As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2025
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 20-F
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2024
Commission file number: 001-15030
VALE S.A.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Federative Republic of Brazil
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci, Executive Vice-President Finance and Investor Relations
Phone: +55 21 3485 5000
Praia de Botafogo 186 – offices 1101, 1701 and 1801– Botafogo
22250-145 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
| Common shares of Vale, no par value per share | New York Stock Exchange* | |
| American Depositary Shares (evidenced by American Depositary Receipts), each representing one common share of Vale | VALE | New York Stock Exchange |
| * | Shares are not listed for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares pursuant to the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. |
|
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None The number of outstanding shares of each class of stock of Vale as of December 31, 2024, was: common shares, no par value per share golden shares, no par value per share |
| Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. |
| Yes ☐ No ☒ |
| If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| Yes ☐ No ☒ |
| Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. |
| Yes ☒ No ☐ |
| Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). |
| Yes ☒ No ☐ |
| Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. | |||
| Large Accelerated Filer ☒ | Accelerated filer ☐ | Non-accelerated filer ☐ | Emerging growth company ☐ |
| If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ |
| Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒ |
|
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. o Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐ |
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing: U.S. GAAP ☐ International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ☒ Other ☐ |
| If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. |
| Item 17 ☐ Item 18 ☐ |
| If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). |
| Yes ☐ No ☒ |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FORM 20-F CROSS-REFERENCE GUIDE
| Item | Form 20-F caption | Location in this report | Page |
| 1 | Identity of directors, senior management and advisers | ||
| 1A Directors and senior management | Not applicable | – | |
| 1B Advisers | Not applicable | – | |
| 1C Auditors | Not applicable | – | |
| 2 | Offer statistics and expected timetable | Not applicable | – |
| 3 | Key information | ||
| 3A [Reserved] | – | – | |
| 3B Capitalization and indebtedness | Not applicable | – | |
| 3C Reasons for the offer and use of proceeds | Not applicable | – | |
| 3D Risk factors | Risk Factors | 20 | |
| 4 | Information on the Company | ||
| 4A History and development of the company | Business Overview; Information Filed with Securities Regulators; Liquidity and Capital Resources—Uses of Funds—Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets | 5;198; 131 | |
| 4B Business overview | Business Overview; Lines of Business; Reserves and Resources; Regulatory Matters | 5; 40; 94; 111 | |
| 4C Organizational structure | Exhibit 8 | – | |
| 4D Property, plant and equipment | Lines of Business; Regulatory Matters; Liquidity and Capital Resources—Uses of Funds—Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets | 40; 111; 131 | |
| 4A | Unresolved staff comments | None | – |
| 5 | Operating and financial review and prospects | ||
| 5A Operating results | Results of Operations | 123 | |
| 5B Liquidity and Capital Resources | Liquidity and Capital Resources | 131 | |
| 5C Research and development, patents and licenses, etc. | Lines of Business | 40 | |
| 5D Trend information | Results of Operations | 123 | |
| 5E Critical accounting estimates | Not applicable | – | |
| 6 | Directors, senior management and employees | – | |
| 6A Directors and senior management | Management | 142 | |
| 6B Compensation | Management Compensation | 153 | |
| 6C Board practices | Management—Board of Directors | 142 | |
| 6D Employees | Employees | 158 | |
| 6E Share ownership | Major Shareholders; Employees—Performance-based Compensation | 134; 159 | |
| 6F Disclosure of a registrant’s action to recover erroneously awarded compensation | Not applicable | – | |
| 7 | Major shareholders and related party transactions | ||
| 7A Major shareholders | Major Shareholders | 134 | |
| 7B Related party transactions | Related Party Transactions | 135 | |
| 7C Interests of experts and counsel | Not applicable | – | |
| 8 | Financial information | ||
| 8A Consolidated statements and other financial information | Consolidated Financial Statements | F-1 |
| 16K | Cybersecurity | Cybersecurity | 194 |
| 17 | Financial statements | Not applicable | – |
| 18 | Financial statements | Consolidated Financial Statements | F-1 |
| 19 | Exhibits | Exhibits | 199 |
| I. | Overview |
We are one of the largest metals and mining companies in the world, based on market capitalization, and one of the world’s largest producers of iron ore, iron ore pellets and nickel. We also produce copper. Our nickel and copper concentrates contain by-products such as platinum group metals (PGMs), gold, silver and cobalt. We are engaged in greenfield mineral exploration in five countries. In Brazil and other regions in the world, we operate large logistics systems including railroads, maritime terminals and ports, which are integrated with our mining operations. In addition, we have distribution centers to support the delivery of iron ore worldwide. Directly and through associates and joint ventures, we also have investments in the energy business.
Vale S.A. is a stock corporation, or sociedade por ações, that was organized on January 11, 1943, under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil for an indefinite period. Its head office is located at Praia de Botafogo 186 – offices 1101, 1701 and 1801 – Botafogo, 22250-145 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, and its telephone number is 55-21-3485-5000.
In this report, references to “Vale” are to Vale S.A. References to “we,” “us” or the “Company” are to Vale and, except where the context otherwise requires, its consolidated subsidiaries. References to our “ADSs” or “American Depositary Shares” are to our common American Depositary Shares (our common ADSs), each of which represents one common share of Vale. American Depositary Shares are represented by American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) issued by the depositary.
Unless otherwise specified, we use metric units. References to “real,” “reais” or “R$” are to the official currency of Brazil, the real (singular) or reais (plural). References to “U.S. dollars” or “US$” are to United States dollars. References to “€” are to euros.
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Business Overview
OPERATIONAL SUMMARY
The following image describes the countries where we have mining or related operations, segregated by segment.
The following table presents the breakdown of total net operating revenue attributable to each of our lines of business.
|
Year ended December 31, | ||||||
|
2024 |
2023 |
2022 | ||||
| US$ million | % total | US$ million | % total | US$ million | % total | |
| Iron Solutions | ||||||
| Iron ore | 24,805 | 65.2 | 27,760 | 66.4 | 28,188 | 64.3 |
| Iron ore pellets | 5,921 | 15.6 | 5,803 | 13.9 | 6,256 | 14.3 |
| Other ferrous products and services | 718 | 1.9 | 516 | 1.2 | 472 | 1.1 |
| Iron Solutions - total | 31,444 | 82.6 | 34,079 | 81.6 | 34,916 | 79.6 |
| Energy Transition Metals | ||||||
| Nickel and other products | 3,666 | 9.6 | 5,193 | 12.4 | 6,619 | 15.1 |
| Copper | 2,805 | 7.4 | 2,376 | 5.7 | 1,779 | 4.1 |
| Other energy transition metals | 141 | 0.4 | - | - | - | - |
| Energy Transition Metals - total | 6,612 | 17.4 | 7,569 | 18.1 | 8,398 | 19.2 |
| Other | - | - | 136 | 0.3 | 525 | 1.2 |
| Net operating revenue | 38,056 | 100 | 41,784 | 100 | 43,839 | 100 |
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About US
Iron Solutions
Iron ore. We operate three systems in Brazil for the production and distribution of iron ore:
| · | Northern System: fully integrated system consisting of three mining complexes, a railroad and a maritime terminal. |
| · | Southeastern System: fully integrated system consisting of three mining complexes, a railroad, a maritime terminal and a port. |
| · | Southern System: consisting of two mining complexes and two maritime terminals. |
Iron ore pellets and other ferrous products and services. We currently have a diverse agglomerates portfolio, which includes both pellets and briquettes. We have eight operational pelletizing plants in Brazil and two in Oman for pellet production and two briquetting plants in Brazil for briquette production.
Energy Transition Metals
Our Energy Transition Metals business, which includes nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum group metals (PGM) and other precious metals, is conducted through our subsidiary Vale Base Metals Limited (VBM) and its subsidiaries.
Nickel. We have mines and processing plants in Canada, and we control and operate nickel refining facilities in the United Kingdom and Japan. We also have nickel operations at Onça Puma, located in the Brazilian state of Pará, and a minority stake in PT Vale Indonesia Tbk, which operates nickel assets in Indonesia.
Copper. In Brazil, we produce copper concentrates at Sossego and Salobo operations, in Carajás, in the state of Pará. In Canada, we produce copper concentrates and copper cathodes in conjunction with our nickel mining operations at Sudbury (Ontario), and Voisey’s Bay and Long Harbour (Newfoundland and Labrador).
Other energy transition metals. The ore extracted from our Sudbury nickel operations yields by-products, including cobalt, PGMs, silver and gold. These by-products are processed at our refining facilities in Port Colborne, Ontario. We produce refined cobalt at our Long Harbour facilities in Newfoundland and Labrador. We also receive payments for silver and gold contained in the copper concentrates produced at our Salobo operation and for gold contained in various products produced at our Sudbury operation.
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BUSINESS STRATEGY
Since 2019, we have strengthened our operations and safety standards, becoming a safer, more stable, and better-prepared company for the future. As we move forward, our goal is to be recognized as a trusted partner with the most competitive and resilient portfolio in the industry. This vision is built on three key pillars, outlined below:
Superior Portfolio
Delivering a high-quality, flexible iron ore portfolio. We are committed to developing a resilient and competitive iron ore portfolio that can succeed despite commodity cyclicality. This portfolio includes prioritizing our high-quality iron ore while maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing market demands.
Focusing on customer-oriented solutions. We are committed to supporting our customers’ needs and to position ourselves to be the natural partner of choice in supplying products. We adopt a technical and customer-centric approach, tailoring our solutions to market trends with agility and ensuring stable, continuous supply to our clients.
Accelerating copper growth. Our goal is to leverage our significant copper resources, particularly in the Carajás region, to achieve significant growth in this segment, supporting the growing demand for copper in renewable energy technologies, electrification and green infrastructure.
Performance Driven
Reference in safety and operational excellence. Our goal is to continuously evolve on being a reference in safety and operational excellence. A continued commitment to safety is an integral part of our culture, and we will continue to strengthen our safety protocols and operational reliability, ensuring safety, reliability, and efficiency across all our operations.
Securing competitiveness through a talent-driven and agile company. We are cultivating a performance-oriented culture focused on results, talent development, and agility.
Fostering innovation and digital solutions. We are embracing technological advances to improve efficiency, optimize operations, and drive innovation across the business. This includes circularity initiatives such as reprocessing tailings as well as exploring new ways to maximize resource efficiency and sustainability.
Trusted Partner
Cultivating institutional relationships. We recognize the importance of strengthening relationships with communities, governments and all stakeholders. We engage in open, transparent dialogues, working closely with local, regional and national stakeholders to ensure alignment on common goals, contributing positively to local development.
Generating a positive impact on people and nature. We are committed to promoting positive impacts for people and nature while continuously reducing our operational footprint. To achieve this, we are committed to work in collaboration with local communities, particularly Indigenous groups, and to support conservation efforts, especially in the Amazon region.
Ensuring greater trust through increased transparency. We are committed to openness and accountability to rebuild trust with our stakeholders. This includes providing clear and accurate information on our performance, our progress toward sustainability goals, and efforts to address the concerns of local communities and regulators. By fostering a culture of transparency, we aim to strengthen our position as a responsible and trusted partner in the mining sector.
We understand that what makes this strategy feasible is our culture. To assess if we are on the right path, in 2024, we conducted the 2nd Cultural Diagnosis and a new cycle of the Engagement Survey. The results of the diagnosis shown that we have made progress in safety, process establishment, and operational discipline, as well as improvements in all key behaviors, especially in related to safety and risk management. It also shown our commitment to delivering results, with an emphasis on how these results are achieved. Our employees expressed pride in and are committed to our transformation. The 2024 cycle of the Engagement Survey had a record participation of 82% of our employees, with a favorability score of 83% (an increase of one percentage point compared to 2023). Together, these two instruments have shown that we are moving in the right direction, towards the Vale we want to be.
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SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN OUR BUSINESS
Below is a summary of major events in our business since the beginning of 2024.
Novo Carajás program. In February 2025, we launched the Novo Carajás Program. This program focuses on optimizing our iron ore production and accelerating copper production growth in the Carajás region, a mineral-rich province critical to global decarbonization and energy transition. The initiative encompasses strategic investments in technology, health and safety protocols, operations and equipment maintenance, and sustainability measures, leveraging our operational expertise in the region. These investments support our previously announced production guidance and strengthen our commitment to mining practices.
Definitive agreement related to Samarco. In October 2024, we, together with Samarco and BHP Brasil, entered into an agreement with several public authorities, providing for the complete and definitive conclusion of the reparation and compensation process relating to the Fundão’s dam failure (Definitive Settlement). In November 2024, the Federal Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal – STF) ratified the Definitive Settlement. As a result, we recognized an additional provision of US$956 million, recorded in the income statement as “Equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures.” For additional information on the Definitive Settlement see Overview—Business Overview— Reparation and remediation efforts related to Samarco’s tailings dam and Additional Information—Legal Proceedings—Legal Proceedings Related to the Failure of Samarco’s Tailings Dam.
Purchase of a minority stake in Anglo American Minério de Ferro Brasil S.A. (Anglo American Brasil). In December
2024, we completed the purchase of a 15% stake in Anglo American Brasil. The acquisition cost was substantially composed by the contribution to Anglo American Brasil of Serra da Serpentina assets, whose value were estimated at US$750 million, in addition to a disbursement of US$30 million. As a result, Anglo American Brasil became an associate and we recognized a gain of US$626 million in our income statement as “(Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net.” Under the terms of the agreement, if the average benchmark iron ore price (IODEX 62%Fe CIF China) remains above US$100/t or below US$80/t for four years after closing, a purchase price adjustment payment will be made to either Anglo American plc or us, according to a predetermined formula and within certain limits. The transaction aims to create synergies between the Minas-Rio complex, Serra da Serpentina’s high-grade iron ore resources and our deposit and our logistics infrastructure. Anglo American Brasil will continue to control, manage and operate the Minas-Rio complex, including any future expansion.
Partial divestment of Vale Oman Distribution Center (VODC). In September 2024, after the satisfaction of all conditions precedent, we completed the sale of our 50% equity interest in VODC. Pursuant to the agreement that had been entered in August 2024, AP Oryx Holdings LLC (Apollo) paid a total consideration of US$600 million for a 50% stake in the joint venture entity. As a result, VODC became a joint venture, and we recognized a gain of US$1,222 million in the income statement as “(Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net.” VODC operates a maritime terminal in Sohar, Oman, with a large deep-water jetty and an integrated iron ore blending and distribution center with a nominal capacity of 40 Mtpy.
Acquisition of Aliança Geração de Energia S.A. (Aliança Energia). In August 2024, we completed the acquisition of the entire 45%-stake held by Cemig Geração e Transmissão S.A. (Cemig GT) in Aliança Geração de Energia S.A. (Aliança Energia), upon payment of US$493 million. Following the acquisition of this 45% stake, we currently hold 100% of Aliança Energia’s shares. Aliança Energia’s power generation asset portfolio consists of seven hydroelectric power plants in the state of Minas Gerais and three wind farms in operation in the states of Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará. Together, these assets have an installed capacity of 1,438 MW and an average physical guarantee of 755 MW.
Divestment in PT Vale Indonesia (PTVI). In June 2024, our subsidiary Vale Canada Limited (VCL), together with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (SMM), completed the divestment transaction relating to PTVI divestment obligation, pursuant to the agreement entered into with PT Mineral Industri Indonesia (MIND ID) in February 2024. With the completion of the transaction, VCL, SMM and MIND ID currently hold approximately 33.9%, 11.5% and 34.0% of PTVI, respectively, with the remainder held by the public on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. As a result, we received US$155 million, which resulted in a gain of US$1,059 million recorded in the income statement as “(Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net”, and no longer control PTVI. Following the completion of the transaction, we will no longer consolidate PTVI’s financial results in our financial results and we will account our investment in PTVI using the equity method.
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Strategic partnership in the Energy Transition Metals business. In April 2024, following the approval from the relevant regulatory authorities, we completed the sale to Manara Minerals, a joint venture formed by Ma’aden and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, of a 10% equity interest in Vale Base Metals Limited (VBM), the holding company of our Energy Transition Metals business, for US$2,455 million, pursuant to the agreement that had been entered into between Manara Minerals and us in July 2023. As a result, Vale recognized a gain of US$895 million in equity as “Transactions with noncontrolling shareholders”
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OUR ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) FRAMEWORK
We have a strategy to fully integrate sustainability into our business through systematic planning, prioritizing risk and impact management, and fostering a positive social, economic and environmental legacy in the regions where we operate. Our ESG practices are continuously evolving. To effectively integrate sustainability into our business management practices, we have established a set of ESG goals that guide our investment priorities and decision-making processes. Our engagements with socially responsible investors and ESG stakeholders include webinars, roadshows, and a dedicated website, our ESG Portal (https://www.vale.com/esg). The information in our ESG Portal, including our Integrated Report and ESG Databook, is not incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 20-F.
| · | We are one of the first companies to voluntarily adopt the international standard issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) for preparing and reporting financial information related to climate change. We expect to disclose our first report under the ISSB international standard in 2025, for the year ended December 31, 2024. |
| · | We regularly disclose our sustainability performance through our ESG Portal and our annual Integrated Report, in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. Our Integrated Report and our ESG Databook, published in an annual basis, also include indicators from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), now part of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) the World Economic Forum (WEF) key metrics, and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). |
| · | As an active and committed member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), we are dedicated to implement ICMM’s Mining Principles and Performance Expectations, supporting initiatives like the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) for mineral revenue transparency. We support and are engaged in the implementation of the GISTM, an effort to improve safety in all phases of the lifecycle of the tailings’ storage facilities, with a focus on meaningful engagement with communities. |
In this section, we summarize some of our ESG initiatives – please refer to our ESG Portal, Integrated Report and ESG Databook for other initiatives and additional information. This section contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. For information on factors that could cause our actual results to differ from expectations reflected in forward-looking statements, see Overview—Forward-looking Statements and —Risk Factors.
Environmental Initiatives
We are integrating our sustainability strategy into our business to minimize the socioenvironmental impacts of operations and respond to the demands of stakeholders, based on the relevant topics, goals and actions as summarized below. More information is available on our ESG Portal.
Climate Change. We are dedicated to reducing absolute GHG emissions from Scopes 1 and 2 by 33% by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement goal to limit global warming to well below 2°C (WB2D), using 2017 as the baseline year. Our goals also include achieving net-zero emissions for Scopes 1 and 2 by 2050 and reducing net Scope 3 emissions by 15% by 2035, compared to 2018 levels, aligned with the 2°C temperature increase scenario. We plan to achieve this goal by developing new products, nature-based solutions, using renewable electricity sources, and partnering with clients and suppliers. Since 2020, we have invested US$1,426 million in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with US$257 million spent in 2024. Our EcoShipping initiative manages the development of innovative projects related to energy efficiency and alternative fuels, aligned with IMO targets. In December 2024, we conducted the first wind energy test on a Valemax, the largest ore carrier in the world. Additionally, we signed contracts to build 10 next-generation Guaibamax vessels, which will feature state-of-the-art design, energy efficiency solutions, and the capacity to burn both fuel oil and methanol.
Energy. We propose to achieve a 100% renewable energy supply globally by 2030. Additionally, we aim to improve our global energy efficiency indicator by 5% by 2030. We plan to achieve this by increasing renewable electricity use in our operations and forming strategic partnerships for new energy solutions. In Brazil, we achieved a 100% renewable energy supply in 2023, two years before our initial target of 2025. We have invested in technological innovations like the minAInteligente project, which uses AI to optimize diesel consumption in off-road trucks by determining the ideal train speed for each mine stretch. Our plans include expanding process optimization technologies, increasing asset electrification, and continuing investments in renewable energy.
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Other Environmental Initiatives
Biodiversity. As part of our plans to contribute to a nature-positive future, we have also set a Forest Target to recover and protect 500,000 hectares beyond our operational boundaries. We protect and restore forests through compensation measures, voluntary initiatives, and partnerships. In 2024, with respect to our Forest Target, we have restored over 5.8 thousand hectares and maintained the protection of more than 200 thousand hectares.
Water. We plan to reduce the cumulative average of specific freshwater use by 27% by 2030 (base year 2017), focusing mainly on regions with higher water stress, through investments in water initiatives. In 2024, we achieved a 31% reduction in the specific use of new water in our operations, using 2017 as the reference baseline. This result reflects our continuous efforts, through initiatives such as efficient monitoring, sustainable water resource management, and the reduction of new water usage, prioritizing secondary sources, including reused, recycled, recirculated, and recovered water, as well as sustainable sources like rainwater harvesting. This reduction rate, however, may fluctuate in the coming years due to adjustments in production processes and variations in production volume. Additionally, in 2024, we invested a total of US$157 million in water initiatives.
Waste. In 2024, 77% of our total iron ore production came from natural moisture processing, thus exceeding our goal of having at least 70% of production through this process, aligned with our strategy to achieve a positive future for nature through circularity initiatives. We are implementing initiatives such as the blending strategy, the expansion of the Northern System, the Capanema project, and the conversion of Plant 1 to natural moisture processing. Additionally, we invest in sustainable initiatives, such as the production of sand from iron ore tailings, used in civil construction. Our subsidiary, Agera, has sold around 1.9 million tons of sand since 2023.
Atmospheric Emissions. Our goal is to reduce our emissions of Particulate Matter and Sulphur Oxides by 16% and Nitrogen Oxides by 10% by 2030. We plan to achieve this target through initiatives on several fronts, with strategic low-carbon planning, encouraging the development of specific technologies that contribute to reducing these emissions, using biofuels, and increasing operational efficiency.
Social Initiatives
Social Ambition. We are moving forward with our commitment to support the lifting 500,000 people out of extreme poverty. In 2024, we had about 51,000 people engaged in 20 initiatives in urban, rural, and forest contexts, in which 80% living in Pará and Maranhão. Additionally, we are engaged in supporting all Indigenous communities neighboring our operations in developing and implementing their plans to achieve the rights outlined in United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). In 2024, we achieved the goals outlined in the Consultation Protocol of the Kayapó People in the state of Pará. We are actively supporting four other Indigenous communities (Ka’apor and Guajajara from the Rio Pindaré and Caru Indigenous Lands, in the state of Maranhão, and Tupiniquim from the Comboios Indigenous Land in the state of Espírito Santo) to achieve the rights outlined in the UNDRIP.
Health and Safety. We are dedicated to improving the health and safety of our employees, in line with our pillar of Performance Driven. Our long-term goals are: (i) to reduce the number of N1+N2 (N1 refers to fatalities and changed lives, while N2 refers to recordable high-potential injuries) in relation to the previous closing result: in 2024, we achieved a significant reduction of 60% compared to 2019; (ii) to reduce by 50% the number of exposures to the main health risk factors: this goal was achieved in 2023, and in 2024 we continued to reduce this exposure, achieving a reduction of more than 60% compared to the 2019 baseline; and (iii) to eliminate all risk scenarios classified as “very high” for Health, Safety, Environment, and Communities: in 2024, we had a 57% reduction in risk scenarios classified as “very high” compared to 2019.
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Governance
Corporate Governance: Corporate governance is fundamental to ensuring a company’s sustainability and safety. We continuously invest in improving governance practices, aligning with national and international best practices, and understanding the perspectives and expectations of investors.
Risk Management: We have five executive risk committees that advise our management in mapping and monitoring risks through our integrated risk management system. In addition, we also have an advisory committee to the Board of Directors – the Audit and Risk Committee, which advises the Board on our risk management strategy. This integrated approach strengthens our ability to address challenges and seize opportunities responsibly and sustainably.
Remuneration: Our remuneration programs are aligned with business strategy and the goal of being a safer company. To this end, we have certain performance targets linked to ESG criteria.
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Reparation and Remediation Efforts
Brumadinho reparation and remediation efforts
On January 25, 2019, a tailings dam failure at our Córrego do Feijão mine, in the city of Brumadinho, state of Minas Gerais. The failure of the dam released a flow of tailings residue, which reached our administrative area at the Córrego do Feijão mine and parts of the communities of Córrego do Feijão and Parque da Cachoeira located in Brumadinho, as well as the Paraopeba River. The dam failure resulted in 270 fatalities, including two pregnant women, and two victims that are still missing, and caused extensive property and environmental damage in the region.
We will never forget Brumadinho. We reaffirm our respect for the victims and their families, prioritizing the fair and faster reparation of Brumadinho. As we move forward on our path to make our business better, committed to valuing people, safety and reparation, we stand firm in our commitment to become one of the safest and most reliable mining companies in the world.
Immediate assistance. We have provided humanitarian assistance to victims and their families since the very first moments.
Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation. In 2021, we entered into the Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation, with multiple public authorities, under which we agreed to implement several socio-economic and socio-environmental reparation projects.
| · | The estimated economic value of the Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation is R$37.7 billion, which includes: (i) R$6.3 billion in disbursements made prior to the settlement date and with scope similar to the agreement; (ii) R$19.9 billion in disbursements required for the implementation of projects and to be managed by the authorities; (iii) a cap of R$6.4 billion in estimated costs of the socio-economic reparation projects to be directly implemented by us; and (iv) R$5 billion in estimated costs for certain environmental recovery projects (Plano de Reparação Ambiental) to be implemented by us, which are not subject to a cap. |
| · | The Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation settles most of the requests made in certain public civil actions in which public authorities sought damages and a wide range of injunctive measures against us as a result of the Brumadinho dam failure. |
| · | We have made disbursements with respect to 75% of the updated value of the commitments set out in the Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation. As of December 31, 2024, we had incurred R$32 billion in infrastructure works and environmental and socioeconomic reparation actions, and made 91% of our payment obligations, in a total amount of R$20.2 billion and 39% of our obligations to perform certain actions, corresponding to R$5.5 billion (these numbers include R$6.3 billion in disbursements made before the date of signing of the agreement. |
Other settlement agreements related to Brumadinho dam failure. We are committed to promoting expedite reparation and remediation for those affected by the Brumadinho dam failure. This includes resolving related legal proceedings. Highlighted below are our key settlement agreements with public authorities.
| · | April 2019 preliminary settlement agreement with Minas Gerais state public defenders: In April 2019, we entered into an agreement with the public defenders’ office of the state of Minas Gerais to establish the framework for settlement agreements for damage claims for property and other economic and moral damages (danos morais). As of December 2024, we had reached settlements with over 14,475 individuals totaling approximately R$2.7 billion, considering Brumadinho and evacuated territories. |
| · | Settlement agreements with public labor prosecutors and labor unions: In July 2019, we entered into a settlement agreement with the public labor prosecutors to indemnify relatives of the victims of the dam failure. In March 2020, we entered into a settlement agreement with the labor unions to indemnify survivor workers and workers based on the Córrego do Feijão and Jangada Mine. In July 2021, we entered into a settlement to pay indemnification to the family units of deceased employees in connection with the extinction of their employment contracts. As of December 2024, we had reached settlements, with 2,510 individuals totaling approximately R$1.2 billion. |
| · | Agreement with Indigenous Peoples: We entered into two agreements involving Indigenous peoples in 2022 to compensate the Indigenous people of Katurãma Village and the group led by Dona Eline Pataxó. These agreements have been fully paid. In 2023, we entered into another comprehensive indemnity agreement with the Pataxó and Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe Indigenous people of Tronco Gervasio and Antônia. We are currently awaiting the final judgment of the decision to complete payments. Negotiations with the Naô Xohã Village group are ongoing and are the subject of two Public Civil Actions filed by the Federal Public Ministry and the Federal Public Defender’s Office, concerning both collective reparation and individual compensation. We continue to comply with the court decision that mandated the temporary relocation of families from the Naô Xohã Village, as well as the payment of installation and maintenance funds to the affected Indigenous peoples. To support this, we acquired a property in Brumadinho, chosen by the Indigenous community, for the temporary relocation of the affected families. There is a possibility that this relocation could become permanent, if the property be accepted as part of a potential collective reparation agreement with the group. |
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| · | Agreement with Quilombola Communities: Regarding the four quilombola communities in Brumadinho impacted by the dam failure, we have defined measures for remediating collective diffuse damages, tied to the Quilombola Component Studies for Impact and Damage Assessment. All stages of this process must involve the active community participation and were overseen by the Palmares Cultural Foundation, which is the institution responsible for protecting the rights of these communities, an Independent Technical Advisory, and the Federal Public Defender’s Office. These measures must be negotiated with the relevant parties as part of the Comprehensive Judicial Reparation Agreement. In the case of the three quilombola communities in the Paraopeba River basin, we are awaiting the issuance of the Terms of Reference by the government authority for conducting the studies supporting the ERSHRE (Human Health Risk Assessment and Ecological Risk Evaluation). |
Other settlement agreements. We have entered into other settlement agreements with public authorities, in addition to individual settlement agreements. These include support for municipals services, emergency payments to Indigenous Peoples, specific remediation measures, external audits, and asset structural integrity reviews, measures to reinforce structures and suspension of operations. For additional information on legal settlements, proceedings and investigations relating to the Brumadinho dam failure, see Additional Information—Legal Proceedings.
Other reparation and remediation efforts. We have carried out important actions to give new meaning to the directly impacted territory, especially the Córrego do Feijão community. The central square was revitalized, and the Community Market and Cultural Center were built to welcome and bring new perspectives to the community. The construction of a soccer field, an ecological park, a school, a chapel, a cemetery, and a forest with trails for leisure activities is also planned. To boost the region’s economy, 434 local associations and small businesses are supported by Vale directly and indirectly benefiting more than 16,000 people. Training and economic development in the region are provided. In December 2024, a total of R$17 million in revenue was declared by 137 supported businesses and associations, out of the 143 that received financial support. In addition, more than 550 water supply structures have been implemented, potentially serving over 5 million people through sanitation actions in the Velhas, Doce and Paraopeba Basins.
Other settlement agreements related to tailings dams
Below is a summary of the agreements we have made with the Public Defender’s Office of the state of Minas Gerais, and an agreement settled with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the state of Minas Gerais. For more information, see Additional Information—Legal Proceedings.
Nova Lima. In March 2021, we entered into an agreement (termo de compromisso) with the Public Defender’s Office of the state of Minas Gerais, to regulate and establish comprehensive criteria for indemnifying individuals affected by the evacuation in the community of São Sebastião das Águas Claras (Macacos) in the municipality of Nova Lima, due to the rise in the emergency level of B3/B4 dam.
Itabira. In June 2022, we entered into an agreement (termo de compromisso) with the Public Defender’s Office of the state of Minas Gerais, to regulate and establish comprehensive for indemnifying individuals affected by the “loss of stability” and subsequent increase in the risk of collapse of the Pontal Dam and its dikes, in the municipality of Itabira.
Itabirito/Ouro Preto. On November 29, 2024, we entered into an agreement with the Public Prosecutors Office of the State of Minas Gerais, with the participation of the Municipalities of Itabirito, Ouro Preto, Nova Lima and Rio Acima, to compensate for socio-environmental, socioeconomic and collective moral damages resulting from the increase in the emergency levels to Vargem Grande, Forquilha I, II, III e IV and Group dams. The settlement amount, estimated at R$120 million, will be allocated to the execution of Comprehensive Reparation for the municipalities of Itabirito, Nova Lima, Ouro Preto and Rio Acima.
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Tailings and Dam Safety
We have implemented several initiatives to enhance our tailings and dam management process and improve dam safety.
De-characterization of upstream dams. Our key initiative is the de-characterization of all our upstream structures in Brazil, including dams, dikes and drained stacks in Brazil. The term “de-characterization” means functionally reintegrating the structure and its contents into the environment, so that the structure no longer serves its primary purpose of acting as a tailings, sediments or water containment. In 2024, we spent a total of US$533 million in connection with the de-characterization of upstream structures/dams. As of December 31, 2024, we had a provision of US$2,213 million recognized in our balance sheet for the de-characterization of upstream structures. Additional provisions may be recognized as a result of adjustments to the de-characterization projects.
As of December 31, 2024, we de-characterized 17 out of 30 upstream structures. The following summary sets forth our progress:
| · | In 2024, we concluded the de-characterization of Dike 1A and Dike 1B of the Conceição System, in the city Itabira, Área IX dam, in the city Ouro Preto (subject to a final evaluation by competent authorities), and the B3/B4 dam at the Mar Azul Mine, in the city of Nova Lima, all in the state of Minas Gerais. |
| · | In 2023, we concluded the de-characterization of Dike 2 of Pontal, in the city Itabira, in the state of Minas Gerais. |
| · | In 2022, we concluded the de-characterization works of five structures: Dikes 3 and 4 of Pontal, in the city Itabira, Auxiliar Dike of B5 MAC, in the city Nova Lima, Baixo João Pereira dam, in the city Congonhas and Ipoema dam, in the city Itabira, all in the state of Minas Gerais. |
| · | In 2021, we concluded the de-characterization of Pondes de Rejeitos dam, in the city Parauapebas, in the state of Pará, and Fernandinho dam, in the city Nova Lima and the de-characterization of Dike 5 of Pontal, in the city Itabira, both in the state of Minas Gerais. |
| · | In 2020, we concluded the de-characterization of Rio do Peixe, in the city Itabira, in the state of Minas Gerais, and Kalunga 2 and Kalunga 3 dikes, in the Parauapebas, in the state of Pará. |
| · | In 2019, we concluded the de-characterization of the 8B dam in the city of Nova Lima in the state of Minas Gerais. |
The de-characterization process is important for the long-term risk reduction of the upstream tailing’s facilities, but the works required for the de-characterization process may impact in the short term the geotechnical stability of certain upstream tailings facilities, increasing the of risk of collapse of these structures especially during the first phases of this process. To mitigate this risk, we have evacuated the downstream zones of the critical dams and we have built Back-up Dams to contain the tailings in case of failure. To mitigate the risk of fatalities, we considered alternatives to perform the works in these critical dams with remotely operated equipment, the design of which is being reviewed with proper redundancy levels.
