Table of Contents

 

 

 

United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the month of

 

October 2012

 

Vale S.A.

 

Avenida Graça Aranha, No. 26
20030-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

(Address of principal executive office)

 

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)

 

(Check One) Form 20-F  x  Form 40-F  o

 

(Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1))

 

(Check One) Yes  o  No  x

 

(Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7))

 

(Check One) Yes  o  No  x

 

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

 

(Check One) Yes  o  No  x

 

(If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b). 82-    .)

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

Table of Contents:

 

Press Release

Signature Page

 



Table of Contents

 

3Q12 Production Report

 

FACING THE CHALLENGES

 

Rio de Janeiro, October 17, 2012 — Vale S.A. (Vale) delivered a solid operational performance in 3Q12, dealing successfully with a challenging environment through operational flexibility and our wealthy endowment of mineral resources.

 

Production of iron ore in 3Q12 was 83.9 Mt(1), 4.2% above 2Q12, with gains in all mining sites.  Over the last twelve-month period ended on September 30, 2012 output reached 317.4 Mt.

 

Pre-stripping in the N5 South mine in Carajás was initiated in 1H12 and production is expected to start by the end of the year. It has over one billion metric tons in proven and probable reserves with an average Fe content of 67.1%. The mine will contribute to improve the quality of our iron ore supply in the coming years, thus enhancing one of our main competitive advantages in the global marketplace.

 

As previously disclosed, we are reallocating an additional portion of our iron ore production from the pelletizing process to the supply of sinter feed. This is to come in line with the cyclical behavior of the demand for raw materials by the steel industry, which is for more sinter feed and less blast furnace pellets at this stage of the cycle.

 

To implement the change, operations at the São Luís, Tubarão I and Tubarao II pellet plants are being temporarily halted.

 

The ramp-up of Moatize and Bayóvar led to all-time quarterly output figures for metallurgical coal, at 1.2 Mt, and phosphate rock, 2.1 Mt.

 

On October 4, the Lubambe operations — the Konkola North project — produced the first copper concentrate.  It is located in the African Copperbelt, Zambia, and is our second project to start-up in the natural resources-rich African continent.

 

The Lubambe operations, which are controlled by a 50%-owned JV, have an estimated nominal capacity to produce 45,000 t of copper in concentrates per year.

 

Production

 

000’ metric tons

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change

 

Iron ore(a)

 

239,687

 

234,462

 

-2.2

%

Pellets(a)

 

41,473

 

42,978

 

3.6

%

Manganese

 

1,799

 

1,697

 

-5.7

%

Coal

 

2,100

 

5,131

 

144.4

%

Nickel

 

173

 

173

 

0.0

%

Copper

 

217

 

211

 

-3.0

%

Potash

 

445

 

387

 

-13.0

%

Phosphate rock

 

5,526

 

5,921

 

7.2

%

 


(a) Including Samarco’s attributable production.

 

(1) Mt = million metric tons, t = metric tons

 

1



Table of Contents

 

BULK MATERIALS

 

·        Iron ore

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IRON ORE

 

87,890

 

80,542

 

83,926

 

239,687

 

234,462

 

4.2

%

-4.5

%

-2.2

%

Northern System

 

30,894

 

27,362

 

27,635

 

79,563

 

76,708

 

1.0

%

-10.5

%

-3.6

%

Carajás

 

30,894

 

27,362

 

27,635

 

79,563

 

76,708

 

1.0

%

-10.5

%

-3.6

%

Southeastern System

 

31,297

 

28,296

 

30,144

 

90,518

 

85,198

 

6.5

%

-3.7

%

-5.9

%

Itabira

 

10,919

 

9,184

 

10,302

 

30,499

 

27,640

 

12.2

%

-5.6

%

-9.4

%

Mariana

 

9,923

 

9,080

 

9,099

 

29,158

 

27,518

 

0.2

%

-8.3

%

-5.6

%

Minas Centrais

 

10,455

 

10,032

 

10,743

 

30,862

 

30,040

 

7.1

%

2.8

%

-2.7

%

Southern System

 

21,200

 

20,743

 

21,485

 

57,475

 

59,895

 

3.6

%

1.3

%

4.2

%

Minas Itabirito

 

7,917

 

7,993

 

7,938

 

22,785

 

23,277

 

-0.7

%

0.3

%

2.2

%

Vargem Grande

 

6,168

 

5,950

 

6,308

 

16,410

 

17,058

 

6.0

%

2.3

%

3.9

%

Paraopeba

 

7,115

 

6,800

 

7,239

 

18,280

 

19,560

 

6.5

%

1.7

%

7.0

%

Midwestern System

 

1,642

 

1,366

 

1,871

 

3,973

 

4,539

 

37.0

%

14.0

%

14.3

%

Corumbá

 

1,203

 

915

 

1,376

 

2,840

 

3,266

 

50.4

%

14.3

%

15.0

%

Urucum

 

439

 

451

 

495

 

1,133

 

1,273

 

9.8

%

12.9

%

12.4

%

Samarco(1)

 

2,858

 

2,775

 

2,791

 

8,158

 

8,121

 

0.5

%

-2.4

%

-0.4

%

 


(1)  Vale’s attributable production capacity of 50%.

