 | 5,950 | 5,696 | 15,364 | 14,642 | -1.8% | 2.6% | 4.9% | ||
and others) | ||||||||||
Mariana (Alegria, | 6,864 | 6,547 | 6,041 | 18,599 | 15,770 | 4.8% | 13.6% | 17.9% | ||
Timbopeba and others) | ||||||||||
Southern System
Paraopeba (Mutuca, Fábrica and others) Vargem Grande (Vargem Grande, Pico and others)
20,324 | 15,477 | 16,138 | 46,244 | 41,287 | 31.3% | 25.9% | 12.0% |
10,725 | 6,968 | 6,867 | 21,703 | 18,083 | 53.9% | 56.2% | 20.0% |
9,599 | 8,510 | 9,271 | 24,541 | 23,204 | 12.8% | 3.5% | 5.8% |
IRON ORE PRODUCTION1 | 89,701 | 74,108 | 88,689 | 226,937 | 231,222 | 21.0% | 1.1% | -1.9% |
IRON ORE SALES2 | 69,0493 | 64,318 | 66,725 | 185,713 | 190,631 | 7.4% | 3.5% | -2.6% |
IRON ORE AND PELLETS | 77,569 | 73,161 | 74,762 | 210,088 | 212,586 | 6.0% | 3.8% | -1.2% |
SALES2 | ||||||||
- Including third party purchases, run -of-mine and feed for pelletizing plants. Excluding Midwestern System volumes. Vale's product portfolio Fe content reached 62.1%, alumina 1.4% and silica 6.4% in 3Q22.
- Including third-party purchases and run -of-mine. Excluding Midwestern System volumes .
- Run-of-minesales totalled 3.7 Mt in 3Q22.
Pellets
% change | ||||||||
000' metric tons | 3Q22 | 2Q22 | 3Q21 | 9M22 | 9M21 | 3Q22/2Q22 | 3Q22/3Q21 | 9M22/9M21 |
Northern System | 899 | 836 | 1,020 | 2,473 | 2,729 | 7.5% | -11.9% | -9.4% |
São Luis | 899 | 836 | 1,020 | 2,473 | 2,729 | 7.5% | -11.9% | -9.4% |
Southeastern System | 3,284 | 4,088 | 4,357 | 11,061 | 11,930 | -19.7% | -24.6% | -7.3% |
Itabrasco (Tubarão 3) | 525 | 930 | 972 | 1,765 | 2,297 | -43.5% | -46.0% | -23.2% |
Hispanobras (Tubarão 4) | - | - | - | - | 169 | - | - | -100.0% |
Nibrasco (Tubarão 5 and 6) | 349 | 921 | 1,069 | 2,334 | 2,742 | -62.1% | -67.4% | -14.9% |
Kobrasco (Tubarão 7) | 924 | 963 | 826 | 2,856 | 2,236 | -4.0% | 11.9% | 27.7% |
Tubarão 8 | 1,485 | 1,273 | 1,490 | 4,104 | 4,486 | 16.7% | -0.3% | -8.5% |
Southern System | 1,268 | 1,136 | 803 | 3,083 | 2,434 | 11.6% | 57.9% | 26.7% |
Fábrica | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Vargem Grande | 1,268 | 1,136 | 803 | 3,083 | 2,434 | 11.6% | 57.9% | 26.7% |
Oman | 2,805 | 2,612 | 2,161 | 7,235 | 5,544 | 7.4% | 29.8% | 30.5% |
PELLETS PRODUCTION | 8,256 | 8,672 | 8,341 | 23,852 | 22,637 | -4.8% | -1.0% | 5.4% |
PELLETS SALES | 8,521 | 8,843 | 8,037 | 24,375 | 21,955 | -3.6% | 6.0% | 11.0% |
Nickel - Finished production by source
% change | ||||||||
000' metric tons | 3Q22 | 2Q22 | 3Q21 | 9M22 | 9M21 | 3Q22/2Q22 | 3Q22/3Q21 | 9M22/9M21 |
Canada | 20.0 | 16.1 | 12.4 | 55.1 | 58.0 | 24.2% | 61.3% | -5.0% |
Sudbury1 | 12.2 | 7.1 | 2.4 | 27.9 | 23.4 | 71.8% | 408.3% | 19.2% |
Thompson | 2.7 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 7.7 | 4.8 | 35.0% | 350.0% | 60.4% |
Voisey's Bay | 5.1 | 6.9 | 9.4 | 19.5 | 29.8 | -26.1% | -45.7% | -34.6% |
Indonesia | 19.2 | 9.1 | 15.1 | 45.9 | 45.0 | 111.0% | 27.2% | 2.0% |
Brazil | 6.8 | 6.3 | 2.2 | 18.5 | 13.7 | 7.9% | 209.1% | 35.0% |
Feed from third-parties2 | 5.8 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 12.3 | 3.5 | 114.8% | 866.7% | 251.4% |
NICKEL PRODUCTION | 51.8 | 34.2 | 30.2 | 131.8 | 120.2 | 51.5% | 71.5% | 9.7% |
NICKEL SALES | 44.3 | 39.3 | 41.8 | 122.6 | 137.1 | 12.7% | 6.0% | -10.6% |
- Sudbury nickel production in 2Q22 was restated from 7.7 kt.
- External feed purchased from third parties and processed into finished nickel in our Canadian operations.
5
This is an excerpt of the original content. To continue reading it, access the original document here.
Attachments
- Original Link
- Original Document
- Permalink
Disclaimer
Vale SA published this content on 17 October 2022 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 17 October 2022 22:01:58 UTC.