Between 2020 and 2021, we concluded the construction of three back-up dams in the state of Minas Gerais: (i) one for the Sul Superior dam in Gongo Soco; (ii) one for the Forquilha I, Forquilha II, Forquilha III, Forquilha IV and Grupo dams in Congonhas; and (iii) one for B3/B4 dam in Nova Lima, that is now being removed following the completion of its de-characterization. In 2022, we concluded the construction of Coqueirinho back-up dam, for the Pontal System, in Itabira. In 2024, we worked on the completion of the implementation project of ECJ2 for the de-characterization of Minervino and Cordão Nova Vista dikes, also in Itabira.
We also operate tailings dams in Canada, including upstream dams. These upstream dams are not part of our de-characterization program and there are no technical or regulatory reasons for doing so. All our dams in Canada have been built in accordance with engineering guidance documents issued by the Canadian Dam Association. Legacy dams that pre-date this guidance are being upgraded accordingly through a comprehensive program of dam rehabilitation and toe buttressing.
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Our joint venture Samarco completed the de-characterization of one of its upstream dams, the Germano pit, in June 2023, which remains under active monitoring. The de-characterization works for the Germano dam, Samarco’s other upstream dam are ongoing, in line with the schedule and project presented to the competent agencies.
Improvements in the safety conditions of our dams. In 2024 we had important advances in dam safety. We continue to progress toward our goal of eliminating all dams at emergency level 3 by the end of 2025. The emergency level system is defined by Brazilian law (Resolution ANM 95/2022) to classify situations that may compromise dam safety. Emergency level 3 represents the highest level of risk in this classification.
| · | In September 2024, the Sul Superior dam, located in Gongo Soco, in the state of Minas Gerais, had its emergency lowered from level 3 to level 2. The reduction of its emergency level was possible due to the implementation of new geotechnical investigations, the expansion of monitoring instruments and the evolution of studies that allowed greater knowledge of the structure’s actual stability condition. In addition, the progress of the de-characterization works contributed to the increase in the safety of the structure. The works were carried out with remotely operated equipment. |
| · | We also managed to improve the stability conditions of the Grupo dam, located at the Fábrica mine, in Ouro Preto (MG). The improvement in stability conditions were driven by the de-characterization process, which resulted in the removal of more than 1.48 million cubic meters of tailings, corresponding to approximately 60% of the total forecasted volume. As a result, the dam emergency level was reduced from level 2 to level 1. |
| · | In 2024, the Campo Grande upstream dam, located in Mariana, in the state of Minas Gerais ceased to be at an emergency level. |
| · | The Peneirinha, 5-Mutuca, and Dique B dams in Nova Lima, and the Dique de Pedra dam in Ouro Preto, in the state of Minas Gerais, also ceased to be at an emergency level and received the Positive Stability Condition Declaration (DCE), certifying their safety. |
Governance measures. Since 2019, we have adopted the three lines of defense model and strengthened governance with the creation of a dedicated Geotechnical Risk Committee, which reports to the Executive Committee.
In April 2021, the Independent Ad Hoc Consulting Committee for Dam Safety (CIAE-SB) concluded its work and provided its final report to our Board of Directors. The action plans resulting from the CIAE-SB have been completed, and we continue to advance dam safety under the oversight of the Independent Tailings Review Board (ITRB), which similarly to the CIAE-SB, is composed renowned consultants who follow best international practices.
We use the Hazard Identification and Risk Analysis (HIRA) methodology to map and assess risks in our structures. Additionally, we have strengthened governance by implementing the Tailings and Dam Management System (TDMS) and the Ground Control Management System (GCMS). These measures have helped enhance our geotechnical organizational structure, implement key functions for tailings storage facilities, and drive continuous improvements in alignment with best practices.
Monitoring and Precautionary Measures. All our dams are routinely monitored and are subject to oversight from competent public authorities. Additionally, our main structures are also continuously monitored by three Geotechnical Monitoring Centers, that advanced technologies such as satellites and artificial intelligence.
Brazilian regulations require semi-annual stability certifications (Stability Condition Statement or DCE) from an independent expert for each of our dams covered by the National Dam Safety Policy (PNSB). In case we are unable to comply with safety requirements necessary for the issuance the DCE of a certain dam, we need to take certain emergency actions based on the Emergency Action Plan for Mining Dam for such dam, which may include the suspension of related operations, evacuation of the area surrounding the dam and removal of communities.
In September 2024, we obtained positive DCEs for 80 dams of a total of 94 structures currently covered by National Dam Safety Policy. We did not obtain positive DCEs for 14 structures (all of them in our Iron Solutions operations). We have a plan to reduce the number of structures without positive DCEs, including, in some cases, reinforcing the embankment, improving the geotechnical knowledge of the structure and its foundation and the de-characterization plan.
The improvement in the safety conditions of our structures reflects the efforts the company has been making, implementing measures such as the new management system for our tailings storage facilities, driven by lessons learned from the dam failure in Brumadinho and best practices international standards, as defined in the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). Additional information on the status of DCEs and emergency levels of our structures is available on our ESG Portal, at https://www.vale.com/esg. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 20-F.
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Commitment to the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). We, along with all International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) members, are dedicated to implementing the GISTM. We implemented the GISTM in 48 of the 50 Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) in August 2023, and the implementation of the Standard for the other two TSFs is ongoing, aiming to complete it by August 2025, meeting the deadlines established for the sector. Additional information on the GISTM journey is available on our ESG Portal, at https://www.vale.com/esg. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this annual report Form 20-F.
Reparation and remediation efforts related to Samarco’s tailings dam
In November 2015, the Fundão tailings dam owned by our joint venture Samarco failed, releasing tailings downstream, flooding certain communities and causing impacts on communities and the environment along the Doce River. The failure resulted in 19 fatalities and caused property and environmental damage to the affected areas. Samarco is a joint venture equally owned by us and BHP Billiton Brasil Ltda. (BHP Brasil).
Definitive Settlement. In October 2024, we, together with Samarco and BHP Brasil, entered into a settlement agreement in connection with the reparation and compensation process relating to the Fundão dam failure, resulting from a mediation process conducted by the Brazilian Federal Court of Appeals of the 6th Region (TRF-6). The agreement was signed by the three companies, the federal government, the governments of the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, the Federal and State Public Prosecutors’ Offices, the Federal and State Public Defender’s Offices of the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo and other federal and state governmental authorities, (Definitive Settlement). In November 2024, the Federal Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal – STF) ratified the Definitive Settlement. For additional information see notes 3 and 27 to our consolidated financial statements.
The Definitive Settlement provides for a total financial amount of approximately US$ 31.7 million, covering past and future obligations to assist the people, communities, and environment impacted by the dam failure. The agreement establishes three main lines of obligations:
| · | US$18 billion to be paid by Samarco in installments over a period of 20 years to the federal government, the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, and municipalities, and to finance programs and compensatory actions linked to public policies; |
| · | US$5.8 billion in obligations to be performed by Samarco to complete individual compensation obligations, resettlements, and environmental recovery; and |
| · | US$7.9 billion already incurred from the date of the dam failure until the Definitive Settlement by Samarco, BHPB and us, with remediation and compensation measures and that do not constitute our provision balance. |
Pursuant to the Definitive Settlement, Fundação Renova was dissolved and its liquidation process was initiated, with a 12-month period for the completion of the transition of rights and obligations to Samarco. Samarco became the primary responsible party for fulfilling these obligations, as well as for the transition of some programs from Fundação Renova. As shareholders of Samarco, BHP and we committed, each, to paying up to 50% of any amounts that Samarco fails to finance as the primary debtor, pro rata to our equity stakes in the company. Our provision recorded for these obligations is US$3.7 billion as of December 31, 2024, and includes estimates of Samarco’s financial capacity to fulfill the obligations set forth under the Definitive Settlement. Samarco's capacity to fulfill the obligations is subject to a cap of US$1 billion, valid from 2024 to 2030, as set forth in the Judicial Reorganization Plan (“JR Plan”).
Compensation
The Definitive Settlement establishes a definitive resolution of individual compensations in the existing modalities. Family farmers and professional fishermen who meet the criteria set forth in the agreement are eligible to receive compensation in a single installment, upon signing the respective release term. Samarco will also implement the Definitive Compensation Program (PID), the last opportunity for definitive compensation for those not yet covered by previous initiatives.
As of December 2024, more than 448 thousand people in the Doce River basin had been served and received approximately R$18.7 billion in total indemnities and Emergency Financial Aid paid by Fundação Renova.
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Resettlements
The Definitive Settlement provides for the completion of resettlements in the districts of Novo Bento Rodrigues and Paracatu. Prior to the execution of the Definitive Settlement, 86% of the resettlements had been completed. Samarco will coordinate the completion of the remaining cases. The resettlement process involves the active participation of communities and technical advisors, following high standards of excellence in community resettlement. The agreement provides for the maintenance of these structures for five years from the delivery of the keys, upon signing the release term, or until the definitive transfer of ownership, with the registration of the property in the name of the family unit. As of December 2024, 90% of the resettlement cases have been completed.
Environmental Recovery
The remaining environmental recovery actions in the impacted area of the Doce River in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo and the northern coast of Espírito Santo in the Doce River Basin will be completed directly by Samarco. The Agreement sets delivery milestones and specific objectives for each of these actions, among which, the reforestation of 50,000 hectares, the completion of the recovery of 5,000 springs and the restoration of banks and the aquatic environment in the locations indicated in the Definitive Settlement.
In addition to these direct actions by Samarco, the Definitive Settlement establishes robust initiatives to promote the improvement of the environmental quality of the Doce River Basin, which will be carried out by the public authorities, in line with public policies, such as basic sanitation for the affected municipalities, in addition to other measures aiming for the improvement of the water quality of the Doce River.
Samarco will carry out studies at the Risoleta Neves Hydroelectric Plant (UHE Candonga) to assess the economic, social, and environmental feasibility of removing up to 9.15 million m³ of sediments, which will be submitted to the Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) in the environmental licensing process. Samarco will also conduct studies on the management of contaminated areas and the substances outlined in the agreement, to monitor environmental quality.
Information about the reparation process in connection with the Definitive Settlement can be found at Samarco’s website, through the link: https://www.samarco.com/reparacao/. Information on Samarco’s website is not incorporated by reference in this annual report Form 20-F.
Reorganization Plan. In January 2024, Samarco completed the restructuring of its financial debt in accordance with the terms of the judicial reorganization plan (JR Plan) approved in September 2023. For more information, see Overview—Risk Factors—Legal, Political, Economic, Social and Other Regulatory Risks and Information on the Company—Lines of Business—Other Investments—Samarco.
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Forward-looking Statements
This annual report contains statements that may constitute forward-looking statements. Many of those forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “may,” “will,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “target,” “ambition,” “potential,” among others. Those statements appear in a number of places and include statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations with respect to:
| · | trends in commodity prices, supply and demand for commodities; |
| · | the future impact of competition and regulation; |
| · | the exploration of mineral reserves and resources and development of mining facilities; |
| · | the depletion and exhaustion of mines and mineral reserves and resources; |
| · | the impact of the failure of the tailings dam in Brumadinho in 2019, the failure of Samarco’s tailings dam in 2015, and related remediation measures on our operations, cash flows and financial position; |
| · | the implementation of our dam de-characterization plan; |
| · | the outcome of the various investigations, regulatory, governmental, uncertain tax treatments and legal proceedings in which we are involved; |
| · | the impact of tariffs, trade barriers and other restrictions imposed on global trade; |
| · | the impact of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East, the economic sanctions imposed on Russia and their impact on the global economy, which are highly uncertain and difficult to predict; |
| · | our direction and future operations; |
| · | the implementation of our financing strategy and capital expenditure plans; |
| · | the payment of dividends or interest on shareholders’ equity; |
| · | compliance with financial covenants; |
| · | industry trends, including the direction of prices and expected levels of supply and demand; |
| · | the implementation of our principal operating strategies, including our potential participation in acquisition, divestiture or joint venture transactions or other investment opportunities; |
| · | our ability to comply with our ESG targets and commitments; |
| · | the implementation of new technologies to mitigate operational risks or achieve our ESG targets and commitments; |
| · | other factors or trends affecting our financial condition or results of operations; and |
| · | the factors discussed under Overview—Risk Factors. |
We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These risks and uncertainties include factors relating to (i) economic, political and social issues in the countries in which we operate, (ii) the global economy, (iii) commodity prices, (iv) financial and capital markets, (v) the mining and metals businesses, which are cyclical in nature, and their dependence upon global industrial production, which is also cyclical, (vi) regulation and taxation, (vii) operational incidents or accidents, and (viii) the high degree of global competition in the markets in which we operate. For additional information on factors that could cause our actual results to differ from expectations reflected in forward-looking statements, see Overview—Risk Factors. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments. All forward-looking statements attributed to us or a person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.
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Risk Factors
Our business, operations and financial results are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those described below and elsewhere in this annual report, which could harm our business, reputation, financial condition, and operating results, and affect the trading price of our securities. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not currently known to us or that are not currently believed by us not to be material may also harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Geotechnical Risks
The collapse of a dam or other geotechnical structure may cause severe damages, including personal, property and environmental damages.
We own a significant number of dams and other geotechnical structures. Some of our tailing’s storage facilities were built using the upstream raising method, which may present higher stability risks, especially related to liquefaction. Some of our joint ventures and investees, including Samarco, also own dams and similar structures, including structures built using the upstream raising method.
| · | The collapse of any of these structures could cause loss of life and severe personal, property and environmental damages, as well as negative social impact, and could have adverse effects on our business and reputation, as evidenced by the consequences of the dam failure in Brumadinho and Samarco’s dam failure in Mariana. |
| · | The evacuation of the downstream zones of the critical dams, construction of physical barriers (back-up dams) to contain the tailings in case of failure and other safety measures we take may not be sufficient to prevent damages and impact on communities. |
| · | Brazilian laws and regulations require the de-characterization of all upstream dams on a specified timetable. We are still determining the appropriate measures for the de-characterization of certain upstream dams in Brazil. The works related to the de-characterization process may impact the geotechnical behavior of certain upstream tailings facilities, affecting the risk of collapse of these structures. In extreme cases, this process, when associated with other conditions, may contribute to the collapse of structures. |
As of the date hereof, we have concluded approximately 57% of our de-characterization plan. The elimination of 100% of the dams in the de-characterization program is expected to be achieved by 2035, given the technical characteristics of the dams, such as volumes of tailings contained. The implementation of the de-characterization plan will require significant expenditures, and the de-characterization process may take a long time. We also own and operate upstream-raised dams in countries other than Brazil, which are not part of the current de-characterization program. For a discussion of the impacts of our de-characterization plan, see Overview—Business Overview—Reparation and Remediation Efforts—Tailings and Dam Safety—De-characterization of Upstream Dams.
The failure of our tailings dam in Brumadinho has adversely affected our business, financial condition and reputation, and the overall impact of the dam failure on us is still uncertain.
The failure of our dam in Brumadinho in 2019 and the failure of Samarco’s tailings dam in Mariana in 2015 have caused fatalities and severe persona, property and environmental damages. See Overview—Business Overview—Reparation and Remediation Efforts. These events have adversely affected and will continue to adversely affect our operations.
| · | Liabilities and legal proceedings. We continue to be a defendant in several legal proceedings and investigations related to the dam failure, including criminal investigations in Brazil and securities litigation in the United States. Additional proceedings and investigations may be initiated in the future. Adverse results in these proceedings may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. See Overview—Business Overview—Reparation and Remediation Efforts and Additional Information—Legal Proceedings. |
| · | Impact on our financial performance. The dam failure had a significant impact on our financial performance, which included reduced revenues due to the suspension of operations, increased expenditures for assistance and remediation, impairments of fixed assets, provisions for costs of de-characterization, restoration and recovery, and provisions for legal proceedings. See Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Tailings Dam Failure in Brumadinho. |
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| · | Increase in production costs and capital investments. We have made investments and adjustments in our operations and may need to make additional investments and adjustments to production processes, mitigate the impact of suspended operations or comply with additional safety requirements. We may also have to use alternative disposal methods to continue operating certain mines and plants, particularly those that rely on tailings dams. These alternative methods may be more expensive or require significant capital investments in our mines and plants. As a result, we expect our costs to increase, which may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. |
| · | Additional regulation and restrictions on mining operations. Rules on mining activities and ancillary activities, such as dam safety, rights of populations affected by dams, have become stricter following the dam failure in Brumadinho. Additional rules may be approved. The licensing process for operations has become longer and subject to more uncertainties. Also, external experts may not be willing to attest to the stability and safety of our dams, as a result of increasing risks of liability. If any of our dams is unable to comply with the safety requirements or if we are unable to obtain the required certification for any of our dams, we may need to suspend operations, evacuate the area surrounding this dam, relocate communities and take other emergency actions. These measures are costly, may adversely impact our business and financial condition and may cause further damage to our reputation. |
| · | Additional environmental impacts. The entire environmental consequences of the dam failure in Brumadinho remain uncertain, and additional damages may be identified in the future. Also, failure to implement our de-characterization plan and measures to prevent further accidents could also lead to additional environmental damages, additional impacts on our operations, and additional claims, investigations and proceedings against us. |
| · | Reserves and resources. New regulations applicable to dam licensing and operations have caused, and may further cause, decreases in our reported reserves and resources or reclassification of proven reserves as probable reserves. |
| · | Increased cost of insurance. Our cost of insurance may rise, and we may not be able to obtain insurance for certain risks. |
| · | Settlement agreements. Under the Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation, the Definitive Settlement and other settlement agreements, we have agreed to establish a set of programs and activities to repair and compensate the damages caused by the dam failures in Brumadinho and Mariana. These settlement agreements do not establish cap on our indemnification obligations, and the frameworks for individual or group indemnifications do not prevent individuals or groups from seeking alternative measures. For more information, see Additional Information—Legal Proceedings—Legal Proceedings Related to the Dam Failure in Brumadinho. |
Operational Risks
Operational problems could materially and adversely affect our business and financial performance.
Operational disruptions might require us to suspend or curtail operations, which could generally reduce our productivity. Operational disruptions may also result in the failure of critical plant and machinery, and materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Our business is subject to a number of risks that may adversely affect our results of operations, such as:
| · | Unexpected weather conditions or other force majeure events. |
| · | Adverse mining conditions delaying or hampering our ability to produce the expected quantity of minerals and to meet specifications required by customers, which can trigger price adjustments. |
| · | Accidents or incidents involving our mines, industrial facilities and related infrastructure, such as dams, plants, railway and railway bridges, ports and ships. |
| · | Disruptions in our supply chain or delays or interruptions in the transportation of our products, including with railroads, roads, ports and ships. |
| · | Tropical diseases, viral outbreaks, and other contagious diseases in regions where some of our operations or projects are located, which pose health and safety risks to our employees. |
| · | Labor disputes that may disrupt our operations from time to time. |
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| · | Changes in market conditions or regulations that may affect the economic prospects of an operation and make it inconsistent with our business strategy. |
| · | Failure to obtain the renewal of required permits and licenses, or delays or higher than expected costs in obtaining them. |
| · | Disruptions to or unavailability of critical information technology systems or services resulting from accidents or malicious acts. |
Our business could be adversely affected by the failure or unavailability of certain critical assets or infrastructure.
We rely on certain critical assets and infrastructure to produce and to transport our products to our customers. These critical assets include mines, industrial facilities, ports, railways, roads and bridges. The failure or unavailability of any critical asset, whether resulting from natural events or operational issues, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Substantially all of our iron ore production from the Northern System is transported from Carajás, in the Brazilian state of Pará, to the port of Ponta da Madeira, in the Brazilian state of Maranhão, through the Carajás railroad (EFC). Any interruption of the Carajás railroad or of the port of Ponta da Madeira could significantly impact our ability to sell our production from the Northern System. With respect to the Carajás railroad, there is particular risk of interruption at the bridge over the Tocantins River, in which the trains run on a single line railway. In the port of Ponta da Madeira, there is particular risk of interruption at the São Marcos access channel, a deep-water channel that provides access to the port. Also, any failure or interruption of our long-distance conveyor belt used to transport our iron ore production from the S11D mine to the beneficiation plant, could adversely impact our operations at the S11D mine.
Our business is subject to health, safety, and environmental events.
The viability of our business is intrinsically connected to the well-being of the environment, workers, and communities in which we operate. Our activities involve the use, handling, storage, discharge, and disposal of hazardous substances into the environment and the use of natural resources, resulting in significant risks and potential adverse impacts on people and the environment, including fire, explosion, toxic gas leaks, spilling or seepages of polluting substances or other hazardous materials, rockfalls, incidents involving dams, failure of other operational structures. Regarding occupational risks, our activities involve physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and accident risks. Regarding accident risks, our activities involve hazards and risks associated with mobile equipment, vehicles or machinery, and other industrial equipment that can generate potentially fatal accidents. Such events can occur due to deficiencies in risk identification and assessment or in the implementation of controls associated to risk management. Once these risks materialize, they can result in significant environmental, social and human rights impacts, damage to or destruction of mines or production facilities, injuries, illnesses, and fatalities involving employees, contractors, or community members near our operations, as well as production delays, monetary losses, and potential legal liability. Additionally, our employees may be exposed to tropical and contagious diseases that can affect their health and safety, and we have corporate guidelines to mitigate these risks. Notwithstanding our standards, policies, controls, and monitoring procedures, our operations remain subject to incidents that can adversely impact our business, stakeholders, reputation, or violate human rights.
Our business may be adversely affected by social, cultural, environmental and health and safety regulation, including regulations pertaining to climate change.
Nearly all aspects of our activities, products and services associated with capital projects and operations, including mine closure activities, around the world are subject to social, environmental and health and safety regulations, which may expose us to increased liability or increased costs. These regulations require us to have environmental licenses, permits and authorizations for our operations and projects, and to conduct environmental and social impact assessments, including a hazard identification and risk analysis, in order to get approval for our projects and permission for initiating construction and continuing operating. Significant changes to existing operations are also subject to these requirements.
In connection with our authorizations, licenses and permits, we may be subject to restrictions relating to the operation and maintenance of dams, protection of communities, including Indigenous Peoples, Quilombola Communities and other Traditional Communities, protection of caves, fauna and flora, climate change, among others, which may require us to limit or modify our mining plans, having an impact on our production volumes, costs and reserves and resources. For more information on our mining concessions and other similar rights, see Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters. Difficulties in obtaining or renewing permits may lead to construction delays, cost increases, and may adversely impact our production volumes. Social, environmental and health and safety regulations also impose standards, procedures, monitoring and operational controls on activities relating to mineral research, mining, beneficiation, pelletizing activities, railway and marine services, ports, de-characterization, decommissioning, mine closure activities, distribution and marketing of our products. Such regulation may give rise to significant costs and liabilities. Litigation and legal and regulatory uncertainties relating to these, or other related matters may adversely affect our financial condition or cause harm to our reputation.
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Social, environmental and health and safety regulations in many countries in which we operate have become stricter in recent years, and it is possible that more regulation or more stringent enforcement of existing regulations will adversely affect us by imposing restrictions on our activities, products, and assets, creating new requirements for the issuance or renewal of environmental licenses and labor authorizations, resulting in licensing and operation delays, raising our costs or requiring us to engage in expensive reclamation efforts. All these factors may affect our practices and result in costs or expense increase, require us to new capital expenditures, restrict or suspend operations, write down or write off assets or reserves and resources.
Another aspect that can interfere with business directly or indirectly is the political and social scenario in the territories where we operate. For a discussion of the rules relating to licensing and operations of dams following the tailings dam failure in Brumadinho, see Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters—Brazilian Regulation of Mining Dams. For a discussion of the rules relating to the protection of caves in Brazil, which may require us to limit or modify our mining plans from time to time, see Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters. For a discussion of national policies and international regulations regarding climate change, which may affect a number of our businesses in various countries, see Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters—Environmental Regulations. For a discussion of the 2020 regulatory initiatives of Standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) prohibiting high sulfur fuel oil, as well as IMO’s goals on greenhouse gas reductions in the industry, see Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters—Environmental Regulations.
Labor disputes may disrupt our operations from time to time.
A substantial number of our employees, and some of the employees of our subcontractors, are unionized and governed by collective bargaining agreements or other labor arrangements that require regular renegotiation. Strikes or other labor disruptions at any of our operations could adversely affect operational efficiency, delay project completion, and increase project costs. For more information about labor relations, see Management and Employees—Employees. Additionally, our operations could be impacted by labor disputes affecting third-party suppliers that provide us with essential goods or services.
Our operations could be materially adversely impacted by pandemics, epidemics, or disease outbreaks.
Disruptions caused by pandemics, epidemics or disease outbreaks, could materially adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and competitive position, particularly as it relates to rising costs and supply chain delays and disruptions. Measures taken by governmental authorities in response to such events may also impact our business, including upon restrictions to our operations, lockdowns, shutdowns, reduced inspections, assessments and authorizations, among other difficulties. We cannot predict when and if any such events will occur and evolve, neither their scope and duration, and therefore cannot estimate the potential impact in our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and competitive position.
We may not have adequate insurance coverage for some risks.
Our businesses are generally subject to a number of risks and hazards, which could have impact on people, assets and the environment. The insurance we maintain against risks that are typical in our business may not provide adequate coverage. Insurance against some risks (including liabilities for environmental damages, damages resulting from dams’ breaches, spills or leakage of hazardous substances and interruption of certain business activities) may not be available at a reasonable cost, or at all. Even when it is available, we may self-insure where we determine that is more cost-effective to do so. As a result, accidents or other negative developments involving our mining, production or transportation facilities may not be covered by insurance and could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
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Financial Risks
Lower cash flows, resulting from a decrease in prices of our products, may adversely affect our credit ratings and the cost and availability of financing.
A decline in the prices of our products may adversely affect our future cash flows, credit ratings and our ability to secure financing at attractive rates. It may also negatively affect our ability to fund our capital investments, including disbursements required to remediate and compensate damages resulting from the dam failure in Brumadinho and Samarco provide the financial assurances required to obtain licenses in certain jurisdictions, pay dividends and comply with the financial covenants in some of our long-term debt instruments. See Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources.
The prices for our products are subject to volatility, which may adversely affect our business.
Global prices for metals are subject to significant fluctuations and are affected by many factors, including actual and expected global macroeconomic and political conditions, regional and sectorial factors, levels of supply and demand, the availability and cost of substitutes, inventory levels, technological developments, regulatory and international trade matters, investments by commodity funds and others and actions of participants in the commodity markets. Sustained low market prices for the products we sell may result in the suspension of certain of our projects and operations, decrease in our mineral reserves and resources, impairment of assets, and may adversely affect our cash flows, financial position and results of operations. The price of our products could be subject to volatility in 2025 in case of a slower growth of the Chinese economy.
Demand for our iron ore and nickel products depends on global demand for steel. Iron ore and iron ore pellets, which together accounted for 80.7% of our 2024 net operating revenue, are used to produce carbon steel. Nickel, which accounted for 9.6% of our 2024 net operating revenue, is used mainly to produce stainless and alloy steels. The prices of different steel products and the performance of the global steel industry are highly cyclical and volatile, and these business cycles in the steel industry affect demand and prices for our products. In addition, vertical backward integration of the steel and stainless-steel industries and the use of scrap could reduce the global seaborne trade of iron ore and primary nickel. The demand for copper is affected by the demand for copper wire, and a sustained decline in the construction industry could have a negative impact on our copper business. Copper products accounted for 7.4% of our 2024 net operating revenue.
We are mostly affected by movements in iron ore prices. For example, a price reduction of US$1 per dry metric ton unit (dmt) in the average iron ore price would have reduced our operating income for the year ended December 31, 2024, by approximately US$284 million. Average iron ore prices significantly changed in the last five years, from US$108.9 per dmt in 2020, US$159.5 per dmt in 2021, US$120.1 per dmt in 2022, US$119.7 per dmt in 2023 and US$109.4 per dmt in 2024, according to the average Platts IODEX (62% Fe CFR China). On January 31, 2025, the year-to-date average Platts IODEX iron ore price was US$101.59 per dmt. See Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Major Factors Affecting Prices.
Changes in exchange rates for the currencies in which we conduct operations could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
A substantial portion of our revenues, trade receivables and debt are denominated in U.S. dollars, and given that our functional currency is the Brazilian real, changes in exchange rates may result in (i) losses or gains on our net U.S. dollar denominated indebtedness and accounts receivable and (ii) fair value losses or gains on currency derivatives we use to stabilize our cash flow in U.S. dollars. In 2024, we had net foreign exchange losses of US$83 million vs. net foreign exchange losses of US$324 million in 2023. In addition, changing values of the Brazilian real, the Canadian dollar, the Indonesian rupiah, the Chinese yuan and other currencies against the U.S. dollar affects our results since a relevant portion of our costs of goods sold is denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, principally the real (47.6% in 2024) and the Canadian dollar (4.3% in 2024), while our revenues are mostly U.S. dollar denominated. We expect currency fluctuations to continue to affect our financial income, expense and cash flow generation.
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As of January 31, 2025, the U.S. dollar commercial selling rate published by the Central Bank was R$5.8301 per US$1.00, which represents a 5.8% decrease as compared to the selling rate of R$6.1923 per US$1.00 as of December 31, 2024. Significant volatility in currency prices, among other factors, may also result in disruption of foreign exchange markets, which could limit our ability to transfer or to convert certain currencies into U.S. dollars and other currencies for the purpose of making timely payments of interest and principal on our indebtedness. The central banks and governments of the countries in which we operate may institute restrictive exchange rate policies in the future and impose taxes on foreign exchange transactions.
Higher energy costs, energy shortages or freight cost may adversely affect our business.
Costs of fuel oil, gas and electricity are a significant component of our cost of production, representing 8.5% of our total cost of goods sold in 2024. To fulfill our energy needs, we rely on the following sources: oil by-products, which represented 33.9% of total energy needs in 2024, electricity 30.3%, natural gas 19.0%, coal 12.1%, and other energy sources 4.7%.
Electricity costs represented 2.7% of our total cost of goods sold in 2024. If we are unable to secure reliable access to electricity at acceptable prices, we may be forced to curtail production or may experience higher production costs, either of which would adversely affect our results of operations. We face the risk of energy shortages in the countries where we have operations and projects, due to stress of infrastructure, high demand or weather conditions, such as floods or droughts. Future shortages, and government efforts to respond to or prevent shortages, may adversely impact the cost or supply of electricity for our operations.
Cost of freight is a significant component of our cost of production, representing 19.6% of our total cost of goods sold in 2024. To fulfill our freight needs, we rely on a fleet of dedicated vessels, which protect us from most of the volatility of the freight market, and on vessels chartered on the spot market.
Production Planning Risks
Our projects are subject to risks that may result in increased costs or delay in their implementation.
We are investing to maintain and further increase our production and logistics capabilities. We regularly review the economic viability of our projects as well as market factors. As a result of this review, we may decide to postpone, suspend or cancel the execution of certain projects. Our projects are also subject to risks that may adversely affect our growth prospects and profitability, including the following:
| · | We may not be able to obtain financing at attractive rates. |
| · | We may fail to obtain or renew the required leases, permits and licenses. |
| · | We may face shortages of skilled personnel. |
| · | We may face limitations to infrastructure, water and power access. |
| · | Our suppliers and contractors may fail to meet their contractual obligations. |
| · | We may face issues such as inappropriate design and engineering, poor execution, commissioning delays, a slower ramp-up to design, or failure to achieve design outputs. |
| · | We may face major setbacks in the supply chain for specialist equipment, services, and early-stage technologies. |
| · | We may experience adverse changes in market conditions or regulations. |
Concessions, authorizations, licenses and permits are subject to expiration, limitation on renewal and various other risks and uncertainties.
Our operations depend on authorizations, concessions and licenses from governmental regulatory agencies and other authorities in the countries in which we operate. We are subject to laws and regulations in many jurisdictions that can change at any time, and changes in laws and regulations may require modifications to our technologies and operations and result in unanticipated capital expenditures. We are also exposed to political risk in our relationship with governmental and regulatory authorities that issue these authorizations, concessions and licenses.
Some of our mining concessions are subject to fixed expiration dates and might only be renewed a limited number of times for a limited period. Apart from mining concessions, we may need to obtain various authorizations, licenses and permits from governmental or other regulatory bodies in connection with the planning, maintenance, operation and closure of our mines and related logistics infrastructure, which may be subject to fixed expiration dates or periodic review or renewal. There is no assurance that renewals will be granted as and when sought, and there is no assurance that new conditions will not be imposed in connection with renewal. Fees for mining concessions might increase substantially due to the passage of time from the original issuance of each individual exploration license. If so, the costs of holding or renewing our mining concessions may render our business objectives not viable. Accordingly, we need to continually assess the mineral potential of each mining concession, particularly at the time of renewal, to determine if the costs of maintaining the concession are justified by the results of operations to date, and we might elect to let some of our concessions lapse. There can be no assurance that concessions will be obtained on terms favorable to us, or at all, for our future intended mining or exploration targets.
