Brazil's Piauí State Prepares First 110,000 Tons of Iron Ore for Direct Shipment to China

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The government of Piauí state in northeastern Brazil announced on June 20, 2026, that it is preparing to export iron ore to China through the Porto Piauí in Luís Correia, with the first batch exceeding 110,000 tons, expected to be shipped within the coming weeks. This will mark the first time Piauí's iron ore is directly exported to the Chinese market via its own port.

During an inspection of the Luís Correia terminal on the same day, Piauí Governor Rafael Fonteles stated that the iron ore for the first export to China has been assembled and is ready for loading. According to local media reports, approximately 100 heavy trucks currently transport iron ore daily from mines within the state to the port, with the logistics system operating 24 hours a day. As the port's infrastructure is still being improved, a 9,000-ton transshipment vessel will transfer the ore at sea to an 110,000-ton cargo ship. Governor Fonteles said that all iron ore currently stockpiled at the terminal will be loaded onto a single cargo vessel with a capacity exceeding 110,000 tons.

The iron ore for this export is produced by Lion Mining at the Piripiri mine. The company has an annual output of approximately 1.5 million tons, with iron content close to 65%, and China is its main buyer. The Port of Luís Correia is a newly built port facility in Piauí, and this export will mark its official commissioning.

The establishment of this direct export channel makes Piauí another source of iron ore supply directly to China in Brazil. The Piauí state government stated that it will also export iron ore to other countries through this port in the future. This channel will help diversify China's iron ore import sources and have a certain impact on the global seaborne iron ore trade landscape.

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