en.Wedoany.com Reported - Brazilian mining company Vale S.A. confirmed in July 2026 that it aims to become one of the three largest mining companies in the world by market capitalization. To achieve this strategic goal, the company invested approximately $685 million (about 3.78 billion reais) in Research, Development & Innovation (PD&I) in 2025 and maintained an investment portfolio of over 350 projects.
Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and founded in 1942, Vale is one of the world's largest producers of iron ore and pellets, and the second-largest producer of nickel. Its operations span multiple sectors, including iron ore, nickel, copper, manganese ore, ferroalloys, coal, and platinum group metals. As of July 2026, its market capitalization was approximately $63.2 billion. Although already among the top global mining companies, Vale still lags significantly behind Rio Tinto, with a market cap of about $141 billion, and BHP, with a market cap of about $122 billion.
Within the strategic framework of pursuing a top-three global position, Vale is driving growth through large-scale R&D investments. Its innovation agenda now covers multiple dimensions, from operational decarbonization and autonomous haulage to new hydrometallurgical processing technologies. As a concrete practice of its smart mining model, Vale restarted the Capanema mine in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, in September 2025. After being idle for 22 years, the mine resumed operations with a total investment of approximately 5.2 billion reais. It employs a water-free mineral processing technology, achieving zero tailings generation and eliminating the need for tailings dams. Upon startup, the mine deployed five Caterpillar 789D autonomous haul trucks.
This restart is part of Vale's plan to invest a total of 67 billion reais in Minas Gerais by 2030. The Capanema mine is expected to add approximately 15 million tons per year of iron ore capacity for Vale.
Vale's R&D investment strategy aligns with the company's long-term goals of enhancing core asset value and expanding into energy transition metals. The company expects copper production to be between 350,000 and 380,000 tons in 2026, with plans to increase it to between 420,000 and 500,000 tons by 2030. By integrating innovative technologies, expanding high-grade mineral production capacity, and optimizing its asset portfolio, Vale is committed to reshaping its leading position in the global mining landscape.