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In several jurisdictions where we have exploration projects, we may be required to retrocede to the state a certain portion of the area covered by the exploration license as a condition to renewing the license or obtaining a mining concession. This requirement can lead to a substantial loss of part of the mineral deposit originally identified in our feasibility studies.
We are also subject to laws and regulations and acts by authorities, related to dams, caves, biodiversity (fauna, flora and ecosystems), Indigenous People and Traditional Communities that may limit or modify our mining plans, impact our production volumes, costs and reserves and resources. For more information on mining concessions and other similar rights, see Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters.
Our mineral reserve and resource estimates may materially differ from the volume of materials that we are actually able to recover and we may not be able to replenish our mineral reserves.
There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of mineral resources and mineral reserves in projecting potential future rates of mineral production, including factors beyond our control. Reduction in our mineral resources and mineral reserves may affect our future production and cash generation, impact depreciation and amortization rates, and result in asset write-downs or write-offs, which may have an adverse effect on our financial performance.
Below are the key risks relating to our mineral resources and mineral reserves:
| · | Reporting and estimates of mine life involve estimating deposits of minerals that cannot be measured in an exact manner, and the accuracy of any estimate is a function of the quality of available data, engineering, market prices of minerals and metals, more stringent regulations, costs estimates, investments, geotechnical analysis, geological interpretation and judgment. No assurance can be given that the indicated volume of ore will be recovered or that it will be recovered at the rates we anticipate. We review our mineral resources and reserves estimates from time to time in light of updated information and changes in regulatory framework (including conditions imposed by environmental laws and regulations), which may result in a reduction of our reported mineral resources and mineral reserves. See Information on the Company—Reserves and Resources and —Regulatory Matters. |
| · | Difficulties or the inability to obtain licenses for new operations, supporting structures or activities (such as dams), or to renew our existing licenses, can cause a reduction of our mineral resources that could be converted into mineral reserves. |
| · | Once mineral deposits are discovered, it can take several years from the initial phases of drilling until production is possible, during which the economic feasibility of production may change. If a project proves not to be economically feasible by the time we are able to exploit it, we may incur substantial losses and be obliged to take write-downs or at least to downgrade its mineral reserves into mineral resources categories. In addition, potential changes or complications involving metallurgical and other technological processes arising during the life of a project may result in delays and cost overruns that may render the project not economically feasible by the time of the reporting. |
| · | We engage in mineral exploration, which is highly uncertain in nature, involves many risks and frequently is non-productive. Our exploration programs, which involve significant expenditures, may fail to result in the mineral resources definition suitable for expansion or replacement of mineral reserves depleted by current production. If we do not develop new mineral resources and reserves, we will not be able to sustain our current level of production beyond the remaining lives of our existing mines. |
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| · | Mineral reserves are gradually depleted in the ordinary course of a given open pit or underground mining operation. As mining progresses, distances to the primary crusher and to waste deposits become longer, pits become steeper, mines may move from being open pit to underground, and underground operations become deeper. In addition, for some types of deposits, mineralization grade decreases and hardness increase at greater depths. As a result, over time, we usually experience rising unit extraction costs with respect to each mine, or we may need to make additional investments, including adaptation or construction of processing plants and expansion or construction of tailings dams. Several of our mines have been operating for long periods, and we will likely experience rising extraction costs per unit in the future at these operations in particular. |
Talent Management Risks
Our performance and ability to achieve our ambitions and to maintain our competitive position is dependent on our culture and our capacity to attract, develop and retain skilled and experienced talented professionals.
Since 2019, we have been promoting a transformation of our culture, which we believe is fundamental to the implementation of our business strategy and our ambitions. Our ability to attract, develop and retain experienced and talented professionals is also dependent on this corporate culture transformation. If we fail to achieve our culture transformation goals and to attract, develop and retain talents, our reputation, performance and competitive position may be adversely impacted.
Sustainability Risks
Natural disasters may cause severe damage to our operations and projects in the countries where we operate and may have a negative impact on our sales to countries affected by such disasters.
Natural disasters may adversely affect our operations, projects and people in the countries where we operate and may cause a contraction in sales to countries adversely affected due to, among other factors, power outages and the destruction of industrial facilities and infrastructure.
Climate change can impact the frequency and intensity of extreme events, both acute and chronical, including our neighboring communities, damage to our assets, operational interruptions, and supply chain disruptions. We assess the exposure to increased incidence and intensity of atmospheric discharges, changes in rainfall patterns, higher temperatures, floods, droughts, water shortages and sea level rise on assets such as ports, railways, mining facilities, and processing plants. Due to the complexity and uncertainties of physical risk evaluation process, there may be additional risks that are not currently known or assessed, and that could negatively affect our operations and projects. In recent years, we have occasionally determined that force majeure events occurred because of severe weather on our mining and logistics activities. Areas with lower ecological integrity (e.g., areas with reduced natural vegetation cover) are more susceptible to these risks due to lower resilience and protection against extreme weather conditions.
Transitioning to a lower-carbon economy may entail extensive policy, legal, technology, and market changes to address mitigation and adaptation requirements related to climate change.
As a global mining company, we are exposed to various risks in the transition to a lower-carbon economy across our operations, supply chain, and downstream industries. These risks may stem from our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the short, medium, and long term, which requires us to make significant investments and incur significant expenses, as well as our ability to adapt during the economic transition needed to limit global warming.
As part of global value chains, and with evolving policies around climate action, we face uncertainty and potential misalignment between national and regional governments and sectoral actions. We are exposed to significant financial burdens to comply with and adapt to new regulations and standards. Also, we have publicly shared multiple ESG initiatives and goals, which makes us subject to enhanced scrutiny from our investors, regulators, and the public in general. Factors outside our control may prevent us from achieving these goals. Our failure to make progress in these areas on a timely basis, or revisions of our initiatives and goals, could adversely affect our businesses, our access to capital, and reputation.
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Issues with local communities could adversely impact our business and reputation.
Disagreements with communities near our operations may arise from time to time. Incidents involving land issues, mines sites, industrial facilities, and related infrastructure may impact the communities in locations where we operate. In some instances, our operations, mineral reserves, and resources are located within the influence area of Indigenous or Traditional Communities. Some of our mining and other operations are located in areas where land title may be subject to disputes or uncertainties, or in areas claimed for other uses, such as agriculture. In line with our commitment to meaningful engagement, we consult and negotiate with the groups as part of the process to obtain licenses required to operate, to mitigate impacts, or to obtain consensual access to the lands. Conflicts or disputes with local communities and groups, including Indigenous Peoples, Quilombolas communities, and social movements must be managed in order to avoid delays in obtaining licenses, increases in budget and impacts on human rights. Failure or difficulties in effectively managing such issues may adversely impact our business and operations. See Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters and Additional Information—Legal Proceedings.
Strategic Risks
Geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions, as well as military hostilities, including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the economic sanctions and disruptions to regional or global supply chains resulting from these conflicts, may materially adversely impact our business.
Our business is subject to external risk factors related to our global operations and the global profile of our clients’ portfolio and supply chains. Global markets have been experiencing volatility and disruption following the escalation of geopolitical tensions and the economic sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, the UK and other countries as a direct consequence of the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. These factors may have material impacts on our production and sales, result in additional costs and expenses, and eventually adversely impact our financial conditions or results of operations.
Any further escalation of ongoing conflicts, or any other new conflict, sanctions, trade restrictions or diplomatic tensions, especially concerning countries where we operate, could lead to impacts which may adversely affect our business. These impacts might include disruption of international trade flows, extreme market pricing volatility (particularly affecting the energy sector), and potential effects on regional and global shipping routes. Additionally, prices for shipping and maritime insurance could be affected, and we may face regulatory and contractual uncertainties.
Our business is exposed to the cyclicality of global economic activity and requires significant investments of capital.
As a mining company, we are a supplier of industrial raw materials. Industrial production is cyclical and volatile, which affects demand for minerals and metals. At the same time, investment in mining requires a substantial amount of funds to replenish reserves and resources, expand and maintain production capacity, build infrastructure, preserve the environment, prevent fatalities and occupational hazards and minimize social impacts. Sensitivity to industrial production, together with the need for significant long-term capital investments, are important sources of risk for our financial performance and growth prospects.
We may not be able to adjust production volume in a timely or cost-efficient manner in response to changes in demand. Lower utilization of capacity during periods of weak demand may expose us to higher unit production costs since a significant portion of our cost structure is fixed in the short-term due to the capital intensity of mining operations. In addition, efforts to reduce costs during periods of weak demand could be limited by labor regulations or previous labor or government agreements. Conversely, during periods of high demand, our ability to rapidly increase production capacity is limited, which could prevent us from meeting demand for our products. We may be unable to complete expansions and greenfield projects in time to take advantage of rising demand for iron ore, nickel or other products. When demand exceeds our production capacity, we may meet excess customer demand by purchasing iron ore fines, iron ore pellets or nickel from third parties processing and reselling it, which would increase our costs and narrow our operating margins. If we are unable to satisfy excess customer demand in this way, we may lose customers. In addition, operating close to full capacity may expose us to higher costs, including demurrage fees due to capacity restraints in our logistics systems.
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Adverse economic developments in China could have a negative impact on our revenues, cash flow and profitability.
China has been the main driver of global demand for minerals and metals over recent decades. In 2024, Chinese demand represented 75.8% of global demand for seaborne iron ore, 62% of global demand for nickel and 57% of global demand for copper. The percentage of our net operating revenue attributable to sales to customers in China was 49% in 2024. Therefore, any contraction of China’s economic growth or change in its economic profile, or changes in tariffs or in the political or sanctions environment globally could result in lower demand for our products, leading to lower revenues, cash flow and profitability. Underperformance in the Chinese real estate and infrastructure sectors, the largest consumer of carbon steel in China, would also negatively impact our results.
Development of low carbon emission technologies that reduce or dismiss the usage of high-quality ores may increase the demand for low grade iron ore and could impact the value of our iron ore products.
Decarbonization requires reducing CO2 emissions. New technologies in iron and steel sector are being developed to reduce and deliver net zero emissions. Due to their characteristics, such technologies can demand a variety of iron ore grades according to each process. Technologies that can allow the competitive use of lower grade iron ores could reduce the relative value in use of our higher-grade portfolio and have a negative impact on the demand and premium of our iron ore products. We continue to monitor disruptive technologies and market trends to deliver appropriate supply answers.
Our business could be adversely affected by the performance of our counterparties, contractors, joint venture partners or joint ventures we do not control.
Customers, suppliers, contractors, financial institutions, joint venture partners and other third parties may fail to perform existing contracts and obligations, which may unfavorably impact our operations and financial results. The ability of these third parties to perform their obligations may be adversely affected in times of financial stress and economic downturn.
Important parts of our iron ore, pelletizing, nickel, copper, energy and other businesses are held through joint ventures. This may reduce our degree of control, as well as our ability to identify and manage risks. Our forecasts and plans for these joint ventures and consortia assume that our partners will observe their obligations to make capital contributions, purchase products and, in some cases, provide skilled and competent managerial personnel. If any of our partners fails to observe its commitments, the affected joint venture or consortium may not be able to operate in accordance with its business plans, or we may have to increase the level of our investment to implement these plans.
Some of our investments are controlled by partners or have separate and independent management. These investments may not fully comply with our standards, controls and procedures, including our health, safety, environment and human rights standards. Failure by any of our contractors, partners or joint ventures to adopt adequate standards, controls and procedures could lead to higher costs, reduced production or environmental and human rights related litigation, health and safety incidents or accidents, which could adversely affect our results and reputation.
Cyber Risks
Cyber-attacks and other cyber threats may adversely affect our business and reputation.
We are exposed to a wide range of cybersecurity threats, including common industry attacks such as ransomware and digital fraud, as well as more sophisticated and coordinated efforts known as advanced persistent threats. These and other threats may result in the disclosure or theft of sensitive information, loss of data integrity, misappropriation of funds and disruptions to or interruption in our business operations and impact our ability to disclose financial results. The sophistication of the threats continues to evolve and grow, including the risk associated with the use of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, smart devices and remote working solutions.
We have been in the past and may be in the future the target of attempts to gain unauthorized access to information technology and operational technology by external and malicious threat agents. The improper conduct of our employees or others working on behalf of us who have access to our existing digital landscape and sensitive information could also adversely affect our business. Disruption of critical cybersecurity controls, whether caused by obsolescence, technical failures, negligence, accident, or cyber-attacks, may harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our operational performance, earnings and financial condition.
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We are subject to laws and regulations relating to data protection and privacy of personal data, including, but not limited to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Brazilian Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD), as well as the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) of China. Any failure to comply with laws and regulations related to the protection of personal data may result in proceedings or actions against us, the imposition of fines or penalties or damage to our reputation, which could have an adverse effect on us and our business, reputation and results of operations. For information on our cybersecurity risk management, strategy and governance, see Additional Information—Cybersecurity—Risk Management and Strategy and —Governance.
Legal, Political, Economic, Social and other Regulatory Risks
Legal proceedings and investigations could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are involved in legal proceedings in which adverse parties have sought injunctions to suspend certain of our operations or claimed substantial amounts against us. Under Brazilian law, a broad range of conduct that could be considered to be in violation of Brazilian environmental, labor or tax laws can be considered criminal offenses. Accordingly, our executive officers, employees and, in certain cases, we and our subsidiaries could be subject to criminal investigations and criminal proceedings in connection with allegations of violation of environmental, labor, human rights or tax laws. Defending ourselves in these legal proceedings may be costly and time consuming. Possible consequences of adverse results in some legal proceedings include suspension of operations, payment of significant amounts, triggering of creditor remedies and damage to our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. For more information, see Additional Information—Legal Proceedings.
In addition to the investigations and legal proceedings relating to the dam failure in Brumadinho, as a shareholder of Samarco, we also face the consequences of the failure of the Fundão tailings dam in November 2015. We are involved in multiple legal proceedings and investigations relating to the failure of the Fundão tailings dam. Tax authorities or other creditors of Samarco may attempt to recover from us amounts due by Samarco, if Samarco is unable to fulfill its obligations or is unable to pay its debt. In November 2024, Samarco and its shareholders, BHP Brasil and us, have entered into the Definitive Settlement, pursuant to which Samarco remains the primary responsible party for fulfilling reparation and financial obligations and for the transition of certain programs previously managed by Fundação Renova. If Samarco fails to fund its obligations under the agreement, as shareholders of Samarco, BHP and we will be required to contribute to the funding of these obligations pro rata to our equity stake in the company. See Overview—Business Overview— Reparation and remediation efforts related to Samarco’s tailings dam, and Additional Information—Legal Proceedings.
Our governance, internal controls and compliance processes may fail to prevent breaches of legal, regulatory accounting, ethical or governance standards.
We operate in a global environment and our activities extend over multiple jurisdictions and complex regulatory frameworks, with increasing enforcement activities worldwide. We are required to comply with a wide range of laws and regulations in the countries where we operate or do business, including anti-corruption, international sanctions, anti-money laundering, data protection, privacy of personal data, and related laws and regulations. Our governance and compliance processes, which include the review of internal control over financial reporting, may not timely identify or prevent future breaches of legal, regulatory, accounting, governance or ethical standards. We may be subject to breaches of our code of conduct, anti-corruption policies, human rights policies or other internal policies, or breaches of business conduct protocols and to instances of fraudulent behavior, corrupt practices and dishonesty by our employees, contractors or other agents. This risk is heightened by the fact that we have a large number of contracts with local and foreign suppliers, as well as by the geographic distribution of our operations and the wide variety of counterparties involved in our business. Our failure to comply with applicable laws and other standards could subject us to investigations by authorities, litigation, fines, loss of operating licenses, disgorgement of profits, involuntary dissolution and reputational harm.
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We could be adversely affected by changes in government policies or by trends such as resource nationalism, including the imposition of new taxes or royalties on mining activities, tariffs and other restrictions on global trade.
Mining is subject to government regulation, including taxes and royalties, which can have a significant financial impact on our operations. In the countries where we operate, including Brazil, we are exposed to varying probabilities of potential renegotiation, annulment, cancellation, or mandatory modification of existing contracts and licenses, changes in local laws, regulations, and policies, as well as audits and reassessments. We may also face risks relating to expropriation or nationalization of property, foreign exchange controls, and capital ownership requirements related to mining activities. We are also subject to new taxes or increases in existing taxes and royalty rates, reductions in tax exemptions and benefits, renegotiation of tax stabilization agreements or changes in the basis on which taxes are calculated in a manner that is unfavorable to us. Governments that have committed to provide a stable taxation or regulatory environment may alter those commitments or shorten their duration. We also face the risk of having to submit to the jurisdiction of a foreign court or arbitration panel or having to enforce a judgment against a sovereign nation within its own territory. See Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters—Royalties and Other Taxes on Mining Activities.
We are also required to meet domestic beneficiation requirements in certain countries, such as local processing rules, export taxes or restrictions or charges on unprocessed ores. The imposition of or increase in such requirements, taxes or charges can significantly increase the risk profile and costs of operations in those jurisdictions. We and the mining industry are subject to rising trends of resource nationalism in certain countries in which we operate that can result in constraints on our operations, increased taxation or even expropriations and nationalizations.
The imposition of tariffs by the U.S. Government in 2025 and other developments in international trade may also adversely impact our business. As a supplier of iron ore, nickel and other raw materials to the global integrated steel industry and to other metal-consuming sectors such as battery production and other specified, industrial end-uses we are subject to additional risk from the imposition of duties, tariffs, import and export controls and other trade barriers impacting our products and the products our customers produce. The overall impact of these developments are difficult to predict, but could adversely impact our costs, our investments, the demand and price of our products and the products of our customers. Global trade is subject to a growing trend of increased trade barriers, which could exacerbate commodities’ price volatility and in turn result in instability in the prices of our products.
Changes in Brazilian fiscal policies and tax laws could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results and on investments in our securities.
The Brazilian government has frequently implemented and may continue to implement changes in its fiscal policies, including, but not limited to tax rates, fees, sectoral charges and occasionally the collection of temporary contributions. Changes in tax laws and in the interpretation of tax laws by Brazilian tax authorities and courts may occur and may result in tax increases and revocation of tax exemptions.
With the recent approval of a tax reform in Brazil, a new taxation model on consumption will undergo a testing and transition period starting in 2026. The complete implementation of the reformed tax system is expected to be implemented by 2033. During this period, the following taxes created by the tax reform will come into effect the dual Value Added Tax (VAT) and the Selective Tax (IS), which will be levied on products and services considered harmful to health and the environment. Iron ore has been included in this list of products subject to IS. Given that the applicable tax basis and tax rate for the IS are yet to be defined, we are not able to estimate the effective impact on overall tax burden on our operations.
In 2025, the federal government is expected to submit to the Congress an income tax reform, which may include taxation on profits and dividends, new restrictions related to interest on equity, as well as the increase of existing taxes. The approval of these legislative proposals or changes in fiscal policies, tax laws and interpretations may impact our tax obligations and may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results, and on investments in our securities.
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Political, economic and social conditions in the countries in which we have operations, projects, customers or suppliers could adversely impact our business.
Our financial performance may be negatively affected by regulatory, political, economic and social conditions in countries in which we have significant operations or projects. In many of these jurisdictions, we are exposed to various risks such as political instability, political movements for protectionism or for greater vertical integration of value chains, bribery, cyber-attacks, extortion, corruption, robbery, sabotage, kidnapping, civil strife, human rights violation, acts of war, guerilla activities, piracy in international shipping routes and terrorism. These issues may adversely affect the economic and other conditions under which we operate in ways that could have a material negative effect on our business.
In Brazil, where a significant part of our operations is concentrated, the federal government’s economic policies may have important effects on Brazilian companies, including us, and on market conditions and prices of securities of Brazilian companies. Our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected, for instance, by the following factors and the Brazilian federal government’s response to these factors:
| · | exchange rate movements and volatility; |
| · | inflation and high interest rates; |
| · | financing of the current account deficit; |
| · | liquidity of domestic capital and lending markets; |
| · | tax policy; |
| · | pension, tax and other reforms; |
| · | political instability resulting from allegations of corruption involving political parties, elected officials or other public officials; and |
| · | other political, diplomatic, social and economic developments in or affecting Brazil. |
Historically, the country’s political situation has influenced the performance of the Brazilian economy and political crises have affected the confidence of investors and the general public, which resulted in economic deceleration, downgrading of credit ratings of the Brazilian government and Brazilian issuers, and heightened volatility in the securities issued abroad by Brazilian companies. Political instability may aggravate economic uncertainties in Brazil and increase volatility of securities of Brazilian issuers. Future economic, social and political developments in Brazil may impair our business, financial condition or results of operations, or cause the market value of our securities to decline.
Other Risks Applicable to Our INVESTORS
The Brazilian Government has limited veto rights over certain company actions.
The Brazilian government owns 12 of our golden shares, granting it limited veto power over certain company actions, such as changes to our name, the location of our headquarters and our corporate purpose as it relates to mining activities. For a detailed description of the Brazilian government’s veto powers, see Additional Information—Bylaws—Common Shares and Golden Shares.
We are exposed to significant influence of shareholders or group of shareholders.
Since 2020, we do not have a control group with voting rights that could permanently ensure the majority of votes at our general shareholders’ meeting or the power to elect the majority of the members of our Board of Directors. Nonetheless, we are exposed to significant influence of some shareholders or groups of shareholders. We could also be exposed to other forms of shareholder activism, with shareholder groups seeking to make us take actions that may not be consistent with our business strategy. This may require us to incur significant expenses and require significant time and attention from our management and Board of Directors, which could interfere with our ability to implement our business strategy and adversely affect our business and operating results.
Our investors may be located in jurisdictions outside Brazil and could seek to bring actions against us or our directors or officers in the courts of their home jurisdictions.
We are a Brazilian company, and the majority of our officers and directors are residents of Brazil. The vast majority of our assets and the assets of our officers and directors are likely to be located in jurisdictions other than the home jurisdictions of our foreign investors. It might not be possible for investors outside Brazil to effect service of process within their home jurisdictions on us or on our officers or directors who reside outside their home jurisdictions. In addition, a final conclusive foreign judgment will be enforceable in the courts of Brazil without a re-examination of the merits only if previously confirmed by the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice (Superior Tribunal de Justiça - STJ), and confirmation will only be granted if the foreign judgment: (i) fulfills all formalities required for its enforceability under the laws of the country where it was issued; (ii) was issued by a competent court after due service of process on the defendant, as required under applicable law; (iii) is not subject to appeal; (iv) does not conflict with a final and unappealable decision issued by a Brazilian court; (v) was authenticated by a Brazilian consulate in the country in which it was issued or is duly apostilled in accordance with the Convention for Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents and is accompanied by a sworn translation into Portuguese, unless this procedure was exempted by an international treaty entered into by Brazil; (vi) does not cover matters subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Brazilian courts; and (vii) is not contrary to Brazilian national sovereignty, public policy or good morals. Therefore, investors might not be able to recover against us or our directors and officers on judgments of the courts of their home jurisdictions predicated upon the laws of such jurisdictions.
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If ADR holders exchange ADSs for the underlying shares, they risk losing the ability to remit foreign currency abroad.
The custodian for the shares underlying our ADSs maintains a registration with the Central Bank of Brazil permitting the custodian to remit U.S. dollars outside Brazil for payments of dividends and other distributions relating to the shares underlying our ADSs or upon the disposition of the underlying shares. If an ADR holder exchanges its ADSs for the underlying shares, it will be entitled to rely on the custodian’s registration for only five business days from the date of exchange. Thereafter, an ADR holder may not be able to obtain and remit foreign currency abroad upon the disposition of, or distributions relating to, the underlying shares unless it obtains its own registration under applicable regulation. For more information, see Additional Information—Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders. If an ADR holder attempts to obtain its own registration, it may incur expenses or suffer delays in the application process, which could delay the receipt of dividends or other distributions relating to the underlying shares or the return of capital in a timely manner.
The custodian’s registration or any registration obtained could be affected by future legislative changes, and additional restrictions applicable to ADR holders, the disposition of the underlying shares or the repatriation of the proceeds from disposition and taxation of dividends could be imposed in the future.
ADR holders may not have all the rights of our shareholders and may be unable to exercise voting rights or preemptive rights relating to the shares underlying their ADSs.
ADR holders may not have the same rights that are attributed to our shareholders by Brazilian law or our bylaws, and the rights of ADR holders may be subject to certain limitations provided in the deposit agreement or by the securities intermediaries through which ADR holders hold their securities.
ADR holders do not have the rights of shareholders. They have only the contractual rights set forth for their benefit under the deposit agreements. ADR holders are not permitted to attend shareholders’ meetings, and they may only vote by providing instructions to the depositary. In practice, the ability of a holder of ADRs to instruct the depositary as to voting will depend on the timing and procedures for providing instructions to the depositary either directly or through the holder’s custodian and clearing system. With respect to ADSs for which instructions are not received, the depositary may, subject to certain limitations, grant a proxy to a person designated by us.
The ability of ADR holders to exercise preemptive rights is not assured, particularly if the applicable law in the holder’s jurisdiction (for example, the Securities Act in the United States) requires that either a registration statement be effective or an exemption from registration be available with respect to those rights, as is in the case in the United States. We are not obligated to extend the offer of preemptive rights to holders of ADRs, to file a registration statement in the United States, or to make any other similar filing in any other jurisdiction, relating to preemptive rights or to undertake steps that may be needed to make exemptions from registration available, and we cannot assure holders that we will file any registration statement or take such steps.
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The legal protections for holders of our securities differ from one jurisdiction to another and may be inconsistent, unfamiliar or less effective than investors anticipate.
We are a global company with securities traded in several different markets and investors located in many different countries. The legal regime for the protection of investors varies around the world, sometimes in important ways, and investors in our securities should recognize that the protections and remedies available to them may be different from those to which they are accustomed in their home markets. We are subject to securities legislation in several countries, which have different rules, supervision and enforcement practices. The only corporate law applicable to our parent company is the law of Brazil, with its specific substantive rules and judicial procedures. We are subject to corporate governance rules in several jurisdictions where our securities are listed, but as a foreign private issuer, we are not required to follow many of the corporate governance rules that apply to U.S. domestic issuers with securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and we are not subject to the U.S. proxy rules.
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Risk Management
Our risk management is based on the Risk Management Policy and Standard, which defines the methodologies, guidelines, response strategy, governance, and responsibilities for addressing the identified present and emerging risks within the company. Our Risk Management Policy and Standard aims to:
| · | Promote a culture of risk management across our business. |
| · | Support strategic planning and the sustainability of our business, optimizing capital allocation and enhancing asset management. |
| · | Measure and monitor potential risks on a consolidated basis, considering diversification effects on our entire business. |
| · | Evaluate the impact of new investments, acquisitions, and divestitures on our risk map. |
| · | Map present and emerging risks to seek timely solutions that could mitigate possible negative impacts on our business objectives. |
Risk Governance Structure
Our integrated risk governance practice is founded on the lines of defense model and based on globally recognized standards for risk management, including ISO 31000, ISO 55000, COSO-ERM, and the Risk-Based Process Safety (RBPS) system for operational safety. We periodically reassess our risk practices to ensure alignment with the strategic decisions, performance, and risk approach set by our Board of Directors.
Our Risk Governance structure includes five executive risk committees that advise management across each of the following risk categories: (i) operational, (ii) geotechnical, (iii) strategy, finance and cyber, (iv) compliance, institutional relations and communication, and (v) sustainability. Additionally, we have five advisory committees that support our Board of Directors, with the Audit and Risks Committee playing a central role in advising the Board and overseeing risk management.
Below, we list our main structures with a role in Risk Governance. For more information, see Management and Employees—Management—Other Advisory Committees to the Board of Directors.
Audit and Risks Committee. The Audit and Risks Committee has a major role advising the Board and monitors all matters related to risks. This includes ensuring the quality and integrity of our financial reports, maintaining compliance with legal, statutory, and regulatory requirements, verifying the adequacy and the effectiveness and sufficiency of our controls and processes related to risk management, overseeing the work of both our internal and independent auditors, monitoring our corporate policies and integrated risk map, among other attributes set forth in the committee’s internal regulation.
Audit and Compliance Department. The Audit and Compliance Department, which reports directly to the Board of Directors and is supervised by the Audit and Risks Committee, is composed of the Internal Audit, Corporate Integrity and Whistleblower Channel areas, the latter two being responsible for our Ethics & Compliance Program.
Our Ethics & Compliance Program has seven elements: (1) Governance to ensure autonomy and independence from others executive structures of the company; (2) Guidelines, based on the principles detailed in our Code of Conduct, Anti-Corruption rules, policies and procedures; (3) Communication & Training, to guide employees on how to face ethical dilemmas and make the best decisions in a responsible and ethical way; (4) Risks Analysis, to perform customized analyses and provide information to guide and support the decision-making of the business areas; (5) Monitoring & Control, to monitor our adherence to the Program’s guidelines; (6) Whistleblower Channel to report cases of suspicion or ethical misconduct; and (7) Consequence Management to enable the application of disciplinary measures for confirmed misconduct inside the company.
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The Whistleblower Channel is structured to guarantee confidentiality, protect whistleblower anonymity and the information for a fair investigation. The Whistleblower Channel offers all conditions for a report to be independently verified, and prohibits breaches of confidentiality, intimidation or retaliation against whistleblowers.
Any breaches of our Code of Conduct, policies and standards can be reported by anyone, including employees, contractors, suppliers, members of affected communities and other stakeholders, via our Whistleblower Channel. More information about Vale’s Ethics & Compliance Program and its Whistleblower Channel, including the number of employees dismissed for misconduct, can be found in the Ethics & Compliance Program Annual Report, available on our website.
Management of Specific Risks
Geotechnical Risks
Geotechnical risk management is the structured approach we take to manage the risks of dams, tailings stacks, waste dump, stockpiles, open pits and slopes collapses, with the potential to cause fatalities and impact the communities and the environment or interrupt our activities. Geotechnical risks are very significant to our business and are continuously monitored and duly integrated to our enterprise risk management. For more information, see Overview—Business Overview—Business Strategy—Promote Sustainable Mining.
Operational Risks
Our approach to managing operational risks aims to systematically address potential failures and uncertainties in the production process. These risks can arise from within our operations or within a designated area for mining, processing, and transporting products, materials, and personnel. Operational risks often relate to the failure of physical integrity of assets used in production processes, which can lead to the unexpected release of hazardous materials or energy. This includes high severity incidents, known as Material Unwanted Events (MUEs).
For operational risks mapping, we apply different methodologies of Hazard Identification and Risk Analysis (HIRA), which were designed to map and analyze high-severity operational safety risks that required increased attention, identify and define performance criteria, establish assurance of appropriate critical controls, as well as mitigation plans. In the first phase, from 2019 to 2021, we assessed all our mines, processing plants, railways, and ports, and completed evaluations of priority tailings storage facilities in 2022. This phase concentrated on scenarios that could impact human life and the environment. In the second phase, which started in 2022, we are reassessing these scenarios and including operational interruption risks. This process is integrated into our production system and will be carried out every three to five years.
Financial Risks
For a quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk, see note 21 to our consolidated financial statements.
Market Risk
We are exposed to various market risk factors that can impact our cash flow. An assessment of the potential impact of the consolidated market risk exposure is performed periodically to support the decision-making process regarding the risk management strategy, which may incorporate financial instruments, including derivatives. The financial instrument portfolio is monitored on a monthly basis, enabling us to properly evaluate financial results and their impact on cash flow, and ensure correlation between the strategies implemented and the proposed objectives.
Considering the nature of our business and operations, the main market risk factors that we are exposed to are:
| · | Product prices and input costs. We are exposed to market risks associated with commodities price volatilities. We may enact risk mitigation programs in situations such as the following: (i) where there is a risk of financial distress; (ii) to support commercial activities and specific needs of our business segments; (iii) to ensure a minimum cash and/or value generation for certain businesses; and (iv) to protect from the increase of certain cost items, such as fuel oil used by chartered ships. These programs include predominantly forward transactions, futures contracts and options. |
| · | Foreign exchange rates. Our cash flows are also exposed to the volatility of several currencies against the U.S. dollar and of interest rate on loans and financings. While part of our product prices is indexed to U.S. dollars, most of our investments and other disbursements, and a relevant portion of our costs are indexed to other currencies other than the U.S. dollar, principally the Brazilian real and the Canadian dollar. We also have debt instruments denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars, mainly in Brazilian reais. We may use swaps and forward transactions to convert into U.S. dollars a portion of the cash outflows of these debt instruments, and of some other assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars. |
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| · | Interest rates. Our floating rate debt consists mainly of loans including export prepayments, commercial bank loans and multilateral organization loans. In general, the U.S. dollar floating rate debt is subject to changes to SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate). In addition, we may use swaps and forwards transactions to convert the interest rate from certain of our debt instruments indexed to SOFR and other floating rates into fixed interest rate. |
Credit Risks
We are exposed to credit risk arising from trade receivables, derivative transactions, guarantees, down payment for suppliers and cash investments. Our credit risk management process provides a framework for assessing and managing counterparties’ credit risk and for maintaining our risk at an acceptable level.