 

Iron ore production in 3Q12 was 83.9 Mt, 4.2% higher than 2Q12 with gains in all mining sites. Over the last twelve-month period ended on September 30, 2012, our iron ore output reached 317.4 Mt.

 

At Carajás we have not been able to match last year’s performance. Production was 27.6 Mt in 3Q12, slightly higher than 2Q12, but 10.5% below the same period last year. Issues with environmental permitting led to the continuation of mining in some older pits, which has entailed lower productivity, lower Fe content and higher costs.

 

Current performance is definitely not consistent with the high quality of our assets and corrective measures are underway.

 

Given the improvement in our application process for environmental licenses, we obtained a significant increase in the number of permits this year — 52 until the end of September —  more than twice as many as last year. These involve various logistics, iron ore and manganese mining operations in Brazil and are critical to the continuation of our regular production activities. Among them, the most important ones were the preliminary license for the Serra Sul S11D project and the operation license for the N5 South mine.

 

N5 South, with 1.025 billion metric tons of proven and probable reserves and an average Fe content of 67.1%, is expected to begin production by year-end.  It is estimated to provide some 25% of the run-of-mine (ROM) ores to be extracted from Carajas in 2013, boosting quality while leading to lower operating costs.

 

The Southeastern System, which encompasses the Itabira, Mariana and Minas Centrais mining sites, had a good operational performance, producing 30.1 Mt, 6.5% higher than 2Q12. Production from Itabira was 12.2% higher on a quarterly basis due to complete recovery after the intense rainy season in the beginning of the year.  Improvements in the crushing process of Minas Centrais allowed for a 7.1% quarter-on-quarter increase and 2.8% year-on-year.

 

2



Table of Contents

 

Output of the Southern System — Minas Itabirito, Vargem Grande and Paraopeba — totaled 21.5 Mt, showing the best performance for a third quarter since 3Q08, reflecting continuous improvements at Vargem Grande and the optimization of operations at Paraopeba. Production at Vargem Grande and Paraopeba expanded by 6.0% and 6.5%, respectively, on a quarter-on-quarter basis.  Output at Minas Itabirito remained stable, at 7.9 Mt.

 

The Midwestern System — Urucum and Corumbá mining sites — reached its highest quarterly figure, producing 1.9 Mt in 3Q12. Production rose 37.0% on a quarter-over-quarter basis and 14.0% on a year-over-year basis, due to operational improvements in both Corumbá and Urucum. Output from Corumbá showed a quarter-on-quarter increase of 50.4%, recovering from the lower level of 2Q12, which was caused by a maintenance stoppage.

 

·     Pellets

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PELLETS

 

14,770

 

14,802

 

14,962

 

41,473

 

42,978

 

1.1

%

1.3

%

3.6

%

Tubarão I and II

 

1,561

 

1,530

 

1,461

 

4,337

 

4,053

 

-4.5

%

-6.4

%

-6.6

%

Fábrica

 

1,033

 

956

 

945

 

2,972

 

2,808

 

-1.2

%

-8.5

%

-5.5

%

São Luís

 

1,328

 

1,373

 

1,131

 

4,014

 

3,465

 

-17.6

%

-14.8

%

-13.7

%

Vargem Grande

 

970

 

1,383

 

1,276

 

3,567

 

3,482

 

-7.8

%

31.5

%

-2.4

%

Oman

 

1,155

 

1,593

 

1,845

 

1,490

 

4,853

 

15.8

%

59.8

%

225.6

%

Nibrasco

 

2,514

 

1,977

 

2,335

 

7,213

 

6,569

 

18.1

%

-7.1

%

-8.9

%

Kobrasco

 

1,167

 

1,258

 

1,197

 

3,390

 

3,595

 

-4.8

%

2.6

%

6.0

%

Hispanobras(1)

 

1,098

 

1,111

 

1,022

 

3,232

 

3,194

 

-8.0

%

-7.0

%

-1.2

%

Itabrasco

 

1,102

 

1,020

 

985

 

3,257

 

3,024

 

-3.4

%

-10.6

%

-7.2

%

Samarco(2)

 

2,841

 

2,599

 

2,766

 

8,000

 

7,935

 

6.4

%

-2.6

%

-0.8

%

 


(1) Production attributable to Vale on a pro forma basis. In July 2012, we entered into a leasing contract for the Hispanobras pelletizing operation. As a consequence, their production is being consolidated 100% on a pro forma basis.

(2) Vale’s attributable production capacity of 50%.

 

The slowdown in global GDP and in particular global industrial production has weakened the demand for steel, stimulating a cyclical change in its consumption of key raw materials, ultimately implying lower premia for higher quality iron ore and partial replacement of the use of blast furnace pellets by sinter feed.

 

In response to this cyclical movement, the pace of operating activity at some of our pellet plants - Tubarão I & II, São Luís, Vargem Grande, Kobrasco, Hispanobras and Itabrasco — was moderated during 3Q12. Following that,  we decided to shut down Tubarao I & II and Sao Luis, giving room to expand the availability of ROM to produce sinter feed.

