en.Wedoany.com Reported - Vale announced its second-quarter operational results on Tuesday (21st). Iron ore production reached 84.3 million tons, the best performance for the same period since 2018. This growth was primarily driven by a record output of 23.4 million tons from the S11D mine, as well as progress on the Capanema and VGR1 projects. Iron ore sales for the quarter totaled 79.7 million tons, up 3.1% from the second quarter of 2025, with an average price of $95.0 per ton for fines.

In copper, quarterly production reached 98,400 tons, the best result for the same period since 2017, up 6.3% year-on-year. Growth was mainly driven by Brazilian assets, with the Salobo mine achieving a record output for the period and the Sossego mine posting its best result since 2017. Copper sales rose 9.7%, with the average price surging 56.5% to $14,062 per ton.

Nickel production stood at 42,000 tons, the highest for the second quarter since 2020, up 4.2% year-on-year. This was supported by a record output from the Long Harbour refinery and a 95.8% surge in production from the Onça Puma mine, reaching an all-time high for the period. These gains offset the impact of scheduled maintenance at the Sudbury mine. Nickel sales increased by 7.2%.

Vale maintained its 2026 production guidance, forecasting iron ore output between 335 million and 345 million tons, copper output between 350,000 and 380,000 tons, and nickel output between 175,000 and 200,000 tons.