We assign an internal credit rating and a credit limit to each counterparty using our own quantitative methodology for credit risk analysis, which is based on market prices, external credit ratings and financial information of the counterparty, as well as qualitative information regarding the counterparty’s strategic position and history of commercial relations.
Based on the counterparty’s credit risk, risk mitigation strategies may be used to manage our credit risk. The main credit risk mitigation strategies include non-recourse discount of receivables, insurance instruments, letters of credit, corporate and bank guarantees, mortgages, among others.
From a geographic standpoint, we have a diversified accounts receivable portfolio, with Asia, Europe and Brazil, the regions with the most significant exposure. According to each region, different guarantees can be used to enhance the credit quality of the receivables. We monitor the counterparty exposure in the portfolio periodically and we block additional commercial credit to customers in delinquency.
To manage the credit exposure arising from cash investments and derivative instruments, credit limits are approved to each counterparty to which we have credit exposure. We control the portfolio diversification and monitor different indicators of solvency and liquidity of our different counterparties that were approved for trading.
Production Planning Risks
To mitigate production planning risks, our long-term planning monitors the lifecycle of mineral resources and geotechnical structures as well as timelines for development, licensing and implementation of new projects. Based on this, we work to prioritize engineering efforts and strengthen relationships with communities and environmental agencies to evolve with authorizations, environmental and social licenses to operate. We also invest in studies and research to support the sustainability of our operations.
Talent Management Risks
To achieve our ambitions and remain competitive, we are actively pursuing a cultural transformation within our business. Our focus is on managing risks related to our people agenda, with priorities including attraction, development, retention, and succession planning for critical positions, all aimed at enhancing organizational performance. Diversity and inclusion are strategic pillars of the work environment we aim to create. Implementing these measures will enhance our reputation as a reliable and sustainable company.
Sustainability, including climate change, nature and social and human rights risks
Climate Change
We assess both transition risks and physical risks related to climate change. Transition risks include regulatory changes at various levels, potential reputational issues related to our climate change performance, and disruptions from emerging technology. Physical risks involve operational impacts from extreme weather events intensified by climate change. We follow the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), that have been fully incorporated into IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures. For more information, please, see https://www.vale.com/esg/climate. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 20-F.
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Nature
As a member of the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Forum since 2022, we are committed to being TNFD Early Adopters. We conducted an assessment of nature impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities using the LEAP (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare) approach, focusing on our currently active operations in Brazil. In 2024 we improved our assessment of biodiversity risks, integrating the Vale risk assessment methodology with the approach proposed by the TNFD, and strategic biodiversity risks became part of the company’s risk map, with improvement of the controls that will be implemented in the coming years. For more information, see https://vale.com/esg/biodiversity and our TNFD Pilot Report (https://vale.com/documents/d/guest/val-relantnfd2023-en-140624-mg). The information in our website, including our TNFD Pilot Report, is not incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 20-F.
Social and Human Rights Risks
Social risk management involves identifying the potential impacts of our operations on neighboring communities, including Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities, as well as mapping critical stakeholders, including social movements. Human rights risk management focuses on analyzing relevant issues such as discrimination of any kind, harassment, poor working conditions, modern slavery, child labor, and sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, impacts on communities, and large-scale human rights violations related to our activities or value chain. In 2024, we enhanced the management of social and human rights risks, participating in assessments with a multidisciplinary team in our operations. We continued to monitor risk controls and to conduct inspections and due diligences, focusing on risks that could affect employees, contractors, communities, their safety, livelihoods, and human rights. Additionally, we conducted independent human rights due diligence in our operations, critical projects, and suppliers. The findings are incorporated into corrective plans, which are monitored. We maintain a grievance mechanism and whistleblower channel, available in the local language of where we operate, to receive, register, and address demands from all stakeholders, through which risks can be brought forth and identified.
Cyber Risks
Cyber risk management is the strategy for addressing information security risks that could affect our operations, including: (i) operational disruptions on critical technology systems halting essential activities; (ii) theft of strategic information and ransomware threats; (iii) third-party vulnerabilities leading to external breaches; and (iv) financial and reputational damage from data breaches.
We employ several measures to manage cyber risks by implementing comprehensive information security policies and standards, deploying advanced security protection technologies, and continuously detecting and monitoring threats. Our approach includes testing of response and recovery procedures to ensure preparedness. Additionally, we promote a culture of cybersecurity awareness through a training program that covers topics such as email phishing, information classification, and other best practices in information security. For more information on our measures to protect, detect and respond to cyber events, see Additional Information—Cybersecurity.
Legal, Political, Economic, Social and Other Regulatory Risks
Changes in laws and regulations; Regulatory and Institutional Risks
Our Corporate Affairs and Institutional teams continuously assess risks to identify institutional issues related to public policy formulation, geopolitical tensions, territorial development, and regulatory and institutional environment enhancements. While our controls are standardized, we tailor our institutional approach to each identified risk.
Our main guidelines and controls, as outlined in our internal guidelines, include, but are not limited to:
| · | Conducting and guiding all actions related to institutional and governmental relations in line with our Code of Conduct, Anti-Corruption Policy, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, and other pertinent regulations. |
| · | Monitoring scenarios, trends and/or changes in geopolitical dynamics, regulatory issues and public policies formulation and changes that affect the business, at a local or global level, with our various technical areas. |
| · | Engaging in constructive, transparent dialogues with institutional stakeholders on a technical level. |
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| · | Complying with our internal policies in decision-making processes. |
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
We are committed to complying with legal and regulatory requirements to uphold corporate integrity and mitigate potential risks. Our main guidelines and controls include, but are not limited to:
| · | Developing and implementing detailed compliance policies that clearly outline the legal and regulatory obligations relevant to the organization. |
| · | Establishing internal controls, procedures, training sessions, and awareness programs for employees to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards. |
Corruption Risk
Our Ethics & Compliance Program includes anti-corruption rules outlined in our Code of Conduct and Anti-Corruption Policy, and additional internal documents. Our Corporate Integrity team continuously assesses risks to identify areas more exposed to the risk of corruption and tailors actions based on each department’s specific risk levels. We provide regular and specialized training on anti-corruption rules. Key rules include, but are not limited to:
| · | Political contributions directly or indirectly on behalf of Vale are prohibited, including donations to political parties, candidates, or campaigns. |
| · | Facilitation payments are prohibited. |
| · | Socioenvironmental and institutional external expenditures must be previously analyzed by Corporate Integrity and properly formalized. |
| · | Gifts, travel, and hospitality for government officials require approval from Corporate Integrity if they exceed a certain value. Cash or cash equivalent gifts are not allowed. |
| · | Third parties receiving payments from us must undergo due diligence, in which a background check is carried out and the risk of corruption is assessed. Anti-corruption clauses must be included in contracts. |
| · | Hiring employees or administrators with connections to public officials requires approval from Corporate Integrity. Any conflicts of interest must be disclosed as soon as they arise. |
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| II. | Information on the company |
Lines of Business
Our principal lines of business consist of mining and related logistics. This section presents information about operations, production, sales and competition and is organized as follows:
1. Iron Solutions
1.1 Iron ore and iron ore agglomerates
1.1.1 Iron ore properties
1.1.2 Iron ore production
| 1.1.3 | Individual property disclosure |
1.1.3.1 Serra Norte
1.1.3.2 Serra Sul
| 1.1.4 | Iron ore agglomerates operations |
| 1.1.4.1 | Iron ore pellets operations |
| 1.1.4.2 | Iron ore pellets production |
| 1.1.4.3 | Iron ore briquette operations |
1.1.5 Iron ore strategy
| 1.1.6 | Customers, sales and marketing |
1.1.7 Competition
| 1.2 | Logistics and energy assets to support Iron Solutions operations |
1.2.1 Railroads
1.2.2 Ports and maritime terminals
1.2.3 Energy
2. Energy Transition Metals
2.1 Nickel
2.1.1 Properties
2.1.2 Production
| 2.1.3 | Individual property disclosure |
2.1.3.1 Sudbury
2.1.4 Nickel Strategy
2.1.5 Customers and sales
2.1.6 Competition
| 2.2 | Copper |
2.2.1 Properties
2.2.2 Production
| 2.2.3 | Individual property disclosure |
| 2.2.3.1 | Salobo |
2.2.4 Copper Strategy
2.2.5 Customers and sales
2.2.6 Competition
| 2.3 | PGMs and other precious metals |
| 2.4 | Cobalt |
| 2.5 | Logistics and energy assets to support Energy Transition Metals operations |
2.5.1 Ports
2.5.2 Energy
3. Other Investments
| 3.1 | Anglo American Minério de Ferro Brasil |
| 3.2 | Samarco |
| 3.3 | Other Investments |
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| Line of Business |
1. Iron Solutions
Our Iron Solutions business includes iron ore mining and iron ore agglomerates production. Each of these operations is described below.
1.1 Iron ore and iron ore agglomerates
1.1.1 Iron ore properties
We conduct our iron ore business in Brazil primarily at the parent-company level. Our mines, all of which are open pit, and their related operations are mainly concentrated in three systems: the Southeastern, Southern and Northern Systems, each with its own transportation and shipping capabilities. A summary of our iron ore resources and reserves is provided under Information on the Company—Reserves and Resources. In addition to the properties described below, we have other exploration activities and non-operational properties, mostly in the surroundings of our operations described in this section.
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Processing plants: In Serra Norte, two of the beneficiation plants apply natural moisture beneficiation process, with crushing and screening steps. Another plant applies both natural moisture and wet processing in distinct lines. This plant is connected to the facilities that receives ore from the Gelado tailings dam. The wet beneficiation process consists of sizing operations, including crushing, screening, hydrocycloning, magnetic concentrator and filtration. Output from this site consists of sinter feed, pellet feed and lump ore. Serra Leste and Serra Sul applies natural moisture beneficiation process with crushing and screening. Serra Sul and Serra Leste produce only sinter feed. Other facilities: Waste and tailings disposal structures in Serra Norte and Serra Leste and waste disposal structures in Serra Sul. Logistics: Carajás railroad (EFC) transports the iron ore to the Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal in the Brazilian state of Maranhão. Serra Leste iron ore is transported by trucks from the mine site to EFC railroad. The Serra Sul ore is shipped via a 101-kilometer-long railroad spur to the EFC railroad. Energy: Supplied through the national electricity grid. Produced directly by our power plants or acquired through power purchase agreements. |
(1) Area with reserves and resources associated.
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Processing plants: We generally process the run of mine by means of standard crushing, classification and concentration steps, producing sinter feed, lump ore and pellet feed in the beneficiation plants located at the mining complexes. Other facilities: Waste and tailings disposal structures in all complexes. Sand treatment and logistic structures at Minas Centrais Complex Logistics: EFVM railroad connects these mines to the Tubarão port. Energy: Supplied through the national electricity grid. Produced directly by our power plants or acquired through power purchase agreements. |
(1) Area with reserves and resources associated.
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| Associated facilities and infrastructure |
Processing plants: We generally process the run of mine by means of standard crushing, classification and concentration steps, producing sinter feed, lump ore and pellet feed in the beneficiation plants located at the mining complexes. Other facilities: Waste and tailings disposal structures in all complexes. Logistics: MRS transports our iron ore products from the mines to our Guaíba Island and Itaguaí maritime terminals in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. EFVM railroad connects certain mines to the Tubarão port in the state of Espírito Santo. Energy: Supplied through the national electricity grid. Produced directly by our power plants or acquired through power purchase agreements. |
(1) Area with reserves and resources associated.
1.1.2 Iron ore production
The following table sets forth information about our iron ore production.
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Production for the year ended December 31, (million metric tons) |
Process recovery 2024(2) (%) | ||||
| Mine/Plant | Type | 2024(1) | 2023(1) | 2022(1) | |
| Southeastern System | |||||
| Itabira | Open pit | 32.8 | 31.2 | 27.3 | 55.6 |
| Minas Centrais(3) | Open pit | 27.9 | 24.7 | 20.8 | 80.4 |
| Mariana | Open pit | 26.2 | 26.5 | 24.6 | 65.6 |
| Southeastern System – total | 86.9 | 82.3 | 72.7 | 65.4 | |
| Southern System | |||||
| Vargem Grande | Open pit | 37.4 | 37.1 | 33.5 | 73.3 |
| Paraopeba | Open pit | 25.8 | 28.7 | 30.1 | 83.0 |
| Southern System – total | 63.3 | 65.8 | 63.6 | 76.0 | |
| Northern System | |||||
| Serra Norte | Open pit | 88.2 | 91.7 | 96.3 | 98.0 |
| Serra Leste | Open pit | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 100.0 |
| Serra Sul | Open pit | 83.0 | 75.0 | 69.3 | 100.0 |
| Northern System - total | 177.5 | 173.0 | 171.6 | 99.0 | |
| Total | 327.7 | 321.2 | 307.9 | 85.2 | |
(1) Production figures include third-party ore purchases, run of mine and feed for pelletizing plants.
(2) Percentage of the run-of-mine recovered in the beneficiation process. Process recovery figures do not include third-party ore purchases.
(3) These figures correspond to 100% production and are not adjusted to reflect our 50% ownership of Morro Agudo mine.
1.1.3 Individual property disclosure
We consider Serra Norte and Serra Sul Complexes to be material properties, for purposes of Item 1300 of Regulation S-K (S-K 1300).
There have been no material changes in the reported reserves or resources or in the material assumptions and information since the last technical report summary filed for Serra Norte and Serra Sul.
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1.1.3.1 Serra Norte
Property Description
The Serra Norte mining complex is a production stage property, part of our Northern System, located in the municipality of Parauapebas, state of Pará, in the North region of Brazil. The property consists of five orebodies (N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5) and has the approximate coordinates 587,140E, 9,331,790N using the UTM SAD 69 (Universal Transverse Mercator – South American Datum 1969) coordinate system. Central mass point coordinates of the Serra Norte mines are presented below:
Serra Norte mines central coordinates UTM South American Datum (SAD69)
The property can be accessed via regular flights between the Carajás village and the cities of Marabá, Belém, Belo Horizonte, and Brasilia, as well as paved highways PA-275, PA-150, and PA-70. There is also a railroad linking Carajás with the Ponta da Madeira port, in the city of São Luis.
Infrastructure
Various services are available approximately 50 km east of the complex in Parauapebas (population 213,576, estimated 2020). A greater range of general services is available at the state capital of Belem, located approximately 770 km to the northeast. Electric power is provided through Brazil’s national electricity production and transmission system. Dewatering boreholes provide a source of water that is used for dust control, washing floors and equipment. An on-site treatment plant treats borehole water for potable use. Process makeup water is sourced from the Gelado and Pera dams. Infrastructure at the complex includes a tailings storage facility, three processing plants, ore stockpiles, waste rock dumps, maintenance workshops, an assay laboratory, administration offices, and a clinic. Personnel reside mainly in the urban center of Carajás and the city of Parauapebas.
Geology and Mineralization
The main Carajás iron ore deposits are associated with flat-topped elevated plateaus, defined along two main morphological alignments corresponding to Serra Norte and Serra Sul. These alignments form the flanks of the Carajás Syncline structure. The Serra Norte complex corresponds to the inverted flank of the Carajás Syncline. Mineralization occurs mainly as a product of supergenic enrichment, developed over jaspilites (BIF – Banded Iron Formation – interlayered with basalts), generating a high-grade ore composed of friable hematite, compact hematite, and manganiferous hematite. The main structural controls are faults and folds that favored the BIFs thickening of the levels of jaspilite, by duplication and the efficiency of supergenic processes through the tilting and fracturing of these rocks. The mineralization also includes tailings deposited in the Gelado dam.
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Exploration
Exploration has occurred in the property since the late 1960s and includes geological mapping, drilling, ore control field sampling and geophysics. We continually invest in mineral exploration with the aim of expanding our mineral resources and mineral reserves and achieve an adequate level of confidence in the resource estimate that supports our mining plans.
Mineral rights
We have a mining concession for Serra Norte operations, under Brazilian national mining agency (Agência Nacional de Mineração – ANM) Mineral Right number 813.682/1969, that covers an area of 30,000.00 ha, with no expiration date. This mineral right is part of a group of permits referred to as “Grupamento Mineiro” (number 852.145/1976), which includes mining concessions from the Carajás region, such as mining concessions of operations of Serra Sul and Serra Leste. For Gelado Tailings Dam mine operation the Economic Evaluation Plan (PAE) was approved by the National Mining Agency - ANM.
Surface rights
Surface rights are independent of mineral rights in Brazil. Serra Norte is located entirely within the National Forest of Carajás and Gelado Tailings Dam is located within National Forest of Carajás and Igarapé Gelado Environmental Protection, both of which belong to the Federal Government. We have the required licenses and authorizations from the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBIO) to operate in these areas. There are no associated payments related to surface rights.
Current, planned, future mining plans
Mining at Serra Norte is by traditional open-pit mining methods. Ore is hauled by off-road trucks to strategically positioned primary crushing facilities, and waste is hauled to waste dumps. A dredge method operation has started at the Gelado tailings dam to recover high-grade iron. Plant 1 has a mixed beneficiation process (55% wet process and 45% natural moisture processing) while Plants 2 and 3 have a 100% natural moisture processing. The wet process of Plant 1 consists of the stages of crushing, screening, classification, magnetic concentration, thickening, and filtration, while the natural moisture processing of all plants consists only of the stages of screening and crushing. The installed capacities are 85.0 Mtpy for Plant 1, 40 Mtpy for Plant 2, and 20 Mtpy for Plant 3. An additional plant with an installed capacity of 14 Mtpy was designed for processing the tailings from Gelado dam. The material, after being dredged, is thickened and pumped to the wet circuit of Plant 1.
The current life of mine plan runs from 2025 through 2045. The mine plan involves opening new mining areas for extraction at the N1, N2, and N3 orebodies. Additionally, Plant 1 is undergoing a conversion to a 100% dry processing, which is expected to be completed between 2026 and 2027.
Asset details and modernization
Serra Norte mines have been operating since 1984 and being expanded laterally and in depth, with simultaneous mining of more mineral bodies. Consequently, the average haulage distance is increasing. Crushers were implemented for the run of mine (ROM) in the pits with conveyor belts, to reduce the haulage distance. We have plans to install new crushers with the same goal. In 2021, we began using 14 autonomous trucks, with plans to expand this fleet starting in 2026. Also, there are projects under study for the implementation of semi-mobile crushers with conveyor belts for the waste. In regions where is a needed vibration control in rock blasting, surface miners are used.
Total property book value
The book value of the Serra Norte mining complex and its associated plant and equipment was US$2,645 million as of December 31, 2024, not including shared infrastructure assets such as ports and railways.
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Operator History
The Carajás Complex has undergone exploration work since 1922. In July 1967, United States Steel began an exploration program in the region to search for manganese deposits, resulting in the first field surveys of the Serra Norte (N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5 locations) as well as the nearby Serra Sul. Exploration and evaluation activities continued, and in 1977 we acquired a shareholding in United States Steel (USS) and took over work on the project. Construction began in 1979, with operations at the N4E mine commencing in 1984. Production at the N4W mine began in 1994.
Encumbrances and permitting requirements
We hold an environmental operating license for the property that was valid through March 27, 2021 and is currently being renewed. According to Brazilian legislation we can continue to operate during the renewal process, until there is a decision from the licensing agency (in this case, IBAMA).
Mineral resources
For a discussion of the changes from the previous fiscal year, see Information on the Company—Reserves and Resources. We do not consider this change to be material. All disclosure of mineral resources is exclusive of mineral reserves.
(1) The mineral resource prospects of economic extraction were determined based on a long-term price of US$100/dmt for 62% iron grade.
(2) Resources reported on an 100% basis, as operations are entirely owned by us.
(3) Tonnage stated as metric million tons inclusive of 6.97%% of moisture content and dry %Fe grade except for the ore from Gelado tailings dam, which is on a dry basis. The point of reference used is in situ tons except for Gelado tailings dam.
(4) The economic cut-off grade was not applied, as it is lower than the values estimated in the mineralized portion of the block model.
(5) Metallurgical recovery for in-situ material is 100% and for Gelado tailings material is approximately 50%. The Gelado tailings dam tonnage represents 5.4% of Serra Norte mineral resources.
(6) Numbers have been rounded.
Mineral reserves
For a discussion of the changes from the previous fiscal year, see Information on the Company—Reserves and Resources. We do not consider the current change as material. All disclosure of mineral resources is exclusive of mineral reserves.
(1) The mineral reserve economic viability was determined based price curve with the long-term price being US$83.2/dmt for 62% iron grade.
(2) The reserves reported on an 100% basis, as operations are entirely owned by us.
(3) Tonnage stated as metric million tons inclusive of 7.09%% of moisture content and dry %Fe grade except for Gelado tailings dam material, which is on a dry basis. The point of reference used is in situ metric tons except for Gelado tailings dam.
(4) The economic cut-off grade was not applied, as it is lower than the values estimated in the mineralized portion of the block.
(5) Metallurgical recovery for in-situ material is 99.4% and for Gelado tailings dam material is approximately 50%. The Gelado tailings dam tonnage represents 6.3% of Serra Norte mineral reserves.
(6) Numbers have been rounded.
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1.1.3.2 Serra Sul
Property Description
Serra Sul mining complex is a production stage property, part of our Northern System, located in the municipality of Canaã dos Carajás, state of Pará, North region of Brazil at coordinates 574,671 E, 9,291,735 N using the SAD69. The property consists of orebody S11, subdivided on A, B, C, and D. Current production activities are in the S11D mine and the mineral reserves and mineral resources are defined only for the orebodies C and D. Access to the property is from Carajás airport towards Canaã dos Carajás via state roads PA-275 and PA-160, covering 83 km. Production ore is transported via railway of the southeast of Pará where it connects to the Carajás Railroad and the Ponta da Madeira port terminal in São Luís in the State of Maranhão.
Infrastructure
The nearest city to the mine complex is Canaã dos Carajás (with a population of 77,079, as estimated in 2022). Electric power is provided to the mines through Brazil’s national electricity production and transmission system. Water is sourced from permitted dewatering wells and water catchments across the site and is used for industrial and domestic purposes. Infrastructure at the complex includes the open pit mine, waste dumps, processing plant, a complete maintenance workshop facility, an assay and quality control laboratory, offices, and an ambulatory. As the plant is a 100% dry processing, a tailings storage facility is not necessary for Serra Sul. Personnel reside mainly in the urban center of Canaã dos Carajás.
Geology and Mineralization
The main Carajás iron ore deposits are associated with flat-topped elevated plateaus, defined along two main morphological alignments corresponding to Serra Norte and Serra Sul. These alignments form the flanks of the Carajás Syncline structure. The Serra Sul complex corresponds to the normal flank domain of the Carajás Syncline. Mineralization at Serra Sul is mainly formed from alteration on supergenic enrichment over jaspilites (BIF – Banded Iron Formation – interlayered with basalts), generating a high-grade ore composed of friable hematite, compact hematite, and manganiferous hematite which occur in a sub-horizontal tabular layer. The main structural controls are folds and faults that are responsible for the BIF thickening of the levels of jaspilite, by duplication and the efficiency of supergenic processes through the tilting and fracturing of these rocks.
Exploration
Exploration has occurred in the property since the late 1960s and includes geological mapping, drilling, ore control field sampling and geophysics. We continually invest in mineral exploration with the aim of expanding our mineral resources and mineral reserves and achieve an adequate level of confidence in the resource estimate that supports our mining plans.
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Mineral Rights
We have a mining concession for Serra Sul operations, under ANM Mineral Right number 813.684/1969, that covers an area of 98,910.42 ha. This mineral right is part of a group of permits referred to as “Grupamento Mineiro” (number 852.145/1976), which includes mining concessions from the Carajás region, such as mining concessions of operations of Serra Norte and Serra Leste. In 2021, we decided to relinquish all our mineral rights in Indigenous Lands in Brazil. For this purpose, we filed application for area reduction with respect to the mineral right number 813.684/1969, reducing its area from 100,000.00 ha to 98,910.42 ha. This area reduction will become effective upon publication of ANM approval in the Official Gazette.
Surface Rights
Surface rights are independent of mineral rights in Brazil. We own the relevant properties or have easements to conduct our operations in Serra Sul.
Current, planned, future mining plans
Mining at Serra Sul is by operated open pit mining. There are four mobile crushing systems working in conjunction with conveyor belts that move along the benches as the mining face advances in favorable zones. Where belt systems are not feasible, the mine uses traditional truck-shovel methods for extraction of ore and waste (sterile). The mine and processing plant at Serra Sul has a nominal annual capacity of 90 Mtpy. We are currently working on projects to increase this capacity to 120 Mtpy. Additional mining areas are being assessed at Serra Sul to maintain and expand the complex’s production capacity.
Asset details and modernization
The S11 mine has been operating since 2016 and since the project was conceived there was a premise of having a minimal environmental impact on virgin forest areas. The dump (waste) piles are also located outside the forest area and have a spreader system for waste disposal. A robust equipment and infrastructure replacement program ensures that equipment manufacturer recommendations for life of asset are followed, and key parts replaced or replaced when required. When the useful life of equipment is done, we plan and invest in upgraded equipment.
Total property book value
The book value of the Serra Sul mining complex and its associated plant and equipment was US$3,743 million as of December 31, 2024, not including shared infrastructure assets such as ports and railways.
Operator history
The geological surveys in Serra dos Carajás, where the North System is located, began in 1922, but the first citations on the occurrence of iron formations date back to 1933. In July 1967, United States Steel began an exploration program in the region to search for manganese deposits, resulting in the first field surveys of Serra Sul as well as the nearby Serra Norte. Exploration and evaluation activities continued, and in 1977 we acquired a shareholding United States Steel and took over work on the project. In 1979, the construction of the complex, integrating the mine, railroad, and port of the Carajás Iron Project (North System) began and after 6 years, the São Luís – Carajás railroad was completed. Iron ore production began in 1984 in Serra Norte complex while Serra Sul complex started the mine operation in 2016.
Encumbrances and permitting requirements
We hold an operating license for mining, expansions, processing, and infrastructure. The operating license is valid through December 9, 2026.
Mineral resources
For a discussion of the changes from the previous fiscal year, see Information on the Company—Reserves and Resources. All disclosure of mineral resources is exclusive of mineral reserves.
(1) The mineral resource prospects of economic extraction were determined based on a long-term price of US$100/dmt for 62% iron grade.
(2) The resources reported on an 100% basis, as operations are entirely owned by us.
(3) Tonnage stated as metric million tons inclusive of 6.74%% of moisture content and dry %Fe grade. The point of reference used is in situ metric tons.
(4) The economic cut-off grade was not applied, as it is lower than the values estimated in the mineralized portion of the block model.
(5) Numbers have been rounded.
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Mineral reserves
For a discussion of the changes from the previous fiscal year, see Information on the Company–Reserves and Resources.
(1) The mineral reserve economic viability was determined based price curve with the long-term price being US$83.2/dmt for 62% iron grade.
(2) The reserves reported on an 100% basis, as operations are entirely owned by us.
(3) Tonnage stated as metric million tons inclusive of 6.78%% of moisture content and dry %Fe grade. The point of reference used is in situ metric tons.
(4) The economic cut-off grade was not applied, as it is lower than the values estimated in the mineralized portion of the block model.
(5) Numbers have been rounded.
1.1.4 Iron ore agglomerate operations
1.1.4.1 Iron ore pellets operations
We produce iron ore pellets in Brazil and Oman, directly and through joint ventures, as set forth in the table below. Our total estimated nominal capacity is 54.8 Mtpy, including the full capacity of our pelletizing plants in Oman, our joint ventures and Tubarão, but not including the capacity of plants owned by our joint venture Samarco.
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IRON ORE PELLETS OPERATIONS
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| TUBARÃO | FÁBRICA | VARGEM GRANDE | SÃO LUIS | |
(1) The operating lease for the Hispanobras pellet plant expires in December 2025, for the Itabrasco pellet plant in June 2026, for the Nibrasco pellet plant in December 2028, and for the Kobrasco pellet plants in August 2033.
(2) Our environmental operating licenses for the Tubarão pellet plants provide for a capacity of 36.2 Mtpy.
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| OMAN |
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| Vale Oman Pelletizing Company LLC (VOPC) | |
| Ownership interest |
100% stake
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| Location | Sohar, Oman |
| Operator | Vale S.A. |
| Capacity (Mtpy) | 9.0 |
| Operations |
Our industrial complex comprises two pellet plants with total nominal capacity of 9.0 Mtpy. The pelletizing plant is integrated with our distribution center that has a nominal capacity of 40.0 Mtpy. The Oman plant is supplied by iron ore from the Iron Quadrangle state of Minas Gerais through the Tubarão port and by iron ore from Carajás through the Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal. |
1.1.4.2 Iron ore pellets production
The following table sets forth information about our main iron ore pellet production.
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Production for the year ended December 31, (million metric tons) | |||
| Operator | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| Blast Furnace Pellets | 18.9 | 19.4 | 16.7 |
| Direct Reduction Pellets | 18.0 | 17.1 | 15.4 |
| Total(1) | 36.9 | 36.5 | 32.1 |
(1) These figures correspond to 100% production from our pellet plants in Oman and in Tubarão and the four pellet plants we lease in Brazil and are not adjusted to reflect our ownership.
1.1.4.3 Iron ore briquette operations
We are reshaping our agglomerates portfolio with a focus on low-carbon solutions for the steelmaking sector. In December 2023, we launched our first industrial briquette plant with a 2 Mtpy capacity in Tubarão, and in September 2024 we started the operation of a mobile briquetting plant, with a R&D purpose and a of 0,2 Kty capacity in the same location. The second plant with a 4 Mtpy capacity is forecasted to the fourth quarter of 2025. These plants will enable us to expand our testing and run longer validation programs with our clients for blast furnace briquettes. Our goal is to deliver 60 to 70 Mtpy of agglomerate products (i.e., iron ore pellets and iron ore briquettes) by 2030.
1.1.5 Iron ore strategy
Our key priorities for Iron Solutions are to recover production and operational flexibility, build sustainable solutions and optimize our product portfolio by increasing the supply of high-quality products:
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Recovering production and operational flexibility
Our goal is to achieve an overall production ranging from 340 to 360 Mtpy by 2026. In the Northern System, our plan is to increase high-quality volumes in with new low-cost assets, ramping up and opening new mining fronts and enhancing assets performance. In the Southeastern System, we are developing solutions to increase our pellet feed production, developing tailings filtration facilities and dry stacking.
Another key goal is to increase our flexibility by creating capacity buffers across the operations. We are pursuing it through initiatives that include: (i) expanding Northern System through opening new mining fronts and obtaining new licenses, such as the S11D+20 project, (ii) developing the Capanema project in Southeastern System, which was commissioned in 2024, (iii) unlocking capacity in Vargem Grande complex and (iv) developing other projects.
Building sustainable solutions
We continue to invest in solutions to reduce our reliance on new dams and dam raisings. In 2024, we reached an approximate 67% share of dry processing production compared to 40% in 2014. Once we reach 360 Mtpy in capacity and complete the implementation of other related projects, including the production increase in the Capanema project start-up, and dry concentration facilities, we expect to have only approximately 15% of our production based on tailings disposal in dams build in a single step or raised by center line or downstream method.
In order to treat the tailings from wet processing, we are investing in tailings filtration systems to allow the reduction of disposal of tailings in dams and also to operate certain mines and plants without using tailings dams. We have announced an estimated investment of US$2,214 million between 2018 and 2033 in some of our sites, including Vargem Grande Complex, Itabira Complex and Brucutu, to be operated with tailings filtration systems and dry stacking tailings disposal, which consists of filtering and stacking of partially dewatered tailings, reducing our reliance on tailings dams. In 2023, we invested US$144 million in tailings filtration system and dry stacking tailings disposal, and we started the operation of the Itabira Complex (Cauê and Conceição) and Brucutu filtration plants, the second and third of four plants under construction in Minas Gerais.
We announced the development of a commercial quality sand for civil construction applications – a sustainable alternative for the construction industry. These efforts are the result of seven years of research and approximately R$50 million in investments. In 2021, we announced the development of a commercial-grade sand for civil construction applications – a sustainable alternative for the industry. In 2023, we created Agera, a subsidiary to develop and expand our sustainable sand business. We process and commercialize the sand produced from tailings resulting from our iron ore operations in the state of Minas Gerais. This product, began production in 2021 after seven years of research, serves as a substitute for naturally extracted sand. Since its inception, approximately 1.9 million tons have been supplied to the civil construction sector and road paving projects.
Optimizing product portfolio by increasing the supply of higher-quality products and developing innovative solutions for the decarbonization of steel industry
In the iron ore business, we will continue to promote the Brazilian Blend Fines (BRBF), a standard product with silica (SiO2) content limited to 5% and lower alumina (1.5%), which offers strong performance in any kind of sintering operation. We produce BRBF by blending fines from Carajás ores and Southern and Southeastern ores, which are complementary ores for our blending strategy. BRBF is produced in our Teluk Rubiah Maritime Terminal in Malaysia and in sixteen 16 ports in China. This process reduces the time needed to reach Asian markets and increases our distribution capillarity by allowing the use of smaller vessels. Our blending strategy also enables the use of iron ore with lower iron content from the Southern and Southeastern Systems, allowing more efficient mining plans and increasing the use of dry processing methods, which in turn reduce capital expenditures, extend the life of our mines, reduce use of dams, and reduce water consumption by our operations: a key flexibility to cope with the short-term challenges.