 

As a result of a steady regional demand, the Oman operations delivered 1.8 Mt of direct reduction pellets, rising 15.8% on a quarter-on-quarter basis, due to increased production efficiency.

 

Fábrica produced 945,000 t, a volume that still reflects the impact of a shortage in pellet feed availability from the Southern System mines. Output was 1.2% lower than 2Q12 and 8.5% below 3Q11.

 

Production from the two Nibrasco plants and the three Samarco plants (attributable production) recovered after the maintenance stoppages in the previous quarter, reaching 2.3 Mt and 2.8 Mt, respectively.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

·                        Manganese ore and ferroalloys

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MANGANESE ORE

 

681

 

584

 

629

 

1,799

 

1,697

 

7.6

%

-7.7

%

-5.7

%

Azul

 

535

 

463

 

497

 

1,437

 

1,339

 

7.2

%

-7.2

%

-6.8

%

Urucum

 

88

 

81

 

86

 

222

 

234

 

6.0

%

-1.6

%

5.5

%

Other mines

 

59

 

39

 

46

 

139

 

123

 

16.2

%

-22.0

%

-11.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FERROALLOYS

 

103

 

109

 

116

 

330

 

331

 

6.2

%

12.9

%

0.3

%

Brazil

 

51

 

46

 

52

 

155

 

148

 

11.8

%

1.3

%

-4.8

%

Dunkerque

 

27

 

35

 

40

 

101

 

104

 

13.7

%

45.6

%

3.2

%

Mo I Rana

 

24

 

28

 

25

 

74

 

79

 

-12.4

%

0.8

%

7.1

%

 

In 3Q12, manganese ore production increased 7.6% on a quarter-on-quarter basis, reaching 629,000 t versus 584,000 t in 2Q12.

 

The production of Azul was 7.2% higher than 2Q12, as a result of greater equipment availability.

 

Urucum output also had a better performance, rising 6.0% over 2Q12, reflecting enhancement of operational controls.

 

Morro da Mina, which is part of “other mines”, had an output increase of 16.2% over 2Q12, recovering partially from the ongoing waste removal efforts.

 

Ferroalloy quarterly production was comprised of 58,500 t of ferrosilicon manganese alloys (FeSiMn), 52,800 t of high-carbon manganese alloys (FeMnHc) and 4,400 t of medium-carbon manganese alloys (FeMnMC).

 

In 3Q12, ferroalloy production increased 6.2% against 2Q12, due to operational improvements in the furnaces of the plants located in Brazil and in Dunkerque, France.

 

The production of Mo I Rana was slightly higher than 3Q11 and 12.4% lower than 2Q12, mainly due to stoppage for maintenance and electrode disruption.

 

The transaction to sell the European ferroalloys operations — Dunkerque and Mo I Rana — is still pending the fulfillment of certain precedent conditions.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

·                        Coal

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

METALLURGICAL COAL

 

586

 

1,277

 

1,209

 

1,592

 

3,612

 

-5.3

%

106.4

%

126.9

%

Moatize

 

0

 

728

 

624

 

0

 

1,853

 

-14.3

%

n.m.

 

n.m.

 

Carborough Downs

 

277

 

82

 

131

 

876

 

537

 

60.2

%

-52.7

%

-38.6

%

Integra Coal

 

82

 

266

 

285

 

297

 

675

 

7.1

%

249.7

%

127.2

%

Others

 

227

 

201

 

169

 

419

 

547

 

-15.9

%

-25.6

%

30.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THERMAL COAL

 

321

 

619

 

524

 

507

 

1,518

 

-15.5

%

63.3

%

199.4

%

Moatize

 

130

 

390

 

365

 

130

 

948

 

-6.4

%

181.7

%

631.8

%

Integra Coal

 

107

 

121

 

78

 

203

 

280

 

-36.0

%

-27.5

%

37.8

%

Others

 

84

 

108

 

81

 

175

 

291

 

-25.1

%

-3.4

%

66.4

%

 

In 3Q12, Vale’s coal output reached 1.7 Mt, 8.6% below the previous quarter, mainly due to the slower pace of the ramp-up of Moatize. The production of metallurgical coal totaled 1.2 Mt, an all-time high for a third quarter, while the output of thermal coal was 524,000 t.

 

The ramp-up of the first phase of the Moatize coal project, in Tete, Mozambique, was decelerated due to constraints in logistics. Capacity at the Linha do Sena railway is expected to be expanded in 4Q12, as the enhancement in track signaling was completed, allowing for faster train speed and transportation of larger volumes of metallurgical coal production by year-end.

 

Output of hard coking coal and thermal coal at Moatize was 624,000 t and 365,000 t, respectively, in 3Q12. There was a slight increase in the share of thermal coal in total output, to 37% from 35% in 2Q12, as metallurgical coal cannot be kept in inventory for a long period due to the risk of losing quality.

