Vale says iron-ore sales brisk despite slower China

Brazilian miner Vale is selling iron-ore about as fast as it can mine it despite a slowdown in the economy of China, its top customer, the company's head of investor relations said on Monday. A string of economic indicators show China, the...

Brazilian group targeting more African opportunities

Brazilian diversified mining major Vale has confirmed that its portfolio includes investments of $7.7-billion in projects in nine African countries. Speaking at a recent seminar on Africa hosted by Brazil’s National Economic and Social...

Goodlace a calm hand for Implats tiller

Impala Platinum's chief executive-in-waiting Terence Goodlace has plenty of experience operating in tough places, such as Democratic Republic of Congo. He will need it because running the world's second-largest platinum producer, which he takes...

Vale targets China firms over mega ship standoff

Brazil's Vale , the world's largest iron-ore producer, has stopped hiring vessels from some Chinese shipping firms in retaliation for Beijing's efforts to keep the miner's huge ships out of the country, traders and industry sources said. Chinese...

Vale invokes force majeure at nickel project

Vale, the world's second-biggest nickel producer, said on Thursday it would suspend sales and purchase agreements at its Goro project on the French Pacific island of New Caledonia after an accident at the mine's sulfuric acid plant. Rio de...

Vale wins injunction barring Brazil tax debt payment

Brazil's highest court suspended on Wednesday the payment of about 24-billion reais ($12.4-billion) in back taxes by mining company Vale, handing the world's largest iron-ore producer a temporary victory in a dispute with the government. Justice...

Promising start for China iron-ore trading platform

An Australian cargo was among three sold via China's first physical iron-ore platform on Tuesday, a promising start for the electronic trading system, although traders say volumes must rise before the bourse can create price benchmarks. The...

Vale sells kaolin producer Cadam to US's KaMin LLC

Brazilian iron-ore mining giant Vale said on Monday it had sold all of its 61.5% stake in kaolin clay producer Cadam to privately owned US firm KaMin LLC, for $30.1-million. Cadam operates an openpit mine in the state of Amapa in the north of...

China eyes upper hand in pricing with iron-ore platform

China's first physical iron-ore trading platform is set to debut on Tuesday, helping the world's biggest buyer of the commodity boost its price-setting influence. The timing looks perfect. Nearly all iron-ore sold to China is now based on spot...

Platinum to remain in surplus, eurozone crisis flagged as 'major' risk

Platinum registered its seventh consecutive gross surplus in 2011 and was likely to experience a similar outcome in 2012, while palladium remained in a gross deficit, which was likely to increase this year, precious metals consultancy Thomson...

FIRB approves Isaac Plains sale

The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) has approved ASX-listed Aquila’s A$430-million disposal of its 50% interest in the Isaac Plains coal mine, in Queensland, to Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation. Executive chairperson Tony Poli said on...

South African consultancy assisting mining industry in Cameroon

Mining engineering consultancy SRK Consulting is currently advising the government of Cameroon on developing a minerals and mining industry in the country, chairperson Roger Dixon tells Mining Weekly.