We continue to improve our portfolio to provide our customers with solutions and to adapt to potential market demands. Steel demand will grow steadily over the years based on emerging regions and current megatrends. Decarbonization will create market segmentation with increased appetite for high quality products that can deliver lower CO2 emissions. Our strategy aims to accelerate the implementation of breakthrough Iron Solutions to attend more stringent demand of steelmakers. As development progresses, an optimized portfolio focused on improving quality and gradually recovering capacity will be achieved. Our goal is to increase the production of agglomerated products – briquettes and pellets – securing the supply of high-grade products to the market. The iron ore briquettes are part of our Iron Solutions portfolio, result of a breakthrough technology developed in-house over 18 years of research and patented by us. Our iron ore briquettes are low temperature, low CO2 agglomerated alternative to lump, pellets and sinter. They can provide a reduction of up to 10% of greenhouse gases emissions in the steel industry production chain, while the low temperature (approximately 250°C) required in its production process allows for up to 80% less CO2 emissions when compared to traditional agglomeration routes (approximately 1300°C). The briquette had its performance proven by several industrial trials conducted since 2019 in different clients, delivering excellent results. It also connects with circular economy, as the binder production can use sand from our mining tailings as a raw material.
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1.1.6 Customers, sales and marketing
Iron ore demand is primarily driven by steel production. China, as the world’s largest steel producer, significantly influences this demand. There are several types of tradeable iron ore products such as lump, fines, iron ore concentrates, pellets and briquettes. Each product differs in iron content, impurities levels, moisture and physical properties.
We supply all of our iron ore and iron ore pellets to the steel industry. Prevailing and expected levels of demand for steel products affect demand for our iron ore and iron ore pellets. Demand for steel products is influenced by many factors, such as global manufacturing production, civil construction and infrastructure spending. For further information about demand and prices, see Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Major Factors Affecting Prices.
In 2024, China accounted for 62.4% of our iron ore and iron ore pellet shipments, and Asia as a whole accounted for 77.6%, Brazil accounted for 11.3%, Europe accounted for 4.7%, followed by the Middle East with 2.2% and others with 2.8%. Our ten largest customers collectively purchased 131.3 million metric tons of iron ore and iron ore pellets from us, representing 42.8% of our 2024 iron ore and iron ore pellet sales volumes and 41.7% of our total iron ore and iron ore pellet revenues. In 2024, no customer individually represented 10% or more of our revenue. In 2023, one customer individually represented 10% of our revenue. In 2022, no customer individually represented 10% or more of our revenue.
Of our 2024 pellet production, 51% was blast furnace pellets and 49% was direct reduction pellets. Blast furnace and direct reduction are different technologies employed by steel mills to produce steel, each using different types of pellets. In 2024, the Brazilian markets and the Asian market (mainly China and Japan) were the primary markets for our blast furnace pellets, while the Middle East and North America were the primary markets for our direct reduction pellets.
We invest in customer service in order to improve our competitiveness. We work with our customers to understand their objectives and to provide them with Iron Solutions to meet specific customer needs. Using our expertise in mining, agglomeration and iron-making processes, we search for technical solutions that will balance the best use of our world-class mining assets and the satisfaction of our customers. We believe that our ability to provide customers with a total Iron Solutions and the quality of our products are both very important advantages helping us improve our competitiveness in relation to competitors that may be more conveniently located geographically. In addition to offering technical assistance to our customers, we have offices in St. Prex (Switzerland), Tokyo (Japan), Singapore, Dubai (UAE), Shanghai, Beijing and Qingdao (China), which support global sales by Vale International. These offices also allow us to stay in close contact with our customers, monitor their requirements and our contract performance, and ensure that our customers receive timely deliveries.
We sell iron ore and iron ore pellets under different arrangements, including long-term contracts with customers and on a spot basis through tenders and trading platforms. Our pricing is generally linked to market price indexes and uses a variety of mechanisms, including current spot prices and average prices over specified periods. In cases where the products are priced before the final price is determinable at delivery, we recognize the sale based on a provisional price with a subsequent adjustment reflecting the final price.
In 2024, we hedged part of our total exposure of 2024 and 2025 to bunker oil prices relating to our shipping requirements connected to our FOB and CFR international and domestic sales.
1.1.7 Competition
The global iron ore and iron ore pellet markets are highly competitive. The main factors affecting competition are price, quality and range of products offered, reliability, operating costs and shipping costs.
Asia. Our main competitors in the Asian market are located in Australia and include subsidiaries and affiliates of BHP Group Limited (BHP), Rio Tinto Ltd (Rio Tinto) and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.
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| · | We are competitive in the Asian market for two main reasons. (1) First, steel companies generally seek to obtain the types (or blends) of iron ore and iron ore pellets that can produce the intended final product in the most economic and efficient manner. Our iron ore has low impurity levels and other properties that generally lead to lower processing costs. For example, in addition to its high-grade, the alumina content of our iron ore is very low compared to Australian ores, reducing consumption of coke and increasing productivity in blast furnaces, which is particularly important during periods of high demand and environmental restrictions. When market demand is strong, our quality differential generally becomes more valuable to customers. (2) Second, steel companies often develop sales relationships based on a reliable supply of a specific mix of iron ore and iron ore pellets. Our ownership and operation of logistics facilities in the Northern and Southeastern Systems help us ensure that our products are delivered on time and at a relatively low cost. |
| · | We rely on long-term contracts of affreightment to secure transport capacity and enhance our ability to offer our products in the Asian market at competitive prices on a CFR basis, despite higher freight costs compared to Australian producers. |
| · | To support our commercial strategy for our iron ore business, we operate two distribution centers, one in Malaysia and one in Oman and we have long-term agreements with 20 ports in China, which also serve as distribution centers. |
| · | In 2015, we launched the Brazilian blend fines (BRBF), a product resulting from blending fines from Carajás, which contain a higher concentration of iron and a lower concentration of silica in the ore, with fines from the Southern and Southeastern Systems, which contain a lower concentration of iron in the ore. In August 2018, Metal Bulletin launched a new index, the 62% Fe low-alumina index, which is based on our BRBF. During 2024, the 62% Fe low-alumina index traded with a premium of US$0.65 per dmt over the 62% Fe index. The resulting blend offers strong performance in any kind of sintering operation. It is produced in our Teluk Rubiah Maritime Terminal in Malaysia and in the 20 distribution centers in China, which reduces the time to reach Asian markets and increases our distribution capillarity. |
Europe. Our main competitors in the European market are Luossavaara Kiirunavaara AB (LKAB), ArcelorMittal Mines Canada Inc., Iron Ore Company of Canada, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, Kumba Iron Ore Limited and Société Nationale Industrielle et Miniére. We are competitive in the European market for the same reasons as in Asia, and due to the proximity of our port facilities to European customers.
Brazil. The Brazilian iron ore market is also competitive and includes several small iron ore producers. Some steel companies, including Gerdau S.A., Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional, Vallourec Tubos do Brasil S.A., Usiminas and Arcelor-Mittal, also have iron ore mining operations. Although pricing is relevant, quality and reliability are important competitive factors as well. We believe that our integrated transportation systems, high quality ore and technical services make us a strong competitor in the Brazilian market. With respect to pellets, our major competitors are LKAB, Iron Ore Company of Canada, Ferrexpo Plc, Arcelor-Mittal Mines Canada, Samarco and Bahrain Steel.
1.2 Logistics and energy assets to support Iron Solutions operations
1.2.1 Railroads
Vitória a Minas railroad (Estrada de Ferro Vitória a Minas - EFVM). EFVM railroad links our Southeastern System mines in the Iron Quadrangle region in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais to the Tubarão port, in Vitória, in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo.
| · | We operate this 905-kilometer railroad under a concession agreement, which was recently renewed and will expire in 2057. |
| · | The EFVM railroad consists of two lines of track extending for 584 kilometers to permit continuous railroad travel in opposite directions, and single-track branches of 304 kilometers. Industrial manufacturers are in this area and major agricultural regions are also accessible to it. |
| · | VLI S.A. (VLI) has rights to purchase railroad transportation capacity on our EFVM railroad. |
| · | In 2024, the EFVM railroad transported 88.5 thousand metric tons of iron ore and 18.9 thousand metric tons of other cargo. The EFVM railroad also carried 845 thousand passengers in 2024. In 2024, we had a fleet of 317 locomotives and 15,119 wagons at EFVM, which were operated by us and third parties. |
Carajás railroad (Estrada de Ferro Carajás - EFC). EFC railroad links our Northern System mines in the Carajás region in the Brazilian state of Pará to the Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal, in São Luis, in the Brazilian state of Maranhão.
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| · | We operate the EFC railroad under a concession agreement, which was recently renewed and will expire in 2057. EFC extends for 892 kilometers from our Carajás mines to our Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal complex facilities. Its main cargo is iron ore, principally carried for us. |
| · | VLI has rights to purchase railroad transportation capacity on our EFC railroad. |
| · | In 2024, the EFC railroad transported 178,433 thousand metric tons of iron ore and 16,626 thousand metric tons of other cargo. EFC also carried 423 thousand passengers in 2024. EFC supports the largest train, in terms of capacity, in Latin America, which measures approximately 3.4 kilometers, weighs approximately 34.6 thousand gross metric tons when loaded and has 330 cars. In 2024, EFC had a fleet of 296 locomotives and 21,739 wagons, which were operated by us and third parties. |
In December 2024, we established with the federal government (through the Ministry of Transportation and the Brazilian National Land Transportation Agency – ANTT), the general framework for the renegotiation of the concession contracts for the Carajás Railway (EFC) and the Vitória-Minas Railway (EFVM). The renegotiation will be carried out in accordance with the terms of the concession contracts renewed in 2020, which remain in force, aiming to promote their modernization and updating. Under this general framework, we have committed to a maximum global contribution of approximately US$1,890 million, related to the EFC and EFVM’s asset base review, the optimization of contractual obligations and investment replanning. As a result of the agreed conditions, we recognized an additional provision of US$256 million related the railway concessions in 2024. The general framework established for the renegotiation of the concession contracts will comply with usual formalities and will be submitted to the relevant authorities for evaluation and approval.
The principal items of cargo of the EFVM and EFC railroads are:
| · | Iron ore and iron ore pellets and manganese ore, carried for us and customers; |
| · | Steel, coal, pig iron, limestone and other raw materials carried for customers with steel mills located along the railroad; |
| · | Agricultural products, such as soybeans, soybean meal and fertilizers; and |
| · | Other general cargo, such as pulp, fuel and chemical products. |
We charge market prices for customer freight, including iron ore pellets originating from joint ventures and other enterprises in which we do not have a 100% equity interest. Market prices vary based on the distance traveled, the type of product transported and other criteria, subject to price caps set forth in the relevant concession agreements and are regulated by the Brazilian transportation regulatory agency (Agência Nacional de Transportes Terrestres – ANTT).
1.2.2 Ports and maritime terminals
Brazil
We operate ports and maritime terminals principally to complete the delivery of our iron ore and iron ore pellets to bulk carrier vessels serving the seaborne market. For more information, see Information on the Company—Iron Solutions—Iron Ore and Iron Ore Agglomerates—Iron Ore and —Iron Ore Agglomerates Operations. We also use our ports and terminals to handle customers’ cargo.
Tubarão and Praia Mole Ports. The Tubarão port, which covers an area of 18 square kilometers, is in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo and contains the iron ore maritime private terminal and the general cargo terminals (Terminal de Granéis Líquidos and the Terminal de Produtos Diversos).
| · | The iron ore maritime terminal has two piers. From this terminal in the Tubarão port, we export mostly iron ore produced from our Southeastern System. The iron ore maritime terminal has a storage yard with a capacity of 2.9 million metric tons. In 2024, 71.9 million metric tons of iron ore and iron ore pellets were shipped through the terminal for us. |
| · | Pier I can accommodate two vessels at a time, one of up to 170,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) on the southern side and one of up to 210,000 DWT on the northern side. In Pier I there are two ship loaders, which can load up to 13,500 metric tons per hour each. |
| · | Pier II can accommodate one vessel of up to 405,000 DWT at a time, limited to 23 meters draft. In Pier II there are two ship loaders that work alternately and can each load up to 16,000 metric tons per hour continuously. |
| · | The Terminal de Produtos Diversos handled 5.2 million metric tons of grains and fertilizers in 2024. VLI has the right to purchase capacity of the Terminal de Produtos Diversos, upon agreement with us on volume. |
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| · | The Terminal de Granéis Líquidos handled 0.8 million metric tons of fuel in 2024. VLI has the right to purchase capacity of the Terminal de Granéis Líquidos, upon agreement with us on volume. |
| · | The Praia Mole port is also located in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. The Praia Mole terminal is principally a coal terminal and handled 10.4 million metric tons of coal and other related cargo in 2024. VLI has the right to purchase capacity of the Praia Mole terminal, upon agreement with us on volume. |
| · | We operate the Tubarão and Praia Mole Ports under an authorization contract valid until 2039, extendable for successive periods, regulated and supervised by the National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ). |
Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal. Our Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal is in the Brazilian state of Maranhão.
| · | Pier I can accommodate vessels of up to 420,000 DWT and has a maximum loading rate of 16,000 metric tons per hour. Pier III, which has two berths and three ship loaders, can accommodate vessels of up to 210,000 DWT at the south berth and 180,000 DWT at the north berth (or two vessels of 180,000 DWT simultaneously), subject to tide conditions, and has a maximum loading rate of 8,000 metric tons per hour in each shiploader. |
| · | Pier IV (south berth) is able to accommodate vessels of up to 420,000 DWT and have two ship loaders that work alternately with a maximum loading rate of 16,000 metric tons per hour. |
| · | In 2018, we received from the Brazilian tax authorities, the customs authorization for the operations of Pier IV (north berth). Cargo shipped through our Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal consists of the Northern System production of iron ore and pellets. Pier IV (north berth) can accommodate vessels of up to 420,000 DWT and have two ship loaders that work alternately with a maximum loading rate of 16,000 metric tons per hour. |
| · | In 2024, 175.78 million metric tons of iron ore and pellets were shipped through the terminal. The Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal has a storage yard with a static capacity of 7.2 million metric tons. |
| · | We operate the Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal under an authorization contract valid until 2039, extendable for successive periods, regulated and supervised by the National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ) |
Itaguaí maritime terminal - Cia. Portuária Baía de Sepetiba (CPBS). From this terminal we mostly export iron ore from our Southern system. CPBS is a subsidiary of Vale that operates a leased terminal from CIA Docas do Rio de Janeiro at the Port of Itaguaí, in the municipality of Itaguaí, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The terminal is leased from Companhia Docas do Rio de Janeiro (CDRJ) until 2026, with a proposal for an extension for more 25 years, currently under analysis by the Ministry of Ports and Airports, federal regulatory agency and Port Authority. Itaguaí port terminal has a pier with one berth that allows the loading of ships up to 17.8 meters of draft and approximately 200,000 DWT of capacity. In 2024, the terminal loaded 15,19 million metric tons of iron ore.
Guaíba Island maritime terminal. From this terminal we export mostly iron ore from our Southern system. We operate the terminal in Mangaratiba, on Guaíba Island, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The iron ore terminal has a pier with two berths that allows the loading of ships of up to 350,000 DWT. In 2024, the terminal loaded 32.46 million metric tons of iron ore. We operate the Guaíba Island maritime terminal under an authorization contract until 2039, extendable for successive periods, regulated and supervised by the National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ).
Oman. Vale Oman Distribution Center LLC is part of the Oman Industrial Complex and operates a blending and distribution center in Sohar, Sultanate of Oman. The maritime terminal has a large deep-water jetty, a 600-meter long platform connected to the shore by means of a 700-meter long trestle and is integrated with a storage yard that has throughput capacity to handle 40 Mtpy of iron ore and iron ore pellets per year. The loading nominal capacity is 10,000 metric tons per hour and the nominal unloading capacity is 9,000 metric tons per hour.
Malaysia. Teluk Rubiah Maritime Terminal is in the Malaysian state of Perak and has a pier with two berths that allows the unloading of vessels of approximately 400,000 DWT and the loading of vessels up to 220,000 DWT of capacity. In 2024, the terminal unloaded 18.84 million metric tons of iron ore and loaded 18.64 million metric tons of iron ore.
Shipping – Maritime shipping of iron ore and pellets
In 2024, we shipped approximately 292 million metric tons of iron ore and pellets in transactions in which we were responsible for transportation. We ship a large amount of our iron ore products through long-term contracts of affreightment with owners of very large ore carriers (VLOCs). The vessels employed under these contracts of affreightment reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by carrying a large amount of cargo in a single voyage, reducing our carbon footprint and offering lower shipping costs. The majority of these vessels are efficient and modern Valemax (400,000 DWT) and Guaibamax (325,000 DWT) vessels, which carried approximately 143 million metric tons of iron ore products in 2024. These vessels also help us mitigate most of the volatility of the capesize spot market.
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Considering the IMO (International Maritime Organization) regulation that limits global Sulphur emissions to 0.5%, which became effective in January 2020, we negotiated the fitting of scrubbers on the majority of the vessels employed under long-term contracts of affreightment. These scrubbers allow such vessels to continue bunkering high-sulphur fuel oil, while complying with the new regulation. Since 2021, 97% of the vessels employed under our long-term contracts of affreightment are scrubber-fitted.
In 2024, we signed new contracts of affreightment for the construction of ten next generation of Guaibamax VLOCs. These vessels will represent the latest state of the art design and will be equipped with several energy saving devices, such as rotor sails, advanced hull coatings and shaft generators, and will be dual fuel, capable of running on heavy fuel oil and methanol, with the ability to convert to LNG and/or ammonia in the future.
1.2.3 Energy
We have developed our energy assets based on the current and projected energy needs of our operations, with the goal of reducing our energy costs, minimizing the risk of energy shortages and meeting our consumption needs through renewable sources.
Energy management and efficient supply are priorities for us, given the uncertainties associated with changes in the regulatory environment and the risk of rising electricity prices. In 2024, our installed capacity in Brazil was 2.6 GW, sourced mostly from directly or indirectly owned power plants. We use the electricity produced by these plants for our internal consumption needs.
We have a 50% direct stake in the hydroelectric plant of Candonga (140 MW), located in the Southeastern region. We also have an 8.8% direct stake in the hydroelectric plant of Machadinho (1,140 MW), located in the Southern region, a 30% direct stake in the hydroelectric plant of Estreito (1,087 MW), located in the Northern region, and a 100% direct stake in the Sol Cerrado solar plant (766 MWp) in the municipality of Jaíba, Minas Gerais.
Through our subsidiary Aliança Geração de Energia S.A. (Aliança Energia), we also have indirect stakes in the hydroelectric power plants of Igarapava (210 MW), Porto Estrela (112 MW), Funil (180 MW), Candonga (140 MW), Aimorés (330 MW), Capim Branco I (240 MW), Capim Branco II (210 MW), located in the Southeastern Region. Additionally, we have indirect stakes in the wind complexes of Santo Inácio (99 MW), under operation since 2017 and Gravier (71 MW), which started operations in 2022, both located in the Brazilian state of Ceará, and in Acauã (109 MW), located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, which is in ramp-up phase, scheduled for completion by July 2024. Similar to the hydropower plants, part of the electricity generated by the wind projects supplies our operations through power purchase agreements with Aliança Energia. We also have a joint venture with Cemig GT in Aliança Norte Energia S.A (Aliança Norte). Aliança Norte has 9% stake in Norte Energia S.A. (Norte Energia), a company established to develop and operate the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant in the Brazilian state of Pará, which began its operations in April 2016 and completed the start-up of its 24 turbines in 2019. Our indirect stake in the Belo Monte project grants us, Salobo Metais S.A. and Mineração Onça Puma S.A. the right to purchase up to 9% of the electricity generated by the plant, which has already been contracted through a long-term power purchase agreement with Norte Energia.
In August 2024, we completed the acquisition of the entire equity interest held by Cemig GT in Aliança Energia, for a total consideration of US$493 million. As a result, Aliança Energia became a wholly owned subsidiary of Vale, which now consolidates its investment in its financial results.
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2. Energy Transition Metals
2.1 Nickel
2.1.1 Properties
We conduct our integrated nickel operations on a global scale, with key operations in Canada, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Japan and Brazil. Our nickel operations are described in the tables below.
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| NICKEL OPERATIONS AND PROJECTS | |
| NORTH ATLANTIC OPERATIONS | |
| SUDBURY | |
 | |
| Ownership interest | 100% owned by VBM. We own 90% of VBM, and Manara Minerals owns the remaining 10%. |
| Location | Ontario, Canada. |
| Operator | Vale Canada Limited. |
| Mineral titles(1) |
- Patented mineral rights with no expiration date. - Mineral leases expire between 2024 and 2042 (some are subject to an ongoing renewal process). - Mining licenses of occupation with renewable terms. We can continue to operate during the renewal process. Acreage: 9,062 ha. |
| Stage/ Operations | Production stage since 1885. Integrated underground/open pit mining, milling, smelting and refining operations. |
| Key permit conditions | We have or expect to obtain in a timely manner the necessary permits for operations. |
| Mine types and mineralization styles | Nickel and copper. Primarily underground mining operations with nickel sulfide ore bodies, which also contain some copper, cobalt, PGMs, gold and silver. |
| Associated facilities and infrastructure |
Processing plants: Milling, smelting and refining facilities. In Ontario, we also process external feeds from third parties and our Thompson operation. Finished Nickel is produced by the Copper Cliff Nickel Refinery (CCNR) and sent for packaging at Port Colborne Refinery (PCR). In addition to producing finished nickel in Sudbury, we ship a nickel oxide intermediate product to our nickel refinery in Clydach, Wales, United Kingdom to produce finished nickel. Intermediate residues from CCNR are also sent to PCR for further treatment and production of cobalt and precious metals (PGMs, gold and silver). Copper concentrate produced by Ontario Mill is directly sold to the market. Other facilities: Water treatment plant, acid plant, waste and tailings facilities. Logistics: Plants are located by the Trans-Canada highway and two major railways that pass through the Sudbury area. Finished products are delivered to the North American market by truck and rail. For overseas customers, the products are loaded into containers and travel intermodally (truck/rail/containership) through Canadian ports (Quebec, Trois-Rivières) bulk material (copper concentrate) is sold directly to market and is shipped bulk via Canadian port (Quebec, Trois-Rivières). Energy: Supplied by Ontario’s provincial electricity grid and produced directly by Vale Canada via hydro generation. |
(1) Area with reserves and resources associated. |
|
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| THOMPSON | |
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| Ownership interest | 100% owned by VBM. We own 90% of VBM, and Manara Minerals owns the remaining 10%. |
| Location | Thompson, Manitoba, Canada. |
| Operator | Vale Canada Limited. |
| Mineral titles(1) |
- Mining Claim Leases (MCL) are in good standing and expire between 2021 and 2025. - Transition Agreement with the government of Manitoba will renew relevant MCLs to Mineral Leases, with renewable terms of 21 years. We can continue to operate during the renewal process. - To date, we have successfully converted 12,346 ha from MCLs to Mineral Leases under this agreement. Total acreage of MCL’s and Mineral Leases: 1,938 ha. |
| Stage/ Operations | Production stage since 1961. Integrated underground mining and milling operations. |
| Key permit conditions | We have or expect to obtain in a timely manner the necessary permits for operations. |
| Mine types and mineralization styles | Nickel. Primarily underground mining operations with nickel sulfide ore bodies, which also contain copper, PGMs and cobalt. |
| Associated facilities and infrastructure |
Following the closure of Thompson Smelter and Refinery, since the second half of 2018, nickel concentrate is shipped from Thompson to be processed at Sudbury integrated operations and/or Long-Harbour refinery, depending on the demand. Other facilities: Waste and tailings disposal structures. Logistics: From Thompson, the nickel concentrate can be trucked or railed to Winnipeg (Manitoba) or directly railed to Sudbury (Ontario) or Trois-Rivieres, (Quebec). From Trois-Rivieres, the concentrate is stored at the port and loaded aboard a ship for Long Harbour Refinery (Newfoundland & Labrador). Energy: Hydro-electric power supplied by Manitoba’s provincial utility company. |
(1) Area with resources associated.
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| VOISEY’S BAY AND LONG HARBOUR | |
 | |
| Ownership interest | 100% owned by VBM. We own 90% of VBM, and Manara Minerals owns the remaining 10%. |
| Location | Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. |
| Operator | Vale Newfoundland & Labrador Limited which is wholly owned by Vale Canada Limited. |
| Mineral titles(1) |
Mining lease expiring in 2027 with a right of further renewals for 10-year periods. Acreage: 1,599 ha. |
| Stage/ Operations | Production stage since 2005. Integrated mining and milling operation at Voisey’s Bay producing nickel and copper concentrates. further integrated with Long Harbour Refinery (in operation since 2014). |
| Key permit conditions | We have or expect to obtain in a timely manner the necessary permits for operations. |
| Mine types and mineralization styles | Nickel and copper. Open pit and underground mining operations with nickel-copper sulfide ore bodies, which also contain cobalt. |
| Associated facilities and infrastructure |
Processing plant: Nickel concentrate from Voisey’s Bay (Labrador) is refined at Long Harbour (Newfoundland) to produce finished nickel rounds, as well as associated copper and cobalt products. Since the second half of 2021, Long Harbour also started processing additional feed from Thompson, Manitoba. Copper concentrate produced by Voisey’s Bay (Labrador) is directly sold to the market. Other facilities: Waste and tailings disposal structures. Logistics: The copper and nickel concentrate from Voisey’s Bay are transported to the port by haulage trucks and then shipped by dry bulk vessels to either overseas markets (copper) or to our Long Harbour facilities (nickel) for further processing. Thompson concentrate is sent to Long Harbour by rail and ship. Energy: Power at Voisey’s Bay is 100% supplied through Vale-owned diesel generators. Power at the Long Harbour refinery is supplied by the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial utility company. |
(1) Area with reserves and resources associated.
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| ASIA/PACIFIC OPERATIONS |
| PTVI |
 |
| Ownership interest |
100% owned by PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (PTVI). We own 30.5% in PTVI through our 90% ownership in VBM(1). The other shareholders of PVTI are: - PT Mineral Industri Indonesia (Persero) (MIND ID): 34%. - Public float: 20.64%. - Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (Sumitomo): 11.48%. - Manara Minerals: 3.38% (through its 10% ownership in VBM(1)). |
| Location | Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. |
| Operator | PTVI. |
| Mineral titles(2) |
A special mining business license (IUPK) was issued in May 2024, confirming PTVI’s legal right to continue to operate until December 2035, with rights to extend the license beyond this period. With the issuance of the IUPK, PTVI’s initial mineral title (Contract of Work) was terminated. Acreage: 118,017 ha. |
| Stage/ Operations |
Comprising the Sorowako operation and the Pomalaa, Bahodopi, Sorowako Limonite and Tanamalia projects. Sorowako is at production stage since 1978 and engages in mining and value-added smelting activities in the production of nickel matte. |
| Key permit conditions | We have or expect to obtain in a timely manner the necessary permits for operations. |
| Mine types and mineralization styles | Nickel laterite deposits (which also contains cobalt as an associated mineral) mined or designed to be mined using the open pit mine method. |
| Associated facilities and infrastructure |
Processing plant: PTVI mines nickel laterite ore and produces nickel matte, which is shipped primarily to our nickel refinery in Japan. Pursuant to life of mine off take agreements, PTVI sells part of its production to Vale Canada (currently, 80%) and part of Sumitomo (currently 20%). Vale Canada annual share of the offtake of PTVI may change based on the total production of PTVI. Other facilities: Waste disposal structures and hydroelectric power facilities. Logistics: PTVI nickel matte product is trucked approximately 55 km to the river port at Malili and then loaded onto barges. Energy: Produced primarily by PTVI’s low-cost hydroelectric power plants on the Larona River (there are currently three facilities). PTVI has thermal generating facilities to supplement its hydroelectric power supply with a source of energy that is not subject to hydrological factors. Processing and Logistics Facilities for the projects: The projects consider the sale of the run of mine, which means we are not considering the inclusion of a processing plant or transport logistics. |
(1) Ownership interest of Vale and Manara Minerals in PTVI is held through VBM’s wholly owned subsidiary, Vale Canada Limited.
(2) Area of the contract of work (COW).
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| SOUTH ATLANTIC OPERATIONS | |
| ONÇA PUMA | |
 | |
| Ownership interest | 100% owned by VBM. We own 90% of VBM, and Manara Minerals owns the remaining 10%. |
| Location | Pará, Brazil. |
| Operator | Mineração Onça Puma S.A. |
| Mineral titles(1) |
Mining concessions with no expiration date, applications for mining concession and exploration permit with final exploration report. Acreage: 35,211 ha. |
| Stage/ Operations | Production stage since 2010. Two main open pits (Onça and Puma), satellite deposits (Puma W, Guepardo and Mundial), and a smelting operation producing a high-quality ferronickel for application within the stainless-steel industry. |
| Key permit conditions | We have or expect to obtain in a timely manner the necessary permits for operations. For more information on licensing. |
| Mine types and mineralization styles | Nickel laterite deposit, open pit mining. |
| Associated facilities and infrastructure |
Processing plant: The operation produces ferronickel via a rotary kiln electric furnace process. We are currently operating a single line with one electric furnace and two lines of calcine and rotary kilns, with nominal capacity estimated at 27,000 metric tons per year. We have approved the construction of the second furnace. Other facilities: Waste and tailings disposal structures. Logistics: The ferro nickel is transported by truck to the Vila do Conde maritime terminal in the Brazilian state of Pará and exported in ocean containers. Energy: Supplied through the national electricity grid. Produced directly by our power plants or acquired through power purchase agreements. |
(1) Area with reserves and resources associated.
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2.1.2 Production
The following table sets forth our annual mine production by operating mine and the average percentage grades of nickel and copper. We note that: (i) the mine production at Sorowako Mine represents the product from the PTVI’s screening station delivered to the processing plant and does not include nickel losses due to drying and smelting; (ii) for our Sudbury, Thompson and Voisey’s Bay operations, the production and average grades represent the run-of-mine delivered from those operations to respective mills and do not include adjustments due to beneficiation, smelting or refining; (iii) for our Onça Puma operation in Brazil the production and average grade represents the run-of-mine not accounting for losses due to processing.
| 2024(1) | 2023(1) | 2022(1) | |||||||
| Production | Grade | Production | Grade | Production | Grade | ||||
| Cu | Ni | Cu | Ni | Cu | Ni | ||||
| Sudbury, Ontario | |||||||||
| Copper Cliff | 1,019 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 985 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 748 | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| Creighton | 491 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 406 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 433 | 2.2 | 2.6 |
| Garson | 791 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 650 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 616 | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| Coleman | 875 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 863 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 875 | 2.6 | 1.5 |
| Stobie | 115 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totten | 558 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 518 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 414 | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| Ontario - total | 3,849 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 3,422 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 3,086 | 1.9 | 1.5 |
| Manitoba | |||||||||
| Thompson | 723 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 682 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 608 | 0.1 | 1.6 |
| Voisey’s Bay | |||||||||
| Ovoid+Discovery Hill | 728 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1,360 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1,575 | 0.7 | 1.3 |
| Reid Brook+Eastern Deeps | 1,071 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 400 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 89 | 0.7 | 1.7 |
| Indonesia | |||||||||
| Sorowako(2) | 3,054 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 5,762 | 0 | 1.2 | 4,565 | 0 | 1.3 |
| Brazil | |||||||||
| Onça Puma | 750 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 1,247 | 0 | 1.8 | 1,726 | 0 | 1.9 |
(1) Production is stated in thousands of metric tons. Grade is % of copper or nickel, respectively.
(2) These figures represent 100% of production and are not adjusted to reflect our ownership stake. In 2024, we divested a portion of our interest in PTVI to comply with Indonesia’s divestment obligations, securing an extension of PTVI’s mining license beyond 2025. As of July 2024, our ownership in PTVI decreased from 44.34% to 33.9%. As a result, we deconsolidated PTVI’s production and reported mine production only for the period from January to June 2024.
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The following table provides information about our nickel production, including nickel refined through our facilities and intermediates designated for sale. The numbers below are reported on a contained nickel basis.
| Mine | Type |
Finished production by ore source for the year ended December 31, (thousand metric tons contained nickel) | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Sudbury | Underground | 36.2 | 38.2 | 38.9 |
| Thompson | Underground | 10.1 | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| Voisey’s Bay(1) | Open pit/Underground | 19.4 | 13.5 | 24.4 |
| Sorowako(2) | Open cast | 66.4 | 64.1 | 63.9 |
| Onça Puma | Open pit | 14.0 | 17.0 | 23.6 |
| External(3) | – | 13.8 | 24.2 | 18.3 |
| Total(4) | 159.9 | 164.9 | 179.0 | |
(1) Includes finished nickel produced at Long Harbour.
(2) These figures represent 100% of production and are not adjusted to reflect our ownership stake. In 2024, we divested a portion of our interest in PTVI to comply with Indonesia’s divestment obligations, securing an extension of PTVI’s mining license beyond 2025. As of July 2024, our ownership in PTVI decreased from 44.34% to 33.9%. As a result, we deconsolidated PTVI’s production and reported mine production only for the period from January to June 2024. However, finished production from PTVI’s ore sources at all other locations continues to be included beyond June 2024.