 

Production of metallurgical and thermal coal at Integra Coal in Australia was 285,000 t and 78,000 t, respectively, in 3Q12. Metallurgical coal output increased from the previous quarter due to continuous improvement in geological conditions in both the underground and open cut operations. There was a striking increase compared to 3Q11, when production was impacted by the longwall move, which started in 2Q11. Thermal coal output decreased to 78,000 t, from 121,000 t in 2Q12.

 

Operations at Carborough Downs were resumed at the end of August, after the stoppage determined by the detection of abnormal levels of carbon monoxide in the mine. Output reached 131,000 t versus 82,000 t in 2Q12 as the operation is still ramping up.

 

Coal production at other mines totaled 169,000 t of metallurgical coal and 81,000 t of thermal coal.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

BASE METALS

 

·                        Nickel

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nickel

 

58

 

61

 

49

 

173

 

173

 

-19.8

%

-15.7

%

0.0

%

Sudbury

 

16

 

17

 

10

 

40

 

50

 

-42.0

%

-35.7

%

24.2

%

Thompson

 

4

 

7

 

5

 

19

 

18

 

-24.2

%

25.1

%

-5.6

%

Voisey’s Bay

 

16

 

15

 

14

 

48

 

43

 

-2.8

%

-11.4

%

-9.0

%

Sorowako

 

16

 

17

 

17

 

53

 

46

 

0.9

%

5.9

%

-12.6

%

VNC

 

1

 

2

 

0

 

4

 

4

 

-84.0

%

-77.4

%

19.8

%

Onça Puma

 

2

 

2

 

0

 

4

 

6

 

-84.7

%

-88.3

%

63.5

%

Others(1)

 

2

 

2

 

2

 

6

 

5

 

13.3

%

-22.1

%

-14.4

%

 


(1) External feed purchased from third parties and processed into finished nickel in our operations

 

In 3Q12, total finished nickel production was 48,900 t, decreasing by 19.8% against the previous quarter. The output reduction was caused by the scheduled maintenance of most of the Sudbury and Thompson mines during the summer in the Northern Hemisphere - when the demand for nickel is seasonally weak - and the operational issues at VNC and Onça Puma.

 

Finished nickel production from Sudbury was 10,100 t, 42.0% lower than 2Q12.

 

At Thompson the planned maintenance shutdown involved the entire operation —  mine, smelter and refinery. Production in 3Q12 was 5,100 t, down 24.2% from 2Q12 but 25.1% higher than 3Q11.

 

Production sourced from nickel concentrates produced at the Voisey’s Bay operations was slightly below 2Q12, totaling 14,300 t, as a consequence of the maintenance at the Thompson refinery.

 

Finished nickel production sourced from our Indonesian operations at Sorowako, 17,000 t, was in line with 2Q12, and 5.9% higher than 3Q11.

 

The operations of VNC were resumed in September. The HPAL (high pressure acid leaching) operations were re-started and the refining sections began ramping up using imported acid. Repairs to the acid plant and the installation of the refining columns of the solvent extraction circuit are being concluded and we expect to produce nickel hydroxide cake, cobalt and nickel oxide from 4Q12 onwards.

 

The Onça Puma operations remained shut down during 3Q12 due to problems with its two furnaces. The return to activity will not take place in 4Q12 and as yet is not scheduled.

 

6



Table of Contents

 

·     Copper

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COPPER

 

84

 

70

 

68

 

217

 

211

 

-3.6

%

-19.9

%

-3.0

%

Sossego

 

31

 

28

 

29

 

76

 

82

 

3.9

%

-5.3

%

7.9

%

Sudbury

 

26

 

22

 

14

 

74

 

60

 

-34.9

%

-45.8

%

-18.6

%

Thompson

 

1

 

1

 

0

 

1

 

2

 

-57.2

%

-39.4

%

76.0

%

Voisey’s Bay

 

13

 

8

 

9

 

37

 

28

 

17.8

%

-28.9

%

-24.3

%

Tres Valles

 

2

 

3

 

3

 

6

 

10

 

-7.0

%

35.2

%

86.6

%

Others

 

11

 

8

 

11

 

23

 

27

 

42.5

%

0.2

%

20.2

%

 

Copper production in 3Q12 was 67,500 t, 3.6% below 2Q12, primarily due to maintenance stoppages in the Sudbury and Thompson mines.

 

Output from our Canadian operations, excluding copper ore purchased from third parties, was 23,900 t, decreasing 22.1% on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

 

Production of copper in concentrates from the Sossego mine at Carajás totaled 29,100 t, with a slight increase over 2Q12, but 5.3% smaller than in 3Q11. Lower mine output and feed grades received by the processing plant caused the drop in output.

 

Output at Tres Valles, in Chile, was 3,200 t of copper cathode, 7.0% below the previous quarter, but 35.2% above 3Q11 as a result of the ramp-up to nominal capacity.

 

Tres Valles is still experiencing operational and mechanical issues while coming to full production.

 

On October 4, the Lubambe copper operations — the Konkola North project — produced the first concentrate. Lubambe is a 50%-owned JV in the African Copperbelt, with an estimated nominal capacity of 45,000 t of copper in concentrates.

 

7



Table of Contents

 

·     Nickel and copper by-products

 

 

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COBALT (metric tons)

 

667

 

693

 

409

 

1,888

 

1,693

 

-41.0

%

-38,8

%

-10.3

%

Sudbury

 

248

 

166

 

112

 

346

 

485

 

-32.5

%

-54.7

%

40.1

%

Thompson

 

34

 

22

 

29

 

127

 

73

 

31.5

%

-15.3

%

-42.2

%

Voisey’s Bay

 

300

 

316

 

252

 

1,137

 

878

 

-20.3

%

-16.0

%

-22.8

%

VNC

 

58

 

177

 

0

 

194

 

217

 

-100.0

%

-100.0

%

11.7

%

Others

 

27

 

11

 

15

 

83

 

40

 

40.0

%

-43.2

%

-51.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLATINUM (000’ oz troy)

 

25

 

39

 

35

 

133

 

113

 

-9.2

%

39.8

%

-15.4

%

Sudbury

 

25

 

39

 

35

 

133

 

113

 

-9.2

%

39.8

%

-15.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PALLADIUM (000’ oz troy)

 

40

 

66

 

71

 

184

 

196

 

7.7

%

79.5

%

6.7

%

Sudbury

 

40

 

66

 

71

 

184

 

196

 

7.7

%

79.5

%

6.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOLD (000’ oz troy)

 

45

 

36

 

46

 

137

 

117

 

27.6

%

-13.9

%

-14.7

%

Sudbury

 

23

 

18

 

18

 

79

 

55

 

1.7

%

-22.1

%

-29.9

%

Sossego

 

22

 

18

 

21

 

58

 

55

 

14.5

%

-5.1

%

-6.2

%

Others

 

0

 

0

 

7

 

0

 

7

 

n.m

 

n.m

 

n.m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SILVER (000’ oz troy)

 

572

 

567

 

461

 

1,853

 

1,622

 

-18.7

%

-19.5

%

-12.4

%

Sudbury

 

572

 

567

 

461

 

1,853

 

1,622

 

-18.7

%

-19.5

%

-12.4

%

 

Cobalt production decreased to 409 t, 41.0% below 2Q12 and 38.8% lower than 3Q11, mainly due to a maintenance stoppage in the Canadian operations and the issues at VNC.

 

Platinum output decreased by 9.2%, reaching 35,000 oz, while palladium was 7.7% up quarter-on-quarter. Gold production was 46,000 oz in 3Q12 and 117,000 oz in 9M12.

 

8



Table of Contents

 

FERTILIZER NUTRIENTS

 

·     Potash

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POTASH

 

166

 

129

 

141

 

445

 

387

 

9.5

%

-15.4

%

-13.0

%

Taquari-Vassouras

 

166

 

129

 

141

 

445

 

387

 

9.5

%

-15.4

%

-13.0

%

 

·     Phosphates

 

 

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOSPHATE ROCK

 

1,925

 

2,017

 

2,078

 

5,526

 

5,921

 

3.1

%

8.0

%

7.2

%

Brazil

 

1,274

 

1,237

 

1,235

 

3,694

 

3,584

 

-0.2

%

-3.0

%

-3.0

%

Bayóvar

 

651

 

779

 

843

 

1,832

 

2,337

 

8.2

%

29.5

%

27.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAP(1)

 

217

 

286

 

297

 

557

 

894

 

3.9

%

36.9

%

60.4

%

TSP(2)

 

199

 

213

 

212

 

607

 

666

 

-0.4

%

6.7

%

9.7

%

SSP(3)

 

777

 

507

 

648

 

1,989

 

1,639

 

27.8

%

-16.6

%

-17.6

%

DCP(4) 

 

154

 

136

 

119

 

469

 

399

 

-12.8

%

-22.9

%

-15.0

%

 


(1) Monoammonium phosphate

(2) Triple superphosphate

(3) Single superphosphate

(4) Dicalcium phosphate

 

Production of potash was 141,000 t in 3Q12, 9.5% higher than 2Q12 but 15.4% lower when compared to 3Q11. The quarterly output increase reflected the continuous improvement in infrastructure, the acquisition of equipment and the higher grade of the ore.

 

In 3Q12, total production of phosphate rock, which is used as feed for the production of phosphate nutrients, had a slight increase of 3.1% over 2Q12, achieving a new record, as a reflection of the ramp-up of Bayóvar. Output from Brazilian operations was in line with 2Q12.

 

The production of MAP (monoammonium phosphate) totaled 297,000 t, increasing 3.9% quarter-over-quarter and 36.9% year-over-year, having recovered from the maintenance stoppage in the previous quarter and reflecting the implementation of Phase III of Uberaba.

 

TSP (triple superphosphate) production increased by 6.7% on a year-over-year basis reflecting higher availability of sulphuric acid. On a quarterly basis, TSP output was in line with last quarter.

 

In 3Q12, the production of SSP (single superphosphate) was 27.8% higher than 2Q12, showing continuous improvement after the maintenance stoppages in the Catalão and Cubatão units, which took place in May 2012.