(3) Finished nickel processed at our facilities using feeds purchased from unrelated parties.
(4) These figures do not include tolling of feeds for unrelated parties.
2.1.3 Individual property disclosure
We consider Sudbury to be a material property, for purposes of S-K 1300. There have been no material changes in the reported reserves or resources or in the material assumptions and information since the last technical report summary filed.
2.1.3.1 Sudbury
Property Description
The Sudbury property is in the Greater City of Sudbury, which is approximately 330 km North–Northeast of the city of Toronto in the Province of Ontario, as illustrated below. Our Sudbury operations consist of:
| · | Production stage underground mines (Coleman, Copper Cliff, Creighton, Garson, Totten), a non-operating underground mine (Stobie), an operating open pit (Stobie), in addition to exploration stage and non-producing deposits (e.g., Victor, Copper Cliff Pit and Ella Capre); |
| · | Processing and refining capabilities are a combination of facilities in Sudbury (Clarabelle Mill, Copper Cliff Smelter and Nickel Refinery), and Port Colborne Ontario (Port Colborne Nickel Refinery), located about 160 km from Toronto, Ontario. |
The following table shows the locations of the central mass point of the Sudbury operations in WGS 1984 datum.
| Mine | Latitude (north) | Longitude (west) |
| Coleman | 46°40’37.0 | 81°20’21.2 |
| Copper Cliff | 46°29’29.0 | 81°04’05.0 |
| Creighton | 46°28’23.7 | 81°04’05.0 |
| Garson | 46°34’02.9 | 80°51’26.4 |
| Copper Cliff Pit | 46°31’05.4 | 81°03’30.2 |
| Stobie | 46°32’15.3 | 80°59’31.1 |
| Totten | 46°22’55.2 | 81°27’09.8 |
| Victor | 46°40’26.8 | 80°48’44.2 |
| Ella Capre | 46°41’49.0 | 80°50’18.0 |
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Infrastructure
The Sudbury operations currently have all infrastructure in place to support mining and processing activities.
Our operations in Sudbury have a 120-year history of mining in the region, and we possess a highly skilled and trained workforce as well as sophisticated local goods and service providers to support our mining operations. Multiple transportation routes access the Sudbury area inclusive of air, rail and vehicle transport. Access to the various mine and deposit sites is through a system of numbered municipal roads and roads operated by us.
Electrical power for the Sudbury operations is primarily sourced from grid supply approximately 70%, considering that a portion of the demand is met by our hydroelectric power facilities. In Sudbury, all incoming grid-connected power and hydroelectric generation is distributed to mines and processing plants through our electrical distribution network, consisting of 69 kV distribution power lines, substations, transformers, breakers, disconnects and other electrical equipment. This distribution system is owned, operated, and maintained by us. We consume 100% of our self-generated hydro generation. The hydroelectric facilities have a nameplate capacity of 55 MWh.
Process water for Clarabelle Mill is sourced from water recycled from the tailings complex. Mines depend on the Vermilion River water intake which is owned and operated by us. The intake pumps draw water from the river to Creighton where it is treated at the Vermilion water treatment plant. After treatment, water is supplied to mines in the Sudbury area, Clarabelle Mill, Copper Cliff Smelter, and Copper Cliff Refinery.
Geology and Mineralization
Deposits within the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC) are examples of nickel–copper mineralization related to magnetism following a meteorite impact. The SIC is exposed as an elliptical ring with a northeast-trending long axis of approximately 72 km and a short axis of approximately 27 km. Sudbury deposits host three principal styles of mineralization: Contact-style, Offset-style, Footwall style. However, the three mineralization environments can be quite variable, transitional, and many exhibit characteristics fitting more than one mineralization environment description.
Exploration
The first exploration activities date back to 1856 when nickel was first discovered. Over the years different exploration activities have been carried out, including geological mapping, drilling, ore control field sampling and geophysics. We continually invest in mineral exploration with the aim of expanding our mineral resources and mineral reserves and to achieve an adequate level of confidence in the resource estimate that supports our mining plans.
Mineral Rights
Our landholdings in the area include mining claims, mining leases, patented claims, and mining licenses of occupation. The total Mineral Rights area of the Ontario licenses containing the mineral resource and mineral reserve estimate (MRMR) footprint is determined by vertically projecting mineral envelopes to surface and itemizing by license surface area. The total Mineral Rights area contains 172 licenses totaling approximately 9,062 ha. We hold Mineral Rights licenses in Ontario as follows: 168 licenses are registered patents, two licenses are 21-year mining leases, one license is a mining license of occupation, and one license is an unpatented mining claim. Each of these license types are subject to terms, applicable fees and/or penalties as defined by their current expiry dates, and/or if said expiry dates are properly renewed or breached as per definition in the Provincial Mining Act of Ontario. We also have mineral rights outside of the defined MRMR footprint held under various license titles listed above. These licenses and their mineral rights are kept in good standing with exploration expenditures or where applicable cash in lieu of expenditures.
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Surface rights
We hold sufficient surface rights for the current life of mine. In the Sudbury district, we are the registered owner of mining rights and surface rights or a combination of both shown as fee simple lands and mining leased lands.
Current, planned, future mining plans
Mines are owner-operated and use conventional equipment. The current extraction methods used in underground mining are conventional bulk stopping and narrow vein cut-and-fill mining methods, depending on the mine and geological setting. As part of the long-term strategy and continuous pursuit to add value to the company, by bringing operational reliability, expanding mineral resources and reserves portfolio and development of additional future production capacity we continually invest in mineral exploration.
Asset details and modernization
Over the years, current and previous owners have invested capital to modernize the property, and we now have equipped some of our mines with a wireless network underground (LTE and Wi-Fi), tele-remote mobile equipment and battery electric vehicles. Our underground mines also rely on a robust micro seismic network, as part of our seismic management plan. As part of our innovation program, we are also testing continuous development with deployment of a mechanical rock excavation machine in Sudbury. Our mobile and fixed assets follow a strategic maintenance program for repair, refurbishment and replacement. Our underground development drifts are also part of a ground control monitoring program, for timely rehabilitation and/or enhancement of ground support when needed.
Total property book value
The book value of the property and its associated plant and equipment was US$4,593 million as of December 31, 2024, which does not include goodwill for Energy Transition Metals operations.
Operator history
The Sudbury, Ontario operations have over 120 years of active mining history, and exploration activities that date back to 1856 when nickel was first discovered. Various company names are documented in Ontario’s history such as the Canadian Copper Company of Cleveland, Mond Nickel company, International Nickel Company, Ltd. (joint venture by the Canadian Copper Company, Orford Copper Company and American Nickel Works. Nickel refinery at Clydach, Wales constructed by the Mond Nickel Company) and the British American Nickel Corporation. In 1975, Inco became the formal name of the International Nickel Company of Canada, Limited and in 2006 CVRD obtained ownership of Inco. CVRD rebranded itself to Vale and CVRD–Inco changed its name to Vale Inco and in 2010, Vale Inco changed its name to Vale Canada Limited.
Encumbrances and permitting requirements
There are no known encumbrances on the property, considering the part of the property with reserves or resources associated.
Reserves and resources
The mineral resources and reserves in Ontario are shown as of year ending 2024. For each table, the price, timeframe and point of reference used, when estimating mineral resources and reserves are highlighted.
Mineral resource estimate
For a discussion of the changes from the previous fiscal year, see Information on the Company—Reserves and Resources. We do not consider the current change as material. All disclosure of mineral resources is exclusive of mineral reserves.
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| Sudbury - Summary of Nickel, Cobalt, Copper, PGMs and Gold Mineral Resources as of December 31 (1) (3)(5) | ||||||||||||||||
| Category | 2024(2) | 2023 | Cut-off grade(4) | Metallurgical recovery(4) | ||||||||||||
| Tonnage | Ni | Co | Cu | Pt | Pd | Au | Tonnage | Ni | Co | Cu | Pt | Pd | Au | |||
| Measured | 8.9 | 1.11 | 0.03 | 1.88 | 1.60 | 1.92 | 0.74 | 7.5 | 1.13 | 0.03 | 2.29 | 1.85 | 2.39 | 0.97 |
33–198 US$/t
3.5% CuEq |
Ni: 68-90% Cu: 85-95% Co: 20-35% Pt: 65-75% Pd: 75-90% Au: 50-75% |
| Indicated | 36.0 | 1.25 | 0.03 | 2.03 | 0.79 | 0.97 | 0.30 | 32.2 | 1.43 | 0.04 | 2.44 | 1.00 | 1.25 | 0.39 | ||
| Measured + Indicated | 44.8 | 1.22 | 0.03 | 2.00 | 0.95 | 1.16 | 0.39 | 39.7 | 1.37 | 0.04 | 2.41 | 1.16 | 1.47 | 0.49 | ||
| Inferred | 21.9 | 1.2 | 0.03 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 8.6 | 1.9 | 0.04 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.4 | ||
(1) The mineral resource reasonable prospects of economic extraction were determined using the following price ranges: nickel US$13,376-20,882/t, copper US$6,100-9,500/t, cobalt US$45,000-56,300/t, platinum US$1,124-1,350/oz, palladium US$925-1,450/oz, gold US$1000-1,950/oz, depending on the deposit. For each deposit, mineral resource prospect of economic extraction was determined based on a commodity price assumption established at the time of mine design. The commodity price assumption for each deposit continues to provide a reasonable basis for establishing the prospects of economic extraction for mineral resources estimated at this deposit as of December 31, 2024.
(2) Resources have been adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership, after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business.
(3) Tonnage is in millions of dry metric tons. Cu, Ni, Co grades are in (%), Pt, Pd and Au grades are in g/t. Point of reference of the estimate is in situ.
(4) Cut-off grade and metallurgical recovery by element are shown as ranges due to inherent variability in the mineral deposits requirements and timing of the associated estimate. A CuEq cut-off is used only at the Victor copper deposits.
(5) Numbers have been rounded.
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Mineral reserves estimate
For a discussion of the changes from the previous fiscal year, see Information on the Company—Reserves and Resources. We do not consider the current change as material.
| Sudbury - Summary of Nickel, Cobalt, Copper, PGMs and Gold Mineral Reserves as of December 31 (1) (3)(6) | |||||||||||||||||
| Category | 2024(2) | 2023 | Cut-off grade(4) | Metallurgical recovery(4) | |||||||||||||
| Tonnage | Ni | Co | Cu | Pt | Pd | Au(5) | Tonnage | Ni | Co | Cu | Pt | Pd | Au(5) | ||||
| Proven | 18.0 | 1.43 | 0.04 | 1.47 | 0.95 | 0.81 | 0.35 | 19.1 | 1.47 | 0.04 | 1.73 | 1.05 | 1.04 | 0.45 | 8.7–244 US$/ton |
Ni: 65-90% Cu: 80-90% Co: 20-35% Pt: 65-75% Pd: 75-90% Au: 50-75% |
|
| Probable | 46.5 | 1.42 | 0.04 | 1.29 | 0.79 | 1.04 | 0.29 | 56.0 | 1.40 | 0.04 | 1.24 | 0.77 | 1.00 | 0.27 | |||
| Total | 64.5 | 1.42 | 0.04 | 1.34 | 0.83 | 0.98 | 0.31 | 75.1 | 1.42 | 0.04 | 1.37 | 0.84 | 1.01 | 0.32 | |||
(1) The mineral reserve economic viability was determined based on a commodity price curve with long-term price of per metric ton of US$17,950 nickel, US$9,150 copper, US$42,475 cobalt. US$1,275/oz platinum US$1,025/oz palladium and gold US$1,925/oz.
(2) Reserves have been adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership, after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business.
(3) Tonnage is in millions of dry metric tons. Ni, Cu, Co grades are in (%), Pt, Pd and Au grades are in g/t. The point of reference is the point of delivery to the process plant.
(4) Cut-off, metallurgical recovery, pricing data is shown as ranges, due to the variability in specific orebody requirements and timing of the associated estimate.
(5) Figures shown do not deduct the streaming amounts. For a description of our streaming arrangement with Wheaton, see Section 2.3 PGM’s and other Precious Metals.
(6) Numbers have been rounded.
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2.1.4 Nickel Strategy
A key aspect of our strategy for the nickel business is retaining our product leadership position supplying nickel for the global renewable energy transition, while striving to be a sustainable operator and a global benchmark for health and safety in the industry and in the communities neighboring our operations. We are focused on transforming the business, continuing to review asset utilization, optimizing our operations and concentrating our efforts to increase productivity and improve returns, while preserving capacity for growth. We are one of the world’s largest nickel producers, with large-scale, long-life and low-carbon assets. Leveraging our substantial resource base and diversified mining operations, we produce nickel products from nickel sulfide and laterite sources utilizing advanced technology. Our commercial footprint is global, with a focus on providing top-tier customer service.
Our nickel products are tailored to meet the needs of customers across different industries and geographies, including those requiring high-purity nickel as well as the rapidly evolving electric vehicle battery supply chain. In 2024, 41% of our global nickel production came from our Canadian operations, which benefits from the use of renewable energy, and a stable jurisdiction with strong ESG standards and credentials.
Our operations in the North Atlantic position us well to supply into the electric vehicle market, in line with our low-carbon agenda. We have agreements to sell our low-carbon Class I nickel to several North American and European producers in the electric vehicle supply chain. In the medium term, we are targeting to direct 30-40% of our Class I nickel production to the electric vehicle battery market. We are also exploring other partnerships on a regular basis.
The plating rounds and nickel melt rounds from our Long Harbour processing plant, a leading-edge hydrometallurgical facility on Canada’s East Coast, are one of the least carbon-intensive nickel products on the market. With a carbon footprint of 4.0t CO2 e per tonne, these Class I nickel products position us well for supplying to the electric vehicle industry.
In 2024, we completed the construction and commissioning of the Voisey’s Bay Mine Expansion (VBME) Project. The expansion transitioned Voisey’s Bay from open pit to underground mining. This project included the development of two underground mines – Reid Brook and Eastern Deeps – which will supply ore for processing at our Long Harbour refinery, one of the lowest-emission nickel processing plants in the world.
The project’s completion represents a crucial milestone in enhancing the competitiveness of our Canadian operations and will contribute to reducing unit costs in the nickel business segment. This project highlights VBM’s commitment to serve as a catalyst for social and economic growth through local employment, procurement, capacity-building, partnerships with Indigenous communities, and shared benefits for our stakeholders.
We also made progress in ramping up the Copper Cliff Mine Replacement Project, reaching over one million tons of ore hoisted, with the new South mine increasing contribution to 40% of the Copper Cliff Complex. Additionally, we resumed production operations at Stobie Pit, a shallow surface deposit within the Stobie Mine complex.
In 2024, we completed the divestment of our interest in PTVI. VCL received approximately US$155 million in cash for its portion of the share sale to MIND ID. As of June 28, 2024, MIND ID holds approximately 34% of PTVI’s issued shares, while VCL and SMM hold approximately 33.9% and 11.5%, respectively, with the remainder listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.
Following this divestiture, the Government of Indonesia issued a special mining business license (IUPK), granting PTVI the legal right to operate until December 2035, with the right to extend the license beyond this period. This license enables PTVI to further unlock its growth potential through its investment in Indonesian projects. VCL maintains significant economic exposure to PTVI as a non-operated joint venture and will continue to provide strong governance through its representation on the Board of Commissioners. Additionally, VCL’s existing offtake rights are preserved.
2.1.5 Customers and sales
Our nickel customers are broadly distributed on a global basis. In 2024, 27% of our refined nickel sales were delivered to customers in Asia, 29% in Europe, and 44% in North America. We have short-term fixed-volume contracts with customers for most of our expected annual nickel sales. These contracts generally provide stable demand for a significant portion of our annual production. We also have multiple long-term agreements to sell our Class I nickel, including into the North Atlantic electric vehicle market.
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Nickel is an exchange-traded metal, currently listed on the London Metal Exchange (LME) and Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE), and most nickel products are priced according to a discount or premium to the LME price, depending primarily on the nickel product’s physical and technical characteristics. Our finished nickel products represent what is known in the industry as “primary” nickel, meaning nickel produced principally from nickel ores (as opposed to “secondary” nickel, which is recovered from recycled nickel-containing material). Finished primary nickel products are distinguishable in terms of the following characteristics, which determine the product price level and the suitability for various end-use applications:
| · | nickel content and purity level: (i) intermediates have various levels of nickel content, (ii) nickel pig iron has 1.5-15% nickel, (iii) ferro-nickel has 15-40% nickel, (iv) refined nickel with less than 99.8% nickel, including products such as Tonimet™ nickel, (v) standard LME-grade nickel has a minimum of 99.8% nickel, and (vi) high-purity nickel has a minimum of 99.9% nickel and does not contain specific elemental impurities; |
| · | shape (such as discrete or filamentary powders, pellets, discs, squares and strips); |
| · | size (from micron powder particles to large full-sized cathodes); and |
| · | packaging (such as bulk, 2-ton bags, 250 kg drums, 10 kg bags). |
In 2024, the principal first-use applications for primary nickel were:
| · | stainless steel (65% of global nickel consumption); |
| · | non-ferrous alloys, alloy steels and foundry applications (12% of global nickel consumption); |
| · | nickel plating (5% of global nickel consumption); |
| · | battery precursors (15% of global nickel consumption); and |
| · | others (3% of global nickel consumption). |
In 2024, 89% of our refined nickel sales were made into non-stainless-steel applications, compared to the industry average for nickel producers of 35%. This brings more diversification and sales volume stability to our nickel revenues. As a result of our focus on higher-value segments, our average realized nickel prices for refined nickel have typically exceeded LME cash nickel prices.
We offer sales and technical support to our customers on a global basis through an established marketing network headquartered at our head office in Toronto (Canada). We have a well-established global marketing network for finished nickel with sales and technical support distributed around the world with presence in Singapore and Toronto (Canada) and have sales managers located in St. Prex (Switzerland), New Jersey (United States) and at several locations throughout Asia. For information about demand and prices, see Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Major Factors Affecting Prices.
2.1.6 Competition
The global nickel market is highly competitive. Our key competitive strengths include our long-life mines, sophisticated exploration and processing technologies, and a diversified portfolio of products. Our global marketing reach, diverse product mix, and customer technical support direct our products into applications and geographic regions that offer the highest margins for our products.
Our nickel production represented 5% of global consumption for primary nickel in 2024. In addition to us, the largest mine-to-market integrated suppliers in the nickel industry (each with its own integrated facilities, including nickel mining, processing, refining and marketing operations) are Tsingshan Group, Jiangsu Delong Nickel, Jinchuan Nonferrous Metals Corporation, Eramet, Nornickel and Huayou Cobalt. Together with us, these companies accounted for about 48% of global refined primary nickel production in 2024.
The quality of nickel products determines its market suitability. Class I products, which have higher nickel content and lower levels of deleterious elements, are more suitable for high-end nickel applications, such as the growing electric vehicle market (batteries) and utilization in specialty industries (e.g., aircraft and spacecraft) and draw a higher premium compared to Class II products. Class II products, which have lower nickel content and higher levels of deleterious elements, are mostly used in the making of stainless steel. Intermediate products do not represent finished nickel production and are generally sold at a discount given that they still need to be processed before being sold to end customers.
Much of the world nickel production is composed of Class II nickel products (56% of the global market in 2024), which include nickel pig iron (NPI) and ferro nickel (with nickel content under 99%). Most of our products are high quality nickel products, which makes us the supplier of choice for specialty nickel applications. In 2024, 70% of our nickel products were Class I, 23% were Class II and 7% were Intermediates.
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While stainless steel production is a major driver of global nickel demand, stainless steel producers can obtain nickel with a wide range of nickel content, including secondary nickel (scrap). The choice between primary and secondary nickel is largely based on their relative prices and availability. See Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Major Factors Affecting Prices—Nickel.
Competition in the nickel market is based primarily on quality and reliability of supply and price. We believe our operations are competitive in the nickel market because of the high quality of our nickel products.
2.2 Copper
2.2.1 Properties
We conduct our copper operations primarily through our wholly owned subsidiary Salobo Metais S.A. in Brazil, and through our subsidiary Vale Canada Limited in Canada. Copper concentrate produced by the South Atlantic contains gold and, in the case of Salobo operation, also silver. Our copper operations are described in the tables below.
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| CARAJÁS COPPER OPERATIONS & PROJECTS | |
| BRAZIL | |
 | |
| Ownership interest | 100% owned by VBM. We own 90% of VBM, and Manara Minerals owns the remaining 10%. |
| Location | Carajás, State of Pará, Brazil. |
| Operator | Salobo Metais S.A. |
| Mining Complexes |
Two mining complexes and three mining projects: - Salobo: Integrated open pit mining and milling operations. - Sossego: four main open pits (Sossego, Sequerinho, Pista and Mata II) and a processing facility to concentrate the ore, and satellites deposits (118, Cristalino, Bacaba, Barão and Visconde). - Projects: Alemão, Paulo Afonso (composed by Paulo Afonso and Polo, Gameleira and Grota Funda mineral deposits) and Furnas |
| Mineral titles |
Sossego: Two Mining concessions and applications for mining concession with no expiration date. Acreage: 119.661 ha. Salobo: Mining concession with no expiration date. Acreage: 9,181 ha. Alemão: Mining concession with no expiration date. Acreage: 10,000 ha. Paulo Afonso: Mainly application for mining concession and one exploration permit. Acreage: 38.360 ha Furnas: Two applications for mining concession. Acreage: 9.832 ha. |
| Stage/ Operations |
The two mining complexes are at the production stage. Sossego has been operating since 2004 and Salobo since 2012. Alemão and Paulo Afonso: Exploration Stage – FEL 2 (Pre-Feasibility)technical study ongoing. Furnas: Exploration Stage. |
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| Key permit conditions | We are in the process of obtaining or renewing (i) waste and tailings storage facilities permits and (ii) social licenses related to projects. We have or expect to obtain in a timely manner the necessary permits for operations. For information on environmental licensing, see Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters—Brazilian Regulation of Mining Dams and Additional Information; Legal proceedings—Other environmental proceedings. |
| Mine types and mineralization styles |
Sossego and Salobo are both Iron Oxide-Copper–Gold (IOCG) deposits, with copper and gold as main elements of economic interest and mined using open-pit method. Alemão is an IOCG deposit located in the Carajás National Forest. The project is to develop a sublevel caving underground mine. Paulo Afonso is an IOCG deposit. The project is to develop an open pit and underground mines. Furnas in an IOCG deposit, with copper and gold as main elements of economic interest. The project indicates an underground mining scenario is preferred over surface mining methods. |
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| Associated facilities and infrastructure |
Processing Facilities: The run of mine is processed at Sossego processing facilities with four main components: crushing, grinding, flotation and concentrate dewatering. From Salobo, the run of mine is processed by means of standard primary and secondary crushing, conveying, roller press grinding, ball milling, copper concentrate flotation, tailings disposal, concentrate thickening, filtration and load out. The Alemão project is expected to have as processing facilities primary crusher, ball milling, copper concentrate flotation, magnetic concentration, filtration and tailings disposal. The greenfield Paulo Afonso project is currently under a scoping study level for its processing facilities. This Furnas project is currently under a scoping study level for its processing facilities. The regional infrastructure is adequate to support the project development and operation. Other facilities: Sossego and Salobo: Waste and tailings disposal structures. Logistics: Sossego and Salobo: we truck the concentrate to a storage terminal in Parauapebas and then transport it via EFC railroad to the Itaqui Port in São Luís, state of Maranhão. In Itaqui Port, we lease a storage terminal until 2023, with a proposal for an extension for another 20 years, currently under analysis by competent authorities. Paulo Afonso: The region already has a solid ore railroad infrastructure that we use. Energy: Sossego and Salobo: Supplied through the national electricity grid. Produced directly by us or acquired through power purchase agreements. Alemão: Is expected to improve the current transmission line to 230kV capacity. Paulo Afonso and Furnas: The project foresees the extension of power transmission lines already available in the region. |
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| ASIA/PACIFIC | |
| HU’U PROJECT | |
 | |
| Ownership interest |
We own 72% through our 90% ownership in VBM(1). The other shareholders of Hu’u Project are: - PT Antam Tbk (20%) - Manara Minerals (8% through its 10% ownership in VBM)(1) |
| Location | Dompu and Bima Regencies of Province of Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. |
| Operator | Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM). |
| Mineral titles(4) |
Contract of Work covering approximately 19,260 ha is valid with the Government of Indonesia, comprising all the stages of a mining project. The exploration stage (feasibility study) based on Government’s regulations can be extended annually until the feasibility study report is complete and approved. Following approval, the operation-production stage will start, and will be valid for 30 years, renewable subject to the Government’s approval. Acreage: 19,260 ha. |
| Stage/ Operations | Exploration stage – FEL 2 (Pre-Feasibility) technical study ongoing. |
| Key permit conditions | We have or expect to obtain in a timely manner the necessary permits for operations. |
| Mine types and mineralization styles | The Onto copper-gold deposit is a large porphyry copper-gold deposit that also has some characteristics of high sulphidation epithermal deposits. The project is to develop an underground mine. |
| Associated facilities and infrastructure |
Logistics: This project is a greenfield project, therefore the actual logistics of transporting ore as well as processing are still under study. Infrastructure: The existing infrastructure is under development due to the project’s greenfield location. |
(1) Owned by Vale and Manara through VBM’s wholly owned subsidiary Eastern Star Resources Pty Ltd.
(3) By the 20th or the 25th year post production (specific timing depends on the mining method adopted by STM), we are mandated to have divested some of our ownership interest to PT Antam Tbk or other Indonesian participants, as applicable, reducing our ownership interest to a maximum of 49%.
(4) Area of the contract of work.
| CANADA |
| See Information on the Company—Energy Transition Metals—Nickel—Properties |
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2.2.2 Production
The following table sets forth our annual mine production in our Salobo and Sossego mines and the average percentage grades of copper. The production and average grade represent run-of-mine production and do not include losses due to processing. For the annual mine production of copper as a co-product in our nickel operations, see Information on the Company—Energy Transition Metals—Nickel—Production.
| 2024(1) | 2023(1) | 2022(1) | ||||
| Production | Grade | Production | Grade | Production | Grade | |
| Brazil | ||||||
| Sossego | 6,316 | 0.8 | 6,873 | 0.7 | 10,552 | 0.6 |
| Salobo | 45,607 | 0.6 | 49,034 | 0.6 | 38,203 | 0.6 |
| Total | 51,922 | 0.6 | 55,907 | 0.6 | 48,755 | 0.6 |
(1) Production is stated in thousands of metric tons of Ore. Grade is % of copper.
The following table sets forth information on our copper production.
| Mine | Type | Finished production by ore source for the year ended December 31, (thousand metric tons) | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Brazil | ||||
| Sossego | Open pit | 65.4 | 66.8 | 43.2 |
| Salobo | Open pit | 199.8 | 180.4 | 127.8 |
| Canada (as co-product of nickel operations) | ||||
| Sudbury | Underground | 58.6 | 57.9 | 59.2 |
| Voisey’s Bay | Open pit/Underground | 12.9 | 9.6 | 10.8 |
| Thompson | Underground | 7.2 | 4.7 | 5.3 |
| External(1) | − | 4.1 | 7.2 | 6.8 |
| Total | 348.2 | 326.6 | 253.1 | |
(1) We process copper at our facilities using feed purchased from unrelated parties.
2.2.3 Individual property disclosure
We consider Salobo to be a material property, for purposes of S-K 1300. There have been no material changes in the reported reserves or resources or in the material assumptions and information since the last technical report summary filed for Salobo operations.
2.2.3.1 Salobo
Property description
Salobo operations constitute a production stage property located in the Carajás Mining District, Pará State, Brazil, 90 km northwest of the city of Parauapebas. Geographic coordinates for the Salobo Operations are 5°47’27”S latitude and 50°32’5” W longitude, using the Geographic SAD 69 coordinate system. Salobo operations are owned by Salobo Metais S.A., our wholly owned subsidiary.
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Infrastructure
Salobo operations are connected via an all-weather road network to the cities of Parauapebas (90 km) and Marabá (240 km). There is a commercial airport at Carajás. Railroads link Carajás with the port city of São Luis.
The required water permits are adequate and current.
The Carajás district has a long history of mining operations. Personnel with experience in mining activities are available throughout the district. The workforce resides in Carajás, Parauapebas, and surrounding settlements.
Salobo is in the Northwest of the Carajás region within Tapirapé–Aquiri national forest. In the mine area the topography is steep, varying between 190–520 m in elevation. The area is heavily forested and dominated by relative dense trees with substantial underbrush. The Carajás district is within the eastern Amazon humid tropical rainforest and has distinct wet and dry seasons. Mining operations are conducted year-round.
Geology and Mineralization
The Salobo deposit is an example of an iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) deposit and is hosted in the Carajás Mining District within Carajás Province, a sigmoidal-shaped, west–northwest–east–southeast-trending late Archean basin.
The mineralization consists of mineralogical assemblages of magnetite–chalcopyrite–bornite and magnetite–bornite–chalcocite in a number of styles as disseminations, stringers, stockworks, massive accumulations, fracture fillings, or veins.
The deposit extends over an area of approximately 4 km along strike (west–northwest), is 100–600 m wide, and has been recognized to depths of 750 m below the surface.
Exploration
Exploration has occurred on the property since 1974 and includes geological mapping, drilling, and airborne geophysical surveys, metallurgical test work, environmental and baseline studies, mining studies, and permitting activities. We continually invest in mineral exploration with the aim of expanding our mineral resources and mineral reserves and achieving an adequate level of confidence in the resource estimate that supports our mining plans.
Mineral Rights
We have a mining concession for Salobo operations, concession 807.426/1974, granted for copper ore, gold and silver by ANM on July 16, 1987, covering 9,180.60 ha.
Surface rights
Salobo is located entirely within the Tapirapé–Aquiri National Forest, which belongs to the Federal Government. There are no third-party properties adjacent to the mining complex. There are no associated payments related to surface rights.
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Current, planned, future mining plans
Mining is carried out as an open pit truck-shovel operation with a planned mine life of approximately 22 years, ending in 2047. The process plant will continue to operate by reclaiming stockpiled material until 2054.
With the Salobo 3 expansion, the base case mine production schedule involves the movement of 126 Mtpy to feed an expanded processing capacity of 36 Mtpy, by processing a portion of the ore that would have been stockpiled in the previous 24 Mtpy production plan.
The process plant is designed to operate 365 days per year. The plant produces a copper concentrate that is transported by road to a rail offloading facility for rail transport to the seaport of São Luis.
The existing processing plants, Line 1 and Line 2 (Salobo I and II), each have a nominal 12 Mt capacity. In 2024, we concluded the ramp-up the third line (Salobo III) that has a nominal 12 Mt circuit, increasing the process capacity to a total of 36 Mtpy.
Asset details and modernization
Salobo mine has been operating since 2012, with an open pit method, using shovels for ore and waste production, together with hydraulic shovels, wheel loaders, a fleet of off-road haul trucks and auxiliary equipment to maintain the access to production areas and slope drainage. A robust replacement program ensures that this equipment follows a manufacturer recommendation for life of asset and when the useful life of equipment is ending, we plan and invest in a fleet upgrade.
Total property book value
The book value of the Salobo operations and its associated plant and equipment was US$2,815 million, as of December 31, 2024, which does not include the shared infrastructure assets such as ports and railways.
Operator history
All exploration and development were conducted by us. Copper mineralization was discovered in the Igarapé Salobo region in 1974. Detailed exploration commenced in 1977. A scoping study was completed in 1981, and pilot studies ran from 1985 to 1987, culminating in the grant of a mining concession. A prefeasibility study was concluded in 1988, an initial feasibility study was conducted in 1998, updates to the feasibility study were undertaken in 2001 and 2002, and a final study was completed in 2004. The Salobo Operations commenced pre-stripping in 2009, and the first concentrate was produced in 2012. The factory improved its facilities twice. The first improvement was in 2014 with the addition of a second production line. The second improvement occurred in 2023, focusing on increasing the output via addition of the third production line.
Encumbrances and permitting requirements
There are no material encumbrances for Salobo Operations.
Mineral resources
For a discussion of the changes from the previous fiscal year, see Information on the Company—Reserves and Resources. We do not consider the current change as material. All disclosure of mineral resources is exclusive of mineral reserves.
(1) The mineral resource prospects of economic extraction were determined using the following price assumptions per metric ton: for copper US$9,025/metric ton and for gold US$1,525/oz.
(2) Resources have been adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership, after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business
(3) Tonnage is in millions of dry metric tons and Cu grades are in (%), Au grades in g/t. The point of reference for the estimate is in situ metric tons.
(4) The metallurgical recovery is shown as a range, due to the variability in specific orebody requirements and timing of the associated estimate.
(5) Numbers have been rounded.
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Mineral reserves
For a discussion of the changes from the previous fiscal year, see Information on the Company—Reserves and Resources. We do not consider the current change as material.
(1) The mineral reserve economic viability was determined based on a commodity price curve with long-term price of per metric ton of US$9,150/metric ton for copper, gold US$1,925/oz.
(2) Resources have been adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership, after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business.