 

DCP (dicalcium phosphate) production was 12.8% lower when compared to 2Q12, reflecting production adjustments due to weaker demand.

 

9



Table of Contents

 

·     Nitrogen

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMMONIA

 

138

 

101

 

99

 

463

 

332

 

-2.6

%

-28.6

%

-28.3

%

UREA

 

134

 

143

 

90

 

468

 

340

 

-37.3

%

-33.1

%

-27.5

%

NITRIC ACID

 

117

 

120

 

123

 

345

 

361

 

2.6

%

4.8

%

4.5

%

AMMONIUM NITRATE

 

114

 

124

 

128

 

331

 

370

 

3.4

%

12.1

%

11.9

%

 

In 3Q12, ammonia production decreased by 2.6% on a quarter-over-quarter basis, as a result of continuing low availability of steam from the Araucária refinery. Urea production was 37.3% lower when compared to 2Q12, due to a scheduled equipment maintenance stoppage, which took place in August 2012.

 

On a quarterly basis, the output of nitric acid and ammonium nitrate rose 2.6% and 3.4%, respectively.

 

10



Table of Contents

 

BULK MATERIALS

 

Iron ore

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

IRON ORE

 

87,890

 

80,542

 

83,926

 

239,687

 

234,462

 

4.2

%

-4.5

%

-2.2

%

Northern System

 

30,894

 

27,362

 

27,635

 

79,563

 

76,708

 

1.0

%

-10.5

%

-3.6

%

Carajás

 

30,894

 

27,362

 

27,635

 

79,563

 

76,708

 

1.0

%

-10.5

%

-3.6

%

Southeastern System

 

31,297

 

28,296

 

30,144

 

90,518

 

85,198

 

6.5

%

-3.7

%

-5.9

%

Itabira

 

10,919

 

9,184

 

10,302

 

30,499

 

27,640

 

12.2

%

-5.6

%

-9.4

%

Mariana

 

9,923

 

9,080

 

9,099

 

29,158

 

27,518

 

0.2

%

-8.3

%

-5.6

%

Minas Centrais

 

10,455

 

10,032

 

10,743

 

30,862

 

30,040

 

7.1

%

2.8

%

-2.7

%

Southern System

 

21,200

 

20,743

 

21,485

 

57,475

 

59,895

 

3.6

%

1.3

%

4.2

%

Minas Itabirito

 

7,917

 

7,993

 

7,938

 

22,785

 

23,277

 

-0.7

%

0.3

%

2.2

%

Vargem Grande

 

6,168

 

5,950

 

6,308

 

16,410

 

17,058

 

6.0

%

2.3

%

3.9

%

Paraopeba

 

7,115

 

6,800

 

7,239

 

18,280

 

19,560

 

6.5

%

1.7

%

7.0

%

Midwestern System

 

1,642

 

1,366

 

1,871

 

3,973

 

4,539

 

37.0

%

14.0

%

14.3

%

Corumbá

 

1,203

 

915

 

1,376

 

2,840

 

3,266

 

50.4

%

14.3

%

15.0

%

Urucum

 

439

 

451

 

495

 

1,133

 

1,273

 

9.8

%

12.9

%

12.4

%

Samarco(1)

 

2,858

 

2,775

 

2,791

 

8,158

 

8,121

 

0.5

%

-2.4

%

-0.4

%

 


(1)  Vale’s attributable production capacity of 50%.

 

Pellets

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

PELLETS

 

14,770

 

14,802

 

14,962

 

41,473

 

42,978

 

1.1

%

1.3

%

3.6

%

Tubarão I and II

 

1,561

 

1,530

 

1,461

 

4,337

 

4,053

 

-4.5

%

-6.4

%

-6.6

%

Fábrica

 

1,033

 

956

 

945

 

2,972

 

2,808

 

-1.2

%

-8.5

%

-5.5

%

São Luís

 

1,328

 

1,373

 

1,131

 

4,014

 

3,465

 

-17.6

%

-14.8

%

-13.7

%

Vargem Grande

 

970

 

1,383

 

1,276

 

3,567

 

3,482

 

-7.8

%

31.5

%

-2.4

%

Oman

 

1,155

 

1,593

 

1,845

 

1,490

 

4,853

 

15.8

%

59.8

%

225.6

%

Nibrasco

 

2,514

 

1,977

 

2,335

 

7,213

 

6,569

 

18.1

%

-7.1

%

-8.9

%

Kobrasco

 

1,167

 

1,258

 

1,197

 

3,390

 

3,595

 

-4.8

%

2.6

%

6.0

%

Hispanobras(1)

 

1,098

 

1,111

 

1,022

 

3,232

 

3,194

 

-8.0

%

-7.0

%

-1.2

%

Itabrasco

 

1,102

 

1,020

 

985

 

3,257

 

3,024

 

-3.4

%

-10.6

%

-7.2

%

Samarco(2)

 

2,841

 

2,599

 

2,766

 

8,000

 

7,935

 

6.4

%

-2.6

%

-0.8

%

 


(1)  Production attributable to Vale on a pro forma basis. On July, 2012, we entered into a leasing contract for the Hispanobras pelletizing operation. As a consequence, their production is being consolidated 100% on a pro forma basis.

(2)  Vale’s attributable production capacity of 50%.

 

Manganese ore and ferroalloys

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

MANGANESE ORE

 

681

 

584

 

629

 

1,799

 

1,697

 

7.6

%

-7.7

%

-5.7

%

Azul

 

535

 

463

 

497

 

1,437

 

1,339

 

7.2

%

-7.2

%

-6.8

%

Urucum

 

88

 

81

 

86

 

222

 

234

 

6.0

%

-1.6

%

5.5

%

Other mines

 

59

 

39

 

46

 

139

 

123

 

16.2

%

-22.0

%

-11.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FERROALLOYS

 

103

 

109

 

116

 

330

 

331

 

6.2

%

12.9

%

0.3

%

Brazil

 

51

 

46

 

52

 

155

 

148

 

11.8

%

1.3

%

-4.8

%

Dunkerque

 

27

 

35

 

40

 

101

 

104

 

13.7

%

45.6

%

3.2

%

Mo I Rana

 

24

 

28

 

25

 

74

 

79

 

-12.4

%

0.8

%

7.1

%

 

11



Table of Contents

 

Coal

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

METALLURGICAL COAL

 

586

 

1,277

 

1,209

 

1,592

 

3,612

 

-5.3

%

106.4

%

126.9

%

Moatize

 

0

 

728

 

624

 

0

 

1,853

 

-14.3

%

n.m.

 

n.m.

 

Carborough Downs

 

277

 

82

 

131

 

876

 

537

 

60.2

%

-52.7

%

-38.6

%

Integra Coal

 

82

 

266

 

285

 

297

 

675

 

7.1

%

249.7

%

127.2

%

Others

 

227

 

201

 

169

 

419

 

547

 

-15.9

%

-25.6

%

30.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THERMAL COAL

 

321

 

619

 

524

 

507

 

1,518

 

-15.5

%

63.3

%

199.4

%

Moatize

 

130

 

390

 

365

 

130

 

948

 

-6.4

%

181.7

%

631.8

%

Integra Coal

 

107

 

121

 

78

 

203

 

280

 

-36.0

%

-27.5

%

37.8

%

Others

 

84

 

108

 

81

 

175

 

291

 

-25.1

%

-3.4

%

66.4

%

 

BASE METALS

 

Nickel

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

Nickel

 

58

 

61

 

49

 

173

 

173

 

-19.8

%

-15.7

%

0.0

%

Sudbury

 

16

 

17

 

10

 

40

 

50

 

-42.0

%

-35.7

%

24.2

%

Thompson

 

4

 

7

 

5

 

19

 

18

 

-24.2

%

25.1

%

-5.6

%

Voisey’s Bay

 

16

 

15

 

14

 

48

 

43

 

-2.8

%

-11.4

%

-9.0

%

Sorowako

 

16

 

17

 

17

 

53

 

46

 

0.9

%

5.9

%

-12.6

%

VNC

 

1

 

2

 

0

 

4

 

4

 

-84.0

%

-77.4

%

19.8

%

Onça Puma

 

2

 

2

 

0

 

4

 

6

 

-84.7

%

-88.3

%

63.5

%

Others(1)

 

2

 

2

 

2

 

6

 

5

 

13.3

%

-22.1

%

-14.4

%

 


(1) External feed purchased from third parties and processed into finished nickel in our operations

 

Copper

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

COPPER

 

84

 

70

 

68

 

217

 

211

 

-3.6

%

-19.9

%

-3.0

%

Sossego

 

31

 

28

 

29

 

76

 

82

 

3.9

%

-5.3

%

7.9

%

Sudbury

 

26

 

22

 

14

 

74

 

60

 

-34.9

%

-45.8

%

-18.6

%

Thompson

 

1

 

1

 

0

 

1

 

2

 

-57.2

%

-39.4

%

76.0

%

Voisey’s Bay

 

13

 

8

 

9

 

37

 

28

 

17.8

%

-28.9

%

-24.3

%

Tres Valles

 

2

 

3

 

3

 

6

 

10

 

-7.0

%

35.2

%

86.6

%

Others

 

11

 

8

 

11

 

23

 

27

 

42.5

%

0.2

%

20.2

%

 

12



Table of Contents

 

Nickel and copper by-products

 

 

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COBALT (metric tons)

 

667

 

693

 

409

 

1,888

 

1,693

 

-41.0

%

-38,8

%

-10.3

%

Sudbury

 

248

 

166

 

112

 

346

 

485

 

-32.5

%

-54.7

%

40.1

%

Thompson

 

34

 

22

 

29

 

127

 

73

 

31.5

%

-15.3

%

-42.2

%

Voisey’s Bay

 

300

 

316

 

252

 

1,137

 

878

 

-20.3

%

-16.0

%

-22.8

%

VNC

 

58

 

177

 