(3) Tonnage is in millions of dry metric tons and Cu grades are in (%), Au grades are in g/t. Point of reference is the point of delivery to the process plant.
(4) Figures shown do not deduct the streaming amounts. For a description of our streaming arrangement with Wheaton, see Section 2.3 PGM’s and other Precious Metals.
(5) The metallurgical recovery is shown as a range, due to the variability in specific orebody requirements and timing of the associated estimate.
(6) Estimated consolidated copper ore reserves include230.3 million dry metric tons of stockpile.
(7) Numbers have been rounded.
2.2.4 Copper strategy
Copper has a solid long-term growth profile, driven by industrialization, construction, and electrical grid infrastructure expansion. Governments around the world have set ambitious decarbonization targets that, along with the dropping of renewable energy costs and green economy and stimulus investments, will be crucial for more intensive use of copper in renewable energy and electric vehicle-related infrastructure projects. We have significant opportunities to expand our copper business through organic growth. We have a strong portfolio of copper assets, and we intend to develop a multiyear copper expansion plan, especially with Salobo III, to support our strategic objective of up to 380 thousand tons per year of production capacity by 2026. In addition to these projects, we have other opportunities to grow in the future, such as the Alemão project, or even leveraging the knowledge and logistics that already exist in the Carajás region, while also evaluating opportunities to increase copper production in Canada and Indonesia. In Indonesia, we are advancing studies to develop the Hu’u project, a world-class deposit, which could further expand our copper business. We are also engaged in greenfield exploration for copper in some of the world’s most prolific belts, looking for tier-one assets for future development.
2.2.5 Customers and sales
From our South Atlantic operations, we sell most of our copper concentrates from Sossego and Salobo under medium- and long-term contracts to copper smelters in Europe and Asia. From our North Atlantic operations, we sell copper concentrates and copper matte produced in Sudbury domestically and to smelters in Europe and Asia under long-term contracts, as well as copper concentrates from Voisey’s Bay under short-term contracts. Also, from our North Atlantic operations, we sell copper cathodes from Sudbury and Long Harbour under short-term contracts.
2.2.6 Competition
The global refined copper market is highly competitive. Producers are integrated mining companies and custom smelters, covering all regions of the world, while consumers are principally wire rod and copper alloy producers. Competition occurs mainly on a regional level and is based primarily on production costs, quality, reliability of supply and logistics costs. The world’s largest copper cathode producers are Jiangxi Copper Corporation, Tongling Non-Ferrous Metals Group Co., Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile (Codelco), Aurubis, Jinchuan and Freeport McMoRan, each operating at the parent company level or through subsidiaries. Our participation in the global refined copper cathodes market is marginal as we position ourselves more competitively in the copper concentrate market.
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Copper concentrate and copper matte are intermediate products in the copper production chain. Both the concentrate and matte markets are competitive, having numerous producers but fewer participants and smaller volumes than in the copper cathode market due to the high levels of integration by the major copper producers.
In the copper concentrate market, mining occurs on a global basis with a predominant share from South America, while consumers are custom smelters located mainly in Europe and Asia. Competition in the custom copper concentrate market occurs mainly on a global level and is based on production costs, quality, logistics costs and reliability of supply. The largest competitors in the copper concentrate market are BHP Group, Freeport McMoRan, Glencore, Anglo American, Zijin Mining, Rio Tinto, PT Inalum and Codelco; each operating at the parent company level or through subsidiaries. Our market share in 2024 was about 2.5% of the total custom copper concentrate market.
2.3 PGMs and other precious metals
As by-products of our Sudbury nickel operations in Canada, we recover PGMs, as well as gold and silver. We operate a processing facility in Port Colborne, Ontario, which produces PGMs, gold and silver intermediate products using feed from our Sudbury operation. PGM concentrates, gold and silver intermediates from our Port Colborne operation are being sold to third parties.
Our copper concentrates from our Salobo and Sossego mines in Carajás, in the Brazilian state of Pará, contain gold and Salobo also contains silver. We realize the value of both gold and silver in the sale of these products. Notably, the production volume of silver from Salobo represents 55% of our total silver production.
We have sold to Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (Wheaton) an aggregate of (i) 75% of the by-product gold contained in concentrate from our Salobo copper mine, in Brazil, for the life of mine, and (ii) 70% of the by-product gold from our Sudbury nickel mines, in Canada, for 20 years. These sales were made in three different streaming transactions, in February 2013, March 2015 and August 2016. In connection with these streaming transactions:
| · | We received upfront payments of (i) US$1.9 billion in 2013, (ii) US$900 million in 2015 and (iii) US$800 million in 2016. We also received 10 million warrants exercisable into Wheaton shares, which we sold in February 2020 for US$2.5 per warrant, totaling US$25 million. |
| · | We receive ongoing payments of the lesser of US$400 per ounce (subject to a 1% annual inflation adjustment under the Salobo contract starting January 1, 2019) and the prevailing market price, for each ounce of gold that we deliver under the agreement. |
| · | As per the Salobo gold by-product stream purchase agreement, we were entitled to receive an additional cash payment if we expanded our capacity to process Salobo copper ores to more than 28 Mtpy before 2036. In March 2023, we agreed with Wheaton to amend this agreement to adjust the additional cash payment terms. |
| - | As per the amended agreement, the additional cash payment will be phased, with Wheaton making an initial payment once actual throughput is demonstrated to be above 32 Mtpy and a second payment once if actual throughput is demonstrated to be above 35 Mtpy by January 1, 2031. The total cumulative payments will range from US$283 million to US$552 million, dependent on our timing for each of the production increases. |
| o | VBM concluded successfully the 32 Mtpy processing test at Salobo Complex, receiving in December 2023 a payment of US$370 million. |
| - | In addition, Wheaton will be required to make annual payments of between US$5.1 million to US$8.5 million for a 10-year period following payment of the expansion additional cash payments if the Salobo mine maintains a high-grade mine plan. The following table presents information on the contained volume of precious metals and platinum group metals as a by-product of our production of nickel and copper concentrates. |
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| Mine | Type | By-product finished production by ore source for the year ended December 31, (thousand troy ounces of contained metal) | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Sudbury (1) | ||||
| Platinum | Underground | 107 | 125 | 102 |
| Palladium | Underground | 120 | 149 | 127 |
| Gold (2) | Underground | 38 | 45 | 44 |
| Salobo | ||||
| Gold contained in copper concentrate(2) | Open pit | 362 | 319 | 215 |
| Sossego | ||||
| Gold contained in copper concentrate | Open pit | 45 | 46 | 30 |
(1) These numbers also include ore source from Manitoba, external source, and minor amounts from Voisey’s Bay.
(2) Figures represent 100% of Salobo and Sudbury contained volume of gold as a by-product of our production of nickel and copper concentrates and do not deduct the portion of the gold sold to Wheaton.
2.4 Cobalt
We recover significant quantities of cobalt as a by-product of our nickel operations. In 2024, we produced 674 metric tons of refined cobalt metal (in the form of cobalt rounds) at our Port Colborne refinery, 1,382 metric tons of cobalt rounds at our Long Harbour refinery. We sell cobalt on a global basis. The cobalt metal and the Long Harbour cobalt rounds are electro refined at our Port Colborne refinery and have very high purity levels (99.8%), meeting the LME contract specification. Cobalt metal is used in the production of various alloys, particularly for aerospace applications, and in the manufacturing of cobalt-based chemicals primarily for use in rechargeable batteries.
In June 2018, we sold to Wheaton and Cobalt 27 Capital Corp. (Cobalt 27) a combined 75% of the cobalt produced as a by-product at our Voisey’s Bay mine from January 1, 2021, which includes the ramp down of production from the existing mine and the life of mine production from our underground mine expansion project. In consideration, we received US$690 million in cash from Wheaton and Cobalt 27 upon closing of the transaction on June 28, 2018, and will receive additional payments of 18-22% of cobalt prices upon delivery. In February 2021, the stream originally sold to Cobalt 27 was assigned to Anglo Pacific Group. We remain exposed to approximately 40% of future cobalt production from Voisey’s Bay, through our retained interest in 25% of cobalt production and the additional payments upon delivery.
The following table sets forth information on our cobalt production.
| Mine | Type | By-product finished production by ore source for the year ended December 31, (contained metric tons) | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Sudbury | Underground | 331 | 365 | 367 |
| Thompson | Underground | 113 | 94 | 143 |
| Voisey’s Bay(1) | Open pit/Underground | 1,102 | 637 | 1,169 |
| Others(2) | − | 532 | 862 | 755 |
| Total | 2,079 | 1,959 | 2,434 | |
(1) Figures represent 100% of cobalt production, and do not deduct the portion of cobalt stream sold to Cobalt27, Wheaton and Anglo Pacific Group.
(2) These figures do not include tolling of feeds for unrelated parties. Includes cobalt processed at our facilities using feeds purchased from unrelated parties, and PTVI ore source (521 metric tons in 2022, 538 metric tons in 2023 and 343 metric tons in 2024).
2.5 Logistics and energy assets to support Energy Transition Metals operations
2.5.1 Ports
Canada. Vale Newfoundland & Labrador Limited operates a port as part of our mining operation at Voisey’s Bay, Labrador and a port as part of our processing operation at Long Harbour, Newfoundland. The port at Voisey’s Bay is used for shipping nickel and copper concentrates and re-supply. The port at Long Harbour is used to receive nickel concentrate from Voisey’s Bay along with goods and materials required for the Long Harbour operation.
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Indonesia. PTVI owns and operates two ports in Indonesia to support its nickel mining activities.
| · | The Balantang Special Port is located in Balantang Village, South Sulawesi, and has two types of piers, two barge slips for barges with capacity of up to 5,000 DWT each for dry bulk cargo, and a general cargo wharf for vessels of up to 2,000 DWT. |
| · | The Tanjung Mangkasa Special Port is in Lampia Village, South Sulawesi, with mooring buoys that can accommodate fuel tankers with capacity of up to 20,000 DWT, and a jetty terminal that can accommodate fuel tanker vessels with capacity of up to 5,000 DWT. |
2.5.2 Energy
Canada. In 2024, our wholly owned and operated hydroelectric power plants in Sudbury generated approximately 14% of the electricity requirements of our Sudbury operations. The power plants consist of five separate generation stations High Falls I and II, Big Eddy, Wabageshik and Nairn with an installed generator nameplate capacity of 55 MW. The output of the plants is limited by water availability, as well as by constraints imposed by a water management plan regulated by the provincial government of Ontario. Over the course of 2024, average demand for electrical energy was 193 MWh to all surface plants and mines in the Sudbury area. In 2024, diesel generation provided 100% of the electric requirements of our Voisey’s Bay operations. We have six diesel generators onsite, with output ranging from 12 to 14 MW, in order to meet seasonal demands.
Indonesia. Energy costs are a significant component of our nickel production costs for the processing of lateritic ore at our PTVI operations in Indonesia. A major portion of PTVI’s electric furnace power requirements is supplied at a low cost by its three hydroelectric power plants on the Larona River: (i) the Larona plant, which has an average generating capacity of 165 MW, (ii) the Balambano plant, which has an average capacity of 110 MW and (iii) the Karebbe plant, with 90 MW of average generating capacity. These plants help reduce production costs by substituting hydrocarbons for power generation with hydroelectric power, reducing CO2 emissions by replacing non-renewable power generation, and enable us to increase our current nickel production capacity.
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3. Other INVESTMENTS
3.1 Anglo American Minério de Ferro Brasil
In December 2024, we completed the acquisition of a 15% interest in Anglo American Minério de Ferro Brasil S.A (Anglo American Brasil) by contributing the high-grade Serra da Serpentina iron ore resources into Anglo American Brasil and paying an amount in cash.
(1) Area with reserves and resources associated.
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We are not reporting mineral resources or mineral reserves estimates for Anglo American Brazil in this annual report on Form 20-F. In 2025, we expect to assess the existing technical study to determine whether mineral resources and mineral reserves estimates may be reported in our annual report for the next year in accordance with S-K 1300.
3.2 Samarco
We have a 50% equity interest in Samarco, and BHP Billiton Brasil Ltda. (BHP Brasil) owns the remaining 50%. Samarco owns an integrated system composed of two different complexes, three beneficiation plants, three pipelines, four pellet plants and a port. The mines and the beneficiation plants are in the state of Minas Gerais and the pellet plants and port are located in the state of Espírito Santo. From Minas Gerais to Espírito Santo, the production flows through the three pipelines which extend for approximately 400 Km. Samarco’s mining and pelletizing operations have been gradually resuming since December 2020.
In 2015, the Fundão tailings dam owned by Samarco failed. For additional information, see Overview—Business Overview—Reparation and remediation efforts related to Samarco’s tailings dam. From 2015 through December 2020, Samarco’s operations were suspended. In December 2020, Samarco began the gradual resumption of its operations, with the integrated restart of iron ore extraction, beneficiation, and pelletizing activities, achieving a production of approximately 8 Mtpa, equivalent to approximately 26% of Samarco’s total capacity. These activities are currently conducted at the Germano complex, in the municipality of Mariana, state of Minas Gerais, and at the Ubu complex, in the municipality of Anchieta, state of Espírito Santo. The integrated restart of operations occurred following extensive commissioning tests after a five-year halt period. In December, 2024, Samarco increased its production capacity to approximately 15 Mtpa, representing approximately 60% of its total capacity. Samarco is also using new processes for tailings disposal, reflecting its commitment to a sustainable restart and operational safety.
Through the implementation of the filtration process, Samarco is now able to substantially dewater sand tailings, which represent approximately 80% of total tailings volume, and safely stack these filtered sand tailings in piles. The remaining 20% of tailings are being deposited in Alegria Sul pit, a bedrock self-contained structure, which is safer than a tailings dam. Additionally, Samarco decommissioned Germano Pit in 2023 and is progressing in the decommissioning of Germano Dam, following the required safety standards. Samarco operates a 24/7 Monitoring and Inspection Center in real time to monitor the stability and safety of its geotechnical structures. Furthermore, Samarco implemented the GISTM in all of its tailing’s facilities.
The carrying value for our investment in Samarco has been reduced to zero since 2015. In April 2021, Samarco filed a request for judicial reorganization (JR) with the Minas Gerais Court to restructure its debt. Samarco’s financial debt was owed to (i) international holders of debt securities, (ii) certain financial creditors through export prepayment agreements, and (iii) its shareholders, BHP Brasil and us. Most of the debt claims of BHP Brasil and us were related to funds provided to Samarco after the failure of the Fundão dam, which were used for operational maintenance, contributions to Fundação Renova, and resuming Samarco’s operations. In January 2024, Samarco successfully restructured its financial debt under the conditions established by the JR Plan approved in 2023.
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| SAMARCO MINERAÇÃO S.A. | |
 | |
| Ownership interest | 50% owned by Vale; 50% owned by BHP Brasil. |
| Location | Mariana and Ouro Preto, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. |
| Operator | Samarco Mineração S.A. |
| Mining complexes | Integrated system composed of two different complexes, three beneficiation plants, three pipelines, four pump stations, two valves station, four pellet plants and a port. |
| Mining title(1) |
Mining concession with no expiration date. Acreage: 1,174.3 ha. |
| Stage/ Operations | Continued operations from 1977 to 2015. Operations were suspended in November 2015, following the failure of the Fundão dam. Gradually resuming operations since December 2020. |
| Key permit conditions | We understand that Samarco has the necessary permits for its current operations. |
| Mine types and mineralization styles | Itabirite ore types extracted using an open-pit mining method. |
| Associated facilities and infrastructure |
Mine: Long distance conveyor belt systems and trucks transport the ore blending to beneficiation plants. Processing plant: The three beneficiation plants, located at site, process the run of mine by means of standard crushing, milling, concentration steps, producing pellet feed. Logistics: The mines supply the pellet plants using pipelines extending approximately 400 kilometers. These pipelines transport the iron ore from beneficiation plants to the pelletizing plants in the state of Espírito Santo. Port: The production is embarked on a self-owned port in the state of Espírito Santo. Energy: Supplied through the national electricity grid. Acquired from regional utility companies or produced directly by Samarco. |
(1) Area with reserves and resources associated.
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In 2024, Samarco produced 9.6 Mt of iron ore pellets, compared to 9.1 Mt in 2023 and 8.1 Mt in 2022. The production figures for Samarco, in which we have a 50% interest, have not been adjusted to reflect our ownership interest.
All mineral resource and mineral reserve information for Samarco’s mining property has been estimated by a qualified person engaged by Samarco. We are reporting this mineral reserve and resource information given our indirect economic interest in Samarco’s property, as required under Item 1303(b)(3) of Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. However, for the reasons described above, our ability to receive cash flows from Samarco is limited by the current outstanding restructured debt of Samarco (new senior debt bonds maturing in 2031) and the carrying value for our investment in Samarco has been reduced to zero since 2015.
|
Samarco Iron Ore Mineral Reserves as of December 31, (1)(2)(3)(4) (Tonnage in metric million tons inclusive moisture and wet %Fe grade) | ||||||||
|
Proven – 2024 |
Probable – 2024 |
Total – 2024 |
Total – 2023 | |||||
| Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | |
| Samarco | 45 | 40.6 | 375 | 43.0 | 420 | 42.7 | 429 | 42.7 |
(1) The mineral reserve economic viability was determined based an average long-term price of US$126.70/t pellets and fines - FOB Ubu Port (100% Blast Furnace).
(2) Adjusted to reflect our 50% ownership.
(3) The point of reference is in-situ material. The moisture content is 6.5% and the average product recovery (tonnage basis) is 47%.
(4) Numbers have been rounded.
(1) The mineral resources prospects of economic extraction were determined based an average long-term price of US$126.70/t pellets and fines - FOB
Ubu Port (100% Blast Furnace).
(2) Mineral resources are reported exclusive of those mineral resources converted to mineral reserves and have been adjusted to reflect our 50% ownership.
(3) The point of reference is in-situ material. The moisture content is 6.5% and the average product recovery (tonnage basis) is 41%.
(4) Numbers have been rounded.
Samarco mineral reserves decreased by 2%, due to mine depletion, consisting of 18 Mt (not adjusted to reflect our 50% equity interest).
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3.3 Other Investments
Below is a list of our main other investments:
VLI. VLI provides integrated logistics solutions with assets strategically distributed between the North and Southeast Systems, covering five logistics corridors: North, Southeast, East, Minas-Rio and Minas-Bahia. Its multimodal operations are made possible by an extensive rail network of 7,940 kilometers (Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica S.A. and Ferrovia Norte-Sul S.A.), nine integrating terminals and eight port terminals. Among the main products transported are grains, steel and construction products, industrial items, sugar and fertilizers. We hold a 29.6% stake in VLI and we are part of a shareholders’ agreement with FI-FGTS, Mitsui, Brookfield and BNDESPar, which hold the remaining equity stakes. In 2024, VLI handled a total of 41.9 billion TKU of general cargo, including 31.2 billion TKU from FCA and FNS.) VLI’s main assets include:
| · | Ferrovia Norte-Sul-Tramo Norte (FNS): An important export route connecting the Midwest and Northeast regions, 720 km long, crossing 25 cities in two states (Maranhão and Tocantins), connecting Açailândia (Maranhão) to Porto Nacional (Tocantins). The concession runs until December 2037. |
| · | Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica S.A. (FCA): The main axis of integration between the Southeast, Northeast and West regions, with a length of 7,220 km. It covers more than 300 municipalities in seven Brazilian states (Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Sergipe, Goiás, Bahia and São Paulo) and the Federal District. The concession runs until August 2026, with negotiations underway for early renewal with the Ministry of Transport. |
| · | Terminal Integrador Portuário Luiz Antônio Mesquita (Tiplam)–Santos (SP): Authorized to operate until October 2039, the terminal has been ISO 14001 certified (environmental management) since December 2021. |
| · | Terminal Marítimo Inácio Barbosa (TMIB) – Aracaju (SE): Authorized to operate port cargo until June 2040. |
| · | Terminal Portuário São Luís (TPSL) – São Luís (MA): Regulated operation under contract with Empresa Maranhense de Administração Portuária (EMAP) until March 2028. Since December 2021, it has been ISO 14001 certified (environmental management). |
| · | Trato (VLI Ventures): VLI startup that develops innovative digital solutions for road logistics optimization, offering services such as digital carrier, scheduling, registration and orchestration, with a focus on efficiency and competitiveness. |
| · | Right to purchase capacity of the Vitória-Minas Railroad (EFVM) and Carajás Railroad (EFC) for general cargo; |
| · | Right to purchase capacity of the terminals of Terminal de Tubarão - Vitória (ES) - Produtos Diversos (TPD), Terminal de Tubarão - Vitória (ES) - Granéis Líquidos (TGL) and Terminal de Praia Mole (TPM) - Vitória (ES). |
MRS Logística S.A. (MRS). The MRS railroad, in which we hold a 49.01% direct and indirect equity interest, is 1,643 kilometers long and links the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Minas Gerais. The MRS railroad transports our iron ore products from the Southern System mines to our maritime terminals. In 2024, it transported a daily average of 332,986 metric tons of iron ore and 221,734 metric tons of other cargo.
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Reserves and Resources
INTERNAL CONTROLS
Our mineral resources and mineral reserves estimates are reported in accordance with Item 1303(b)(3) of Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (S-K 1300).
We have an established risk management process that is integrated with our Executive Risk Committee. For additional information, see Overview—Risk Management—Risk Governance Structure. As part of our risk management process, we identify risks affecting uncertainty of mineral reserves and mineral resources disclosure, with standardized risk ratings and proposed mitigation activities.
We work based on a line of defense structure for governance of our estimation and reporting of mineral reserves and resources, with the purpose of promoting transparency, consistency, professional competence, and the reliability of all information prepared for internal purposes and public reporting.
Our internal guidelines define the responsibility for the governance and reporting of mineral resource and reserves, clarify concepts and bring technical guidance from the broader view to all business units. These internal guidelines are periodically reviewed and revised to ensure alignment with industry practice.
Our internal controls protocols for exploration data, as they relate to mineral resource and reserve estimation, contain:
| · | Written procedures and guidelines defining minimum requirements to support exploration programs. |
| · | Quality Control and Quality Assurance (QA/QC) programs are in place aiming to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the data being entered into the estimation databases. These include, but are not limited to, collar and downhole survey, core logging, sample preparation, chemical analysis and bulk density determinations. |
| · | Maintenance of a chain-of-custody, ensuring the traceability and integrity of the samples at all handling stages from collection, transportation, sample preparation and analysis to long-term pulp and coarse reject storage. |
| · | The geological model, interpretation (includes reconciliation insights) and 3D modelling of the mineralized zones are subject to a peer review process aiming to identify flaws or alternative interpretations that might not have been considered by the main modeler. |
We have the following internal control protocols in place to guide mineral resource and mineral reserve estimation:
| · | Written procedures and guidelines defining minimum requirements for estimation and reporting. |
| · | Peer reviews are undertaken on mineral reserve and resource estimations to ensure consistency with industry practices including reviews of geological model, block models, and mineral resource and reserve estimates. |
| · | Annual mineral resource and mineral reserve estimation statements are prepared following our layered responsibility system. For more information see Overview—Risk Management. |
| · | External mineral resource and mineral reserve audits are undertaken for applicable cases in accordance with our guidelines |
We use the Front-End-Load (FEL) methodology to progress our project studies that we consider fulfill S-K 1300 reporting requirements from initial assessments, pre-feasibility, feasibility. This staged approach provides for project review and allows for assessment and risk evaluations, including the ones related to mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, economic assumptions, engineering requirements for mining and extraction, social and environment aspects.
We conduct reviews of and updates to property risk registers as part of the mineral resource and mineral reserve estimation processes. Areas of uncertainty that may materially impact mineral resource and reserve estimates and are monitored for material changes for impact to estimations may include but are not limited to:
| · | Changes to long-term metal price, market and exchange rate assumptions. |
| · | Changes in local interpretation of lithological, structural and mineralization geometry and continuity. |
| · | Changes to estimation input parameters and estimation techniques in the resource modeling process. |
| · | Changes to metallurgical recovery assumptions affecting concentrate grade, variability and quality. |
| · | Changes in processing that result in higher deleterious elements that result in penalties or result in unsalable concentrate. |
| · | Changes to the input assumptions used to derive the potentially mineable shapes applicable to the assumed underground and open pit mining methods used to constrain the estimates. |
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| · | Changes to mining selectivity and production rate assumptions. |
| · | Changes to the forecast dilution and mining recovery assumptions. |
| · | Changes to the cut-off values applied to the estimates. |
| · | Variations in geotechnical (including seismicity), structures, rock mass strength, stress regime), hydrogeological, hydrothermal, geothermal factors, and mining method assumptions. |
| · | Changes to environmental, permitting and social license assumptions. |
| · | Long-term consumables price assumptions. |
Other factors that can affect the reserve estimates include changes to:
| · | Mineral resource input parameters. |
| · | Constraining underground or pit designs. |
| · | Cut-off grade, Grade descriptor assumptions. |
| · | Geotechnical (including seismicity), geothermal/hydrothermal and hydrogeological factors. |
| · | Mining recovery assumptions based on similar types of mining methods; Metallurgical recovery are determined through testing of a significant number of drill core samples. |
| · | Ability to control unplanned dilution. |
| · | Ability to access the site, retain mineral, surface rights and water rights titles. |
| · | Ability to maintain environmental and other regulatory permits and maintain the social license to operate. |
PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION CONCERNING MINERAL RESERVES
The estimates of proven and probable mineral reserves at our mines and projects and the estimates of mine life included in this annual report have been prepared by our staff of experienced geologists and engineers, unless otherwise stated, and in accordance with the technical definitions established by the SEC under S-K 1300.
We periodically revise our reserve estimates when we have new geological data, economic assumptions or mining plans. During 2024, we performed an analysis of our mineral reserve estimates for certain projects and operations, which are presented in this report. Mineral Reserve estimates for each operation assume that we either have or expect to obtain all the necessary rights and permits to mine, extract and process mineral reserves at each mine. For some of our operations, the projected exhaustion date includes stockpile reclamation. Where we own less than 100% of the operation, mineral reserve estimates have been adjusted to reflect our proportional ownership interest. Certain numbers in the tables, discussions and notes have been rounded. For a description of risks relating to mineral reserves and mineral resources estimates, see Overview—Risk Factors.
The projected exhaustion date of our mines or complexes are continuously reviewed based on several factors and studies, including geological exploration, socio-environmental factors, mineral processing, economic assumptions, market demand, mining constraints, tailings or waste disposal constraints and production capacity, in each case supported by proven and probable mineral reserves. Investments in mineral exploration and the review of technical studies are part of our long-term strategy and continuous pursuit to add value to the company, by bringing operational reliability and expanding mineral reserves portfolio.
The economic viability of our mineral reserves was tested based on commodity price assumptions valid as of December 31, 2024.
PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION CONCERNING MINERAL reSources
Estimation was performed by our staff of experienced geologists and engineers, unless otherwise stated. All mineralogical information, exploration drilling and background information were provided to the estimators by the geological staff at the mines or by exploration staff.
The mineral resource confidence categories were initially assigned based on a combination of factors, including geological understanding and confidence, drill hole support, grade estimation confidence relative to planned production rates, and identified risk factors. The initial assignments were reviewed to assess the impacts of factors such as metallurgical recoveries, geomechanical studies, mine design work, and representative mineability and recovery reconciliation analysis. Where mining has occurred or is currently active, the mined-out volumes were overprinted upon the mineral resource model to account for mining depletion.
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For each mineral resource estimate, at least an initial assessment was undertaken that assessed likely infrastructure, mining, and process plant requirements; mining methods; process recoveries and throughputs; environmental, permitting, and social considerations relating to the proposed mining and processing methods, and proposed waste disposal, and technical and economic considerations in support of an assessment of reasonable prospects of economic extraction. The assumptions made in the estimation our mineral resources may differ from those made in the estimation of our mineral reserves, because (i) the extraction of mineral resources occurs over a longer period of time, compared to the extraction of reserves, and (ii) different timing for mineral resource estimation and the economic analysis for purposes of reserve estimation or review. As of December 31, 2024, all the assumptions, including commodity price and resource mine designs, considered for our resource estimation continue to provide a reasonable basis for establishing the prospects of economic extraction of mineral resources.
We periodically revise our mineral resource estimates when we have new geological data, economic assumptions or mining plans. During 2024, we performed an analysis of our mineral resource for certain projects and operations, which is presented in this report. Mineral resource estimates for each operation assume that we either have or expect to obtain all the necessary rights and permits to mine, extract and process mineral resources at each mine. Where we own less than 100% of the operation, resource estimates have been adjusted to reflect our proportional ownership interest. All mineral resources presented are exclusive of mineral reserves. Certain numbers in the tables, discussions and notes have been rounded. For a description of risks relating to resource and reserve estimates, see Overview—Risk Factors. Our mineral resource estimates are based on certain assumptions about prices as shown in the tables below.
IRON ORE MINERAL RESERVES and MINERAL resources
We classify our iron ore mineral reserves as proven to the extent that they satisfy the requirements of the definition of proven mineral reserves under S-K 1300 and that we have obtained the environmental licenses for the corresponding pit operation or have at least a reasonable expectation of obtaining on a timely basis any additional licenses necessary to conduct the operations.
We periodically review the economic viability of our iron ore mineral reserves considering changes in the iron ore industry.
|
Iron Ore Mineral reserves at December 31, (13) (Tonnage in metric million tons inclusive moisture and dry %Fe grade) | ||||||||
|
Proven – 2024(1)(2) |
Probable – 2024(1)(2) |
Total – 2024(1)(2) |
Total – 2023(1) | |||||
| Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | |
| Southeastern System (3) | ||||||||
| Itabira (4) | 326.2 | 48.9 | 433.5 | 43.2 | 759.7 | 45.6 | 801.4 | 45.6 |
| Minas Centrais (5) | 311.1 | 41.9 | 892.2 | 50.0 | 1,203.3 | 47.9 | 1,229.1 | 47.9 |
| Mariana (6) | 450.9 | 53.0 | 304.6 | 53.3 | 755.5 | 53.1 | 436.9 | 56.8 |
| Southeastern System - total | 1,088.1 | 48.6 | 1,630.3 | 48.8 | 2,718.5 | 48.7 | 2,467.4 | 48.7 |
| Southern System (7) | ||||||||
| Vargem Grande (8) | 706.8 | 44.0 | 2,976.1 | 42.2 | 3,682.9 | 42.5 | 2,935.6 | 45.5 |
| Paraopeba (9) | 149.2 | 48.9 | 211.6 | 55.9 | 360.9 | 53.0 | 314.1 | 57.2 |
| Southern System - total | 856.1 | 44.9 | 3,187.7 | 43.1 | 4,043.8 | 43.5 | 3,249.8 | 46.7 |
| Northern System (10) | ||||||||
| Serra Norte (11) | 292.4 | 65.4 | 1,275.5 | 64.7 | 1,567.9 | 64.8 | 1,546.5 | 64.9 |
| Serra Sul (12) | 1,401.6 | 65.8 | 2,000.0 | 65.2 | 3,401.6 | 65.4 | 3,430.9 | 65.4 |
| Serra Leste | 91.5 | 64.0 | 276.8 | 64.5 | 368.3 | 64.4 | 227.2 | 64.5 |
| Northern System - total | 1,785.5 | 65.6 | 3,552.3 | 64.9 | 5,337.8 | 65.2 | 5,204.5 | 65.2 |
| Total | 3,729.7 | 55.9 | 8,370.3 | 53.5 | 12,100.0 | 54.2 | 10,921.6 | 56.0 |
(1) Iron Ore Reserve estimates stated as metric million tons inclusive moisture and dry %Fe grade; following moisture contents: 1.34% Itabira; 6.56% Minas Centrais; 6.96% Mariana; 6.0% Vargem Grande; 6.58% Paraopeba; 7.09% Serra Norte; 6.78% Serra Sul; 5.65% Serra Leste. Our Iron Ore mineral reserve estimates are of in-situ material, except for 149.2 Mt tons of stockpile included in the Mariana Complex and 98.9Mt tons of Gelado tailings dam ore in Serra Norte.
(2) The mineral reserve economic viability was determined based price curve with the long-term price being US$83.2/dmt for 62% iron grade.
(3) Average product recoveries (tonnage basis) of the iron ore reserves are: 56.4% for Itabira, 71.4% for Minas Centrais and 90.0% for Mariana.
(4) The Itabira integrated operation includes Conceição and Minas do Meio mines.
(5) Minas Centrais complex comprises the reserves for Brucutu and Morro Agudo mines and Apolo project. The mineral reserve for the Minas Centrais complex has been adjusted to reflect our 98.7% ownership interest.
(6) Mariana complex includes Alegria, Fábrica Nova and Fazendão mines and Capanema project.
(7) Average product recoveries (tonnage basis) of the iron ore reserves are: 54.8% for Vargem Grande and 75.0% for Paraopeba.
(8) Vargem Grande complex includes Sapecado, Galinheiro, Tamanduá, Horizontes and Abóboras mines.
(9) Paraopeba complex includes João Pereira and Segredo, Mar Azul, Capão Xavier and Viga mines.
(10) Average product recoveries (tonnage basis) of the iron ore reserves are: 96.7% for Serra Norte, 100% for Serra Leste and 100% for Serra Sul.
(11) Serra Norte complex includes N4W, N4E and N5 mines, Gelado tailings dam ore, and N1, N2 and N3 projects.