0

 

194

 

217

 

-100.0

%

-100.0

%

11.7

%

Others

 

27

 

11

 

15

 

83

 

40

 

40.0

%

-43.2

%

-51.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLATINUM (000’ oz troy)

 

25

 

39

 

35

 

133

 

113

 

-9.2

%

39.8

%

-15.4

%

Sudbury

 

25

 

39

 

35

 

133

 

113

 

-9.2

%

39.8

%

-15.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PALLADIUM (000’ oz troy)

 

40

 

66

 

71

 

184

 

196

 

7.7

%

79.5

%

6.7

%

Sudbury

 

40

 

66

 

71

 

184

 

196

 

7.7

%

79.5

%

6.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOLD (000’ oz troy)

 

45

 

36

 

46

 

137

 

117

 

27.6

%

-13.9

%

-14.7

%

Sudbury

 

23

 

18

 

18

 

79

 

55

 

1.7

%

-22.1

%

-29.9

%

Sossego

 

22

 

18

 

21

 

58

 

55

 

14.5

%

-5.1

%

-6.2

%

Others

 

0

 

0

 

7

 

0

 

7

 

n.m

 

n.m

 

n.m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SILVER (000’ oz troy)

 

572

 

567

 

461

 

1,853

 

1,622

 

-18.7

%

-19.5

%

-12.4

%

Sudbury

 

572

 

567

 

461

 

1,853

 

1,622

 

-18.7

%

-19.5

%

-12.4

%

 

FERTILIZER NUTRIENTS

 

Potash

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

POTASH

 

166

 

129

 

141

 

445

 

387

 

9,5

%

-15.4

%

-13.0

%

Taquari-Vassouras

 

166

 

129

 

141

 

445

 

387

 

9,5

%

-15.4

%

-13.0

%

 

Phosphates

 

 

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

PHOSPHATE ROCK

 

1,925

 

2,017

 

2,078

 

5,526

 

5,921

 

3.1

%

8.0

%

7.2

%

Brazil

 

1,274

 

1,237

 

1,235

 

3,694

 

3,584

 

-0.2

%

-3.0

%

-3.0

%

Bayóvar

 

651

 

779

 

843

 

1,832

 

2,337

 

8.2

%

29.5

%

27.6

%

MAP(1)

 

217

 

286

 

297

 

557

 

894

 

3.9

%

36.9

%

60.4

%

TSP(2)

 

199

 

213

 

212

 

607

 

666

 

-0.4

%

6.7

%

9.7

%

SSP(3)

 

777

 

507

 

648

 

1,989

 

1,639

 

27.8

%

-16.6

%

-17.6

%

DCP(4) 

 

154

 

136

 

119

 

469

 

399

 

-12.8

%

-22.9

%

-15.0

%

 


(1) Monoammonium phosphate

(2) Triple superphosphate

(3) Single superphosphate

(4) Dicalcium phosphate

 

13



Table of Contents

 

Nitrogen

 

000’ metric tons

 

3Q11

 

2Q12

 

3Q12

 

9M11

 

9M12

 

% change
3Q12/2Q12

 

% change
3Q12/3Q11

 

% change
9M12/9M11

 

AMMONIA

 

138

 

101

 

99

 

463

 

332

 

-2.6

%

-28.6

%

-28.3

%

UREA

 

134

 

143

 

90

 

468

 

340

 

-37.3

%

-33.1

%

-27.5

%

NITRIC ACID

 

117

 

120

 

123

 

345

 

361

 

2.6

%

4.8

%

4.5

%

AMMONIUM NITRATE

 

114

 

124

 

128

 

331

 

370

 

3.4

%

12.1

%

11.9

%

 

For further information. please contact:

+55-21-3814-4540

Roberto Castello Branco: roberto.castello.branco@vale.com

Viktor Moszkowicz: viktor.moszkowicz@vale.com

Carla Albano Miller: carla.albano@vale.com

Andrea Gutman: andrea.gutman@vale.com

Christian Perlingiere: christian.perlingiere@vale.com

Marcio Loures Penna: marcio.penna@vale.com

Rafael Rondinelli: rafael.rondinelli@vale.com

Samantha Pons: samantha.pons@vale.com

 

This press release may include statements that present Vale’s expectations about future events or results.  All statements, when based upon expectations about the future and not on historical facts, involve various risks and uncertainties. Vale cannot guarantee that such statements will prove correct. These risks and uncertainties include factors related to the following: (a) the countries where we operate, especially Brazil and Canada; (b) the global economy; (c) the capital markets; (d) the mining and metals prices and their dependence on global industrial production, which is cyclical by nature; and (e) global competition in the markets in which Vale operates. To obtain further information on factors that may lead to results different from those forecast by Vale, please consult the reports Vale files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Brazilian Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM), the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, and in particular the factors discussed under “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in Vale’s annual report on Form 20-F.

 

14



Table of Contents

 

Signatures

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Vale S.A.
(Registrant)

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Roberto Castello Branco

Date: October 17, 2012

 

Roberto Castello Branco

 

 

Director of Investor Relations