(12) Serra Sul complex includes S11D and S11C orebodies.
(13) Numbers have been rounded.
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We periodically revise our mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates based on new geological data, study developments, economic assumptions, mining plans, new technology developments and regulatory updates, among other factors. Future changes in these aspects may impact our future mineral reserves. Variations in iron ore reserves from 2023 to 2024 reflect mainly depletion resulting from mine production for operating mines (corresponding to approximately 316 Mt), upgrades resulting from the incorporation of additional mineral exploration data and, consequently review of the resource model and mine designs in the Mariana complex and the Abóboras mine (Vargem Grande complex). Additionally, in 2024 we started reporting mineral resource and mineral reserve from Viga mine and the ore from Gelado tailings dam, as part of the Serra Norte Complex.
The main changes are summarized below:
| · | In the Northern System, our mineral reserves increased 3%, to 5.3 Bt in 2024 compared to 5.2 Bt in 2023. The changes on the three complexes were mainly due to the addition of Gelado tailings dam mineral reserve, at Serra Norte Complex, and mine design reviews partially offset by 177 Mt of mine depletion. |
| · | In the Serra Sul Complex, our mineral reserves decreased 1%, to 3,402 Mt in 2024 compared to 3,431 Mt in 2023, mostly due to 82.4 Mt mine depletion offset by a 53Mt as a result of the environmental protection buffer review. |
| · | In the Serra Norte Complex, our mineral reserves increased 1%, to 1.57 Bt in 2024 compared to 1.55Bt in 2023. This increase was due to a 111 Mt addition (corresponding 7% of the total mineral reserve) related to the incorporation of ore from Gelado tailings dam into the complex mineral reserve, besides the mine design reviews, that were partially offset by a 90 Mt mine depletion, corresponding to 6% of the total mineral reserve. There have been no material changes in the reported mineral reserve or mineral resource or in the material assumptions and information since the last technical report summary filed for Serra Norte Complex. |
| · | In the Serra Leste Complex, our mineral reserves increased 62%, to 368 Mt in 2024 compared to 227 Mt in 2023. The increase in our mineral reserve is due to resource model and mine design reviews that were partially offset by mine depletion. |
| · | In the Southeastern System, our mineral reserves increased 10%, to 2.7 Bt in 2024 compared to 2.5 Bt in 2023. The mineral reserves of Itabira Complex decreased by 42 Mt, corresponding to approximately 5% of the total mineral reserves, due to mine depletion. The mineral reserves of Minas Centrais Complex decreased by 26 Mt, corresponding to approximately 2% of mineral reserves, due to mine depletion. The mineral reserves of Mariana Complex increased by 319 Mt mainly due to the incorporation of additional mineral exploration data and consequently review of the resource model and mine designs, resulting in a 342Mt addition, which was offset by 24 Mt from mine depletion. |
| · | In the Southern System, our mineral reserves increased 24%, to 4.0 Bt in 2024 compared to 3.25 Bt in 2023. The mineral reserves of Vargem Grande Complex increased by 747 Mt, corresponding to approximately 25% of mineral reserves, due to a 785 Mt as a result of incorporation of additional mineral exploration data and, consequently review of the resource model and mine designs, which was offset by 38 Mt from mine depletion. The mineral reserves of Paraopeba Complex increased by 47 Mt, corresponding to approximately 15% of the complex total mineral reserves, mainly due to Viga mine mineral reserve first disclosure, also considering the offset by mine design reviews and mine depletion. |
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|
Iron Ore Mineral Resources as of December 31, (11) (Tonnage in metric million tons inclusive moisture and dry %Fe grade) | ||||||||||||
| Measured - 2024(1)(2) | Indicated - 2024(1)(2) | Measured and Indicated - 2024(1)(2) | Inferred - 2024(1)(2) | Measured and Indicated - 2023(1) | Inferred - 2023(1) | |||||||
| Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | |
| Southeastern System | ||||||||||||
| Itabira (3) | 176.6 | 53.0 | 303.9 | 45.5 | 480.4 | 48.2 | 258.0 | 41.9 | 480.4 | 48.2 | 258.0 | 41.9 |
| Minas Centrais (4) | 536.1 | 42.1 | 1,144.7 | 41.5 | 1,680.8 | 41.6 | 1,136.9 | 42.3 | 1,705.8 | 41.7 | 1,138.7 | 42.3 |
| Mariana (5) | 2,961.8 | 41.2 | 2,694.1 | 39.8 | 5,655.9 | 40.5 | 2,654.8 | 39.6 | 4,181.7 | 41.1 | 2,155.5 | 39.1 |
| Southeastern System – total | 3,674.6 | 41.9 | 4,142.6 | 40.7 | 7,817.2 | 41.2 | 4,049.7 | 40.5 | 6,368.0 | 41.8 | 3,552.2 | 40.3 |
| Southern System | ||||||||||||
| Vargem Grande (6) | 1,267.5 | 41.7 | 1,784.9 | 39.2 | 3,052.5 | 40.2 | 2,165.0 | 37.2 | 3,297.1 | 40.0 | 2,152.8 | 37.7 |
| Paraopeba (7) | 1,379.8 | 44.2 | 1,602.5 | 40.9 | 2,982.3 | 42.5 | 1,982.5 | 38.5 | 2,555.5 | 42.8 | 1,967.0 | 38.5 |
| Southern System - total | 2,647.4 | 43.0 | 3,387.4 | 40.0 | 6,034.8 | 41.3 | 4,147.5 | 37.8 | 5,852.6 | 41.2 | 4,119.8 | 38.0 |
| Northern System | ||||||||||||
| Serra Norte (8) | 694.3 | 66.6 | 598.6 | 66.1 | 1,292.8 | 66.4 | 425.3 | 66.4 | 916.9 | 66.5 | 282.7 | 66.2 |
| Serra Sul (S11) (9) | 516.2 | 66.1 | 380.9 | 64.8 | 897.1 | 65.6 | 115.6 | 64.6 | 949.6 | 65.5 | 123.7 | 64.6 |
| Serra Leste (SL1) | 241.0 | 53.3 | 222.9 | 54.4 | 464.0 | 53.8 | 48.5 | 49.3 | 493.3 | 50.9 | 96.5 | 46.3 |
| Serra do Rabo (10) | 316.3 | 66.3 | 192.7 | 65.7 | 508.9 | 66.1 | 69.9 | 65.6 | - | - | - | - |
| Northern System - total | 1,767.8 | 64.6 | 1,395.1 | 63.8 | 3,162.8 | 64.3 | 659.3 | 64.7 | 2,359.8 | 62.9 | 502.9 | 62.0 |
| Total | 8,089.7 | 47.2 | 8,925.1 | 44.0 | 17,014.8 | 45.6 | 8,856.5 | 41.0 | 14,580.3 | 45.0 | 8,174.9 | 40.5 |
(1) Mineral resources are reported exclusive of those mineral resources converted to mineral reserves. Iron Ore mineral resources estimates stated as metric million tons inclusive moisture and dry %Fe grade; following moisture contents: 1.55% Itabira; 5.91% Minas Centrais; 4.0% Mariana; 4.54% Vargem Grande; 5.12% Paraopeba; 6.97% Serra Norte; 6.74% Serra Sul; and 5.19% Serra Leste. Our Iron Ore mineral resources estimates are of in-situ material,- except for 93 Mt tons of Gelado tailings dam material in Serra Norte.
(2) The mineral resources prospects of economic extraction were determined based on a long-term price of US$100/dmt for 62% iron grade.
(3) The Itabira integrated operation includes Conceição and Minas do Meio mines.
(4) Minas Centrais integrated operation includes Brucutu and Morro Agudo mines and the Apolo project. Figure have been adjusted to reflect our 98.7% ownership interest in the Minas Centrais complex.
(5) Mariana integrated operation includes Alegria, Fábrica Nova and Fazendão mines and Capanema project.
(6) Vargem Grande integrated operation includes Sapecado, Galinheiro, Tamanduá, Horizontes and Abóboras mines.
(7) Paraopeba integrated operation includes João Pereira and Segredo, Mar Azul, Capão Xavier and Viga mines.
(8) Serra Norte integrated operation includes N4W, N4E and N5 mines, Gelado tailings dam material and N1, N2 and N3 projects.
(9) Serra Sul integrated operation includes S11D and S11C orebodies.
(10) Serra do Rabo project includes S43P, S44P, S45E, and S45W deposits.
(11) Numbers have been rounded
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The mineral resource at Serra Sul Complex decreased by 61 million tons (a 6% decrease of the exclusive mineral resource) due to partial incorporation of material converted to mineral reserve.
The mineral resource at Serra Norte Complex increased by 519 million tons (a 43% increase of the exclusive mineral resource) due to resource model evaluation review and Gelado tailings dam material addition.
The mineral resource at Serra Leste Complex decreased by 77 million tons (a 6% decrease of the exclusive mineral resource) in line with the mineral reserve positive change.
In 2024, we began reporting mineral resource at the Serra do Rabo Project, in the Carajás region, adding 578.8 million tons to our Iron Ore portfolio.
The mineral resource at Mariana Complex increased by 2 billion tons, a 31% increase due to the incorporation of significant amount of exploratory and infill drilling with consequent review of the resource model in all mines.
The mineral resource at Paraopeba Complex increased by 442 million tons, a 10% increase due to the incorporation of drilling data, and consequent resource model review, and the disclosure of mineral resource at Viga mine for the first time.
| Iron Ore integrated operations | |||||
| Type | Operating since |
Projected exhaustion date – 2024(1) |
Projected exhaustion date – 2023(2) |
Vale interest (%) | |
| Southeastern System | |||||
| Itabira | Open pit | 1957 | 2041 | 2041 | 100 |
| Minas Centrais | Open pit | 1994 | 2057 | 2057 | 98.7 |
| Mariana | Open pit | 1976 | 2054 | 2041 | 100 |
| Southern System | |||||
| Vargem Grande | Open pit | 1942 | 2149 | 2121 | 100 |
| Paraopeba | Open pit | 2003 | 2045 | 2047 | 100 |
| Northern System | |||||
| Serra Norte | Open pit | 1984 | 2045 | 2045 | 100 |
| Serra Sul | Open pit | 2016 | 2060 | 2060 | 100 |
| Serra Leste | Open pit | 2014 | 2077 | 2048 | 100 |
(1) Indicates the life-of-mine for the operating mine with the longest projected exhaustion date in the complex, as of December 31, 2024.
(2) Projected exhaustion dates estimated as of December 31, 2023. Projected exhaustion dates in this column are superseded by the estimates indicated under “Projected exhaustion date – 2024”.
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NICKEL MINERAL RESERVES and MINERAL resources
We periodically review the economic viability of our nickel mineral reserves considering changes in the nickel industry.
Our nickel reserves and resources have been adjusted to reflect the equity interest after the completion of the sales of minority interests in both VBM and PTVI. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business.
| Nickel Mineral Reserves as of December 31, (11) | |||||||||
| (Tonnage in millions of dry metric tons. Grades in %) | |||||||||
| Proven – 2024(1)(2)(3) | Probable – 2024(1)(2) (3) | Total – 2024(1)(2)(3) | Total – 2023(1) | Recovery | |||||
| Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Range (%)(10) | |
| Canada | |||||||||
| Sudbury (4) | 18.0 | 1.43 | 46.5 | 1.42 | 64.5 | 1.42 | 75.1 | 1.42 | 65-90 |
| Thompson | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Voisey’s Bay | 12.6 | 1.76 | 13.8 | 1.87 | 26.4 | 1.82 | 31.1 | 1.80 | 69-84 |
| Indonesia | |||||||||
| PTVI (5)(7) | |||||||||
| Saprolite (6) | 37.0 | 1.73 | 28.5 | 1.70 | 65.5 | 1.72 | 98.1 | 1.72 | 89.3(7) |
| Limonite (8) | 49.5 | 1.16 | 56.4 | 1.13 | 105.9 | 1.14 | 94.5 | 1.15 | - |
| Brazil | |||||||||
| Onça Puma (9) | 46.7 | 1.63 | 40.0 | 1.43 | 86.8 | 1.54 | 97.2 | 1.55 | 86.5 |
| Total | 163.8 | 1.50 | 185.3 | 1.41 | 349.1 | 1.45 | 396.0 | 1.49 | |
(1) Tonnage is in millions of dry metric tons. Ni grades are in (%). Mineral reserves are dry tonnes run-of-mine material after adjustment for mining dilution ahead of the feed plants for all areas except Sorowako saprolite (62% of saprolite mineral reserve) that includes screening and drying and Onça Puma where the point of reference is dry recovered tons to the processing plant.
(2) Mineral reserves have been adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business. In the case of PTVI, reserves have been adjusted to reflect our 30.5% ownership.
(3) The mineral reserve economic viability was determined based on a price curve with a long-term price of US$17,950/t for Nickel.
(4) Sudbury mineral reserves includes material from Coleman, Copper Cliff, Creighton, Garson, Totten mines and Copper Cliff Pit and Stobie Pit projects.
(5) The reported mineral reserves may differ in quantity or quality from those reported in other jurisdictions, under different standards.
(6) The PTVI nickel saprolite mineral reserves includes material from Sorowako operations, Bahodopi 2-3 and Pomalaa projects.
(7) Recovery only for Sorowako Operations since saprolite material from Pomalaa and Bahodopi projects are supported by ROM sales agreements.
(8) The PTVI nickel limonite mineral reserves include Pomalaa and Sorowako Limonite projects material.
(9) Estimated consolidated nickel mineral reserves include 4.2 million dry metric tons of stockpile.
(10) Recovery range is overall metal recovered to point of first material sale.
(11) Numbers have been rounded.
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At our Sudbury operations, our mineral reserves decreased by 5%, to 71.7Mt in 2024, down from 75.1 Mt in 2023 (not reflecting our current 90% ownership interest). This decrease was primarily due to 2.8Mt from mining depletion and 0.6Mt from redesign evaluations in Totten, Creighton and Copper Cliff mines. There have been no material changes in the reported mineral reserves or mineral resources or in the material assumptions and information since the last technical report summary filed for the Sudbury operation.
At Voisey’s Bay, our mineral reserves decreased 6%, to 29.3 Mt in 2024, from 31.1 Mt in 2023, due to mining depletion. This variation does not reflect our current 90% ownership in this project.
We continue to operate and produce from our mine in Thompson; however, we currently do not have mineral reserves for this property.
Our PTVI mineral reserve increased by 29% (127 Mt, not reflecting our 30.5% ownership interest). The variation was mainly due to the conversion of material from the Sorowako Limonite project into mineral reserve, utilizing the limonite portion of the current operation. As a result, 139 Mt was incorporated into the PTVI mineral reserve. This increase was partially offset by the mining depletion in the operation as well as the mine design review of the Pomalaa project. The mineral reserves of the Pomalaa, Bahodopi and Sorowako Limonite projects are supported by ROM sales agreements with partner companies, which will handle the processing of the final product.
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| RESERVES AND RESOURCES |
|
Nickel Mineral Resources as of December 31, (9) (Tonnage in millions of dry metric tons. Grades in (%)) | ||||||||||||
| Measured – 2024(1)(2)(3) | Indicated – 2024(1)(2) (3) | Measured and Indicated- 2024(1)(2) (3) | Inferred – 2024(1)(2) (3) | Measured and Indicated- 2023(1) | Inferred – 2023(1) | |||||||
| Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | |
|
Canada Sudbury(4) |
8.9 | 1.11 | 36.0 | 1.25 | 44.8 | 1.22 | 21.9 | 1.2 | 39.7 | 1.37 | 8.6 | 1.9 |
| Thompson(5) | 2.7 | 2.13 | 13.9 | 1.93 | 16.6 | 1.96 | 20.4 | 0.9 | 19.1 | 1.98 | 6.8 | 1.9 |
| Voisey’s Bay | 1.0 | 1.19 | 0.8 | 1.45 | 1.8 | 1.30 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.30 | 7.5 | 1.8 |
|
Indonesia PTVI (6) |
||||||||||||
| Saprolite (7) | 6.5 | 1.60 | 44.2 | 1.72 | 50.7 | 1.70 | 87.9 | 1.8 | 72.2 | 1.70 | 122.5 | 1.8 |
| Limonite (8) | 12.1 | 1.01 | 82.5 | 1.15 | 94.6 | 1.14 | 9.5 | 1.1 | 200.0 | 1.14 | 13.8 | 1.1 |
|
Brazil Onça-Puma |
15.2 | 1.36 | 37.5 | 1.31 | 52.7 | 1.32 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 56.9 | 1.34 | 3.4 | 1.2 |
| Total | 46.4 | 1.29 | 215.0 | 1.36 | 261.3 | 1.35 | 149.4 | 1.5 | 389.9 | 1.34 | 162.6 | 1.7 |
(1) Mineral resources are reported exclusive of those mineral resources converted to mineral reserves. Tonnage is in millions of dry metric tons. Ni grades are in (%). Point of reference for the mineral resource estimate is in situ.
(2) Mineral resources have been adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business. In the case of PTVI, resources have been adjusted to reflect our 30.5% ownership.
(3) The mineral resource prospects of economic extraction were determined based on prices ranging from: US$13,376/t – US$21,069/t, depending on the mine. Variations in price for different mines are associated with timing of the associated estimate.
(4) Sudbury mineral resources includes material from selected zones within the Coleman, Copper Cliff, Creighton, Stobie, Garson, Totten, Victor and Ella Capre deposits
(5) Thompson mineral resources includes material from T1 and T3 deposits.
(6) The reported mineral resources may differ in quantity or quality from those reported in other jurisdictions, under different standards.
(7) The PTVI nickel saprolite mineral resources includes material from Sorowako operations, Bahodopi 2-3 and Pomalaa projects.
(8) The PTVI nickel limonite mineral resources include material from Sorowako Limonite, Tanamalia project and Pomalaa projects.
(9) Numbers have been rounded.
At Sudbury, our mineral resource increased by 54%, to 74.1Mt in 2024, from 48.3Mt in 2023, mainly due to the effort of exploration programs in the complex. This variation does not reflect our current 90% ownership in this project.
At Voisey’s Bay, our mineral resource remains the same in relation to 2023. At Manitoba, our mineral resources increased by 59%, due to an upgrade from exploration target and additional exploration drilling partially offset by depletion. This variation does not reflect our current 90% ownership in this project.
The mineral resource at Onça-Puma increased by 3% (1.7Mt) due to resources model updates. These figures do not reflect our 90% ownership.
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| Nickel ore mines | |||||
| Type | Operating since |
Projected exhaustion date – 2024(1) |
Projected exhaustion date – 2023(2) |
Vale interest (%) (4) | |
| Canada | |||||
| Sudbury | Underground | 1885 | 2047 | 2045 | 90 |
| Thompson | Underground | 1961 | 90 | ||
| Voisey’s Bay(3) | Open pit/ Underground | 2005 | 2038 | 2037 | 90 |
| Indonesia | |||||
| PTVI | Open pit | 1977 | 2045 | 2045 | 30.5 |
| Brazil | |||||
| Onça Puma | Open pit | 2010 | 2073 | 2067 | 90 |
(1) Indicates the life-of-mine for the operating mine with the longest projected exhaustion date in the complex, as of December 31, 2024, not reflecting our ownership interest.
(2) Projected exhaustion dates (Reserve Only) estimated as of December 31, 2023. Projected exhaustion dates in this column are superseded by the estimates indicated under “Projected exhaustion date – 2024.”
(3) Voisey’s Bay is transitioning from an open pit mine to a mainly underground mining operation.
(4) Vale interest adjusted to reflect our ownership after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM and divestment obligation transaction relating to PTVI. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business.
COPPER MINERAL RESERVES and MINERAL resources
Our copper reserves and resources have been adjusted to reflect the equity interest after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business.
|
Copper Mineral Reserves as of December 31, (8) (Tonnage in millions of dry metric tons. Grades in (%)) |
|||||||||||
|
Proven – 2024(1)(2) (3) |
Probable – 2024(1)(2)(3) |
Total – 2024(1)(2)(3) |
Total – 2023(1) |
Recovery | |||||||
| Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Range (%)(7) | |||
| Canada | |||||||||||
| Sudbury(4) | 18.0 | 1.47 | 46.5 | 1.29 | 64.5 | 1.34 | 75.1 | 1.37 | 80-90 | ||
| Voisey’s Bay | 12.6 | 0.80 | 13.8 | 0.85 | 26.4 | 0.83 | 31.1 | 0.82 | 79-97 | ||
| Brazil | |||||||||||
| Sossego (5) | 17.1 | 0.90 | 42.0 | 0.41 | 59.1 | 0.55 | 65.1 | 0.56 | 83.8 | ||
| Salobo (6) | 233.1 | 0.65 | 718.8 | 0.60 | 951.9 | 0.61 | 1,088.9 | 0.62 | 86.5 | ||
| Total | 280.8 | 0.72 | 821.2 | 0.63 | 1,102.0 | 0.65 | 1,260.2 | 0.66 | |||
(1) Tonnage is in millions of dry metric tons. Cu grades are in (%). Point of reference for the mineral reserve estimate is the point of delivery to the process plant.
(2) The Mineral Reserves have been adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business.
(3) The mineral reserve economic viability was determined based on a price curve with a long-term price of US$9,150/t for copper.
(4) Sudbury mineral reserves includes material from Coleman, Copper Cliff, Creighton, Garson, Totten, Stobie mines and Copper Cliff Pit project.
(5) Estimated consolidated copper mineral reserves includes Sequeirinho, Sossego Mata II pits and 35.6 million dry metric tons of stockpile.
(6) Estimated consolidated copper mineral reserves include 230.3 million dry metric tons of stockpile.
(7) Recovery range is overall metal recovered to point of first material sale.
(8) Numbers have been rounded.
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| RESERVES AND RESOURCES |
In Canada, the mineral reserves for Sudbury and Voisey’s Bay have decreased for the same reasons discussed above in connection with the nickel reserves.
At Sossego operations, our mineral reserves increased by 1% to 65.7 Mt in 2024, from 65.1 Mt in 2023, mainly due to mine design re-evaluation offset by mining depletion (approximately 11 Mt). This variation does not reflect our current 90% ownership in this project.
At Salobo operations, our mineral reserves decreased by 3%, to 1,057.7 Mt in 2024, from 1,088.9 Mt in 2023, mainly due to mining depletion and partially offset by mine design review. These figures do not reflect our current 90% ownership in this project.
There have been no material changes in the reported reserves or resources or in the material assumptions and information since the last technical report summary filed for Salobo operation.
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| Copper Mineral Resources as of December 31, (9) | ||||||||||||
| (Tonnage in millions of dry metric tonnes. Grades in (%)) | ||||||||||||
| Measured - 2024(1)(2) (3) | Indicated - 2024(1)(2) (3) | Measured and Indicated- 2024(1)(2)(3) | Inferred - 2024(1)(2)(3) | Measured and Indicated- 2023(1) | Inferred - 2023(1) | |||||||
| Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | |
| Canada | ||||||||||||
| Sudbury(4) | 8.9 | 1.88 | 36.0 | 2.03 | 44.8 | 2.00 | 21.9 | 1.5 | 39.7 | 2.41 | 8.6 | 2.3 |
| Thompson | 2.7 | 0.13 | 13.9 | 0.14 | 16.7 | 0.14 | 20.4 | 0.1 | 19.1 | 0.14 | 6.8 | 0.1 |
| Voisey’s Bay | 1.0 | 0.99 | 0.8 | 1.05 | 1.8 | 1.02 | 6.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 1.02 | 7.5 | 0.8 |
| Brazil | ||||||||||||
| Sossego(5) | 317.1 | 0.65 | 456.0 | 0.61 | 773.0 | 0.63 | 55.0 | 0.7 | 855.4 | 0.63 | 68.4 | 0.7 |
| Salobo | 20.2 | 0.35 | 476.2 | 0.47 | 496.4 | 0.47 | 244.9 | 0.5 | 551.5 | 0.47 | 272.1 | 0.5 |
| Alemão | 56.5 | 1.90 | 53.9 | 1.39 | 110.4 | 1.65 | 28.7 | 1.1 | 122.7 | 1.65 | 31.9 | 1.0 |
| Paulo Afonso(6) | 379.4 | 0.65 | 599.8 | 0.58 | 979.2 | 0.60 | 428.3 | 0.5 | 1,068.0 | 0.60 | 461.4 | 0.4 |
| Furnas(7) | - | - | 110.6 | 0.61 | 110.6 | 0.61 | 203.0 | 0.6 | - | - | - | - |
| Indonesia | ||||||||||||
| Onto(8) | - | - | 1,174.0 | 0.85 | 1,174.0 | 0.85 | 984.9 | 0.6 | 851.7 | 0.96 | 793.6 | 0.7 |
| Total | 785.7 | 0.74 | 2,921.2 | 0.71 | 3,706.8 | 0.71 | 1,993.9 | 0.6 | 3,510.1 | 0.73 | 1,650.3 | 0.6 |
(1) Mineral resources are reported exclusive of those mineral resources converted to mineral reserves. Tonnage is in millions of dry metric tons. Cu grades are in (%). Point of reference for the mineral resource estimate is in situ.
(2) Mineral resources have been adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business. In the case of Onto project, resources have been adjusted to reflect our 72% ownership.
(3) The mineral resource prospects of economic extraction were determined based on prices ranging from US$4,365/t - US$9,500/t for copper, depending on the mine. Variations in price for different mines are associated with timing of the associated estimate.
(4) Sudbury mineral resources includes material from selected zones within the Coleman, Copper Cliff, Creighton, Stobie, Garson, Totten, Victo, Blezard and Ella Capre deposits.
(5) Sossego mineral resource includes material from Sossego Operation and Cristalino, Mata II, Bacaba, Barão,118 and Visconde projects.
(6) Paulo Afonso mineral resource includes material from Paulo Afonso, Pojuca, Gameleira and Grota Funda deposits.
(7) Furnas project is an earn-in agreement between VBM and Ero Copper Corp. that contemplates Ero Copper earning a 60% interest in the project upon completion of three phases of work resulting in a definitive feasibility study.
(8) The reported mineral resources may differ in quantity or quality from those reported in other jurisdictions, under different standards.
(9) Numbers have been rounded.
Our copper mineral resources in the Carajás region increased by 11%, to 3.8 Bt in 2024, from 3.4 Bt in 2023, mainly due to the first disclosure of Furnas project mineral resource, in addition to the model and resource pit review in Paulo Afonso complex. There are no changes in the Salobo and Sossego Operations and Alemão project mineral resources. This variation does not reflect our current 90% ownership in this project.
In Indonesia, we had a significant growth in the Onto project mineral resource, which increased by 46%, to 3.0 Bt in 2024, from 2.1 Bt in 2023, as a result of an upgrade from exploration target and resource model review at depth. These figures do not reflect our current 72% ownership in this project.
In Canada, the mineral resources for Sudbury and Thompson have increased for the same reasons discussed above in connection with the nickel resources.
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| Table of Contents | ||
| RESERVES AND RESOURCES |
| Copper ore mines | |||||
| Type | Operating since |
Projected exhaustion date – 2024(1) |
Projected exhaustion date – 2023(2) |
Vale interest (%)(4) | |
| Canada | |||||
| Sudbury | Underground | 1885 | 2047 | 2045 | 90 |
| Thompson | Underground | 1961 | 90 | ||
| Voisey’s Bay(3) | Open pit/ Underground | 2005 | 2038 | 2037 | 90 |
| Brazil | |||||
| Sossego | Open pit | 2004 | 2030 | 2029 | 90 |
| Salobo | Open pit | 2012 | 2057 | 2054 | 90 |
(1) Indicates the life-of-mine for the operating mine with the longest projected exhaustion date in the complex, as of December 31, 2024.
(2) Projected exhaustion dates estimated as of December 31, 2023. Projected exhaustion dates in this column are superseded by the estimates indicated under “Projected exhaustion date – 2024.”
(3) Voisey’s Bay is transitioning from an open pit mine to a mainly underground mining operation.
(4) Vale interest adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business.
PGMS AND OTHER PRECIOUS METALS MINERAL RESERVES and MINERAL resources
We expect to recover significant quantities of precious metals as by-products of our concentrates from Sudbury, Sossego and Salobo operations.
Our PGMS and other precious metals reserves and resources have been adjusted to reflect our ownership after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business.
|
Precious Metals Mineral Reserves as of December 31, (8) (Tonnage in millions of dry metric tons. Grade in grams per dry metric ton) | |||||||||
|
Proven – 2024(1)(2)(3) |
Probable - 2024(1)(2)(3) |
Total – 2024(1)(2)(3) |
Total – 2023(1) |
Recovery range (%)(7) | |||||
| Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | ||
| Canada | |||||||||
| Sudbury(4) | |||||||||
| Platinum | 18.0 | 0.95 | 46.5 | 0.79 | 64.5 | 0.83 | 75.1 | 0.84 | 65-75 |
| Palladium | 18.0 | 0.81 | 46.5 | 1.04 | 64.5 | 0.98 | 75.1 | 1.01 | 75-90 |
| Gold | 18.0 | 0.35 | 46.5 | 0.29 | 64.5 | 0.31 | 75.1 | 0.32 | 50-75 |
| Brazil | |||||||||
| Sossego(5) | |||||||||
| Gold | 17.1 | 0.27 | 42.0 | 0.13 | 59.1 | 0.17 | 65.1 | 0.18 | 65.0 |
| Salobo(6) | |||||||||
| Gold | 233.1 | 0.37 | 718.8 | 0.34 | 951.9 | 0.35 | 1,088.9 | 0.35 | 67.7 |
| Total Platinum | 18.0 | 0.95 | 46.5 | 0.79 | 64.5 | 0.83 | 75.1 | 0.84 | |
| Total Palladium | 18.0 | 0.81 | 46.5 | 1.04 | 64.5 | 0.98 | 72.4 | 1.11 | |
| Total Gold | 268.2 | 0.36 | 807.3 | 0.33 | 1,075.6 | 0.34 | 1,271 | 0.34 | |
(1) Tonnage is in millions of dry metric tons. Grade is grams per dry metric ton. Point of reference for the mineral reserve estimate is the point of delivery to the process plant.
(2) Mineral reserves have been adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business.
(3) The mineral reserve economic viability was determined based on long-term prices of: US$1,275/oz for platinum, US$1,025/oz for palladium, US$1,925/oz for gold. Gold reserves are reported on 100% basis and do not deduct the streaming amounts. For a description of our streaming arrangements with Wheaton, see Section 2.3 PGM’s and other Precious Metals. After the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM, ownership interest will change. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business.
(4) Sudbury mineral reserves includes material from Coleman, Copper Cliff, Creighton, Garson, Totten, Stobie mines and Copper Cliff Pit project.
(5) Estimated consolidated mineral reserves includes Sequeirinho, Sossego Mata II pits and 35.6 million dry metric tons of stockpile.
(6) Estimated consolidated mineral reserves include 230.3 million dry metric tons of stockpile.
(7) Recovery range is overall metal recovered to point of first material sale.
(8) Numbers have been rounded.
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 106 |
| Table of Contents | ||
| RESERVES AND RESOURCES |
In Sudbury, our mineral reserve estimates for platinum, palladium and gold have changed for the same reasons discussed above in connection with the nickel mineral reserves. Mineral reserve estimates for gold changed for the same reasons discussed above in connection with the copper mineral reserves. The mine exhaustion dates for PGMs are the same as stated above for Sudbury, Sossego, and Salobo.
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 107 |
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| RESERVES AND RESOURCES |
|
Precious Metals Mineral Resources as of December 31, (8) (Tonnage in millions of dry metric tons. Grade in grams per dry metric ton) | ||||||||||||
| Measured – 2024(1)(2)(3) | Indicated - 2024(1)(2)(3) | Measured and Indicated- 2024(1)(2)(3) | Inferred - 2024(1)(2)(3) | Measured and Indicated- 2023(1) | Inferred - 2023(1) | |||||||
| Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | |
| Canada | ||||||||||||
| Sudbury (4) | ||||||||||||
| Platinum | 8.9 | 1.60 | 36.0 | 0.79 | 44.8 | 0.95 | 21.9 | 1.02 | 39.7 | 1.16 | 8.6 | 1.2 |
| Palladium | 8.9 | 1.92 | 36.0 | 0.97 | 44.8 | 1.16 | 21.9 | 1.19 | 39.7 | 1.47 | 8.6 | 1.3 |
| Gold | 8.9 | 0.74 | 36.0 | 0.30 | 44.8 | 0.39 | 21.9 | 0.36 | 39.7 | 0.49 | 8.6 | 0.4 |
| Thompson | ||||||||||||
| Palladium | 2.7 | 0.38 | 13.9 | 0.39 | 16.6 | 0.39 | 20.4 | 0.16 | 19.1 | 0.40 | 6.8 | 0.4 |
| Brazil | ||||||||||||
| Sossego(5) | ||||||||||||
| Gold | 317.1 | 0.09 | 456.0 | 0.09 | 773.1 | 0.09 | 55.0 | 0.10 | 855.4 | 0.09 | 68.4 | 0.1 |
| Salobo | ||||||||||||
| Gold | 20.2 | 0.17 | 476.2 | 0.24 | 496.3 | 0.24 | 244.9 | 0.29 | 551.5 | 0.23 | 272.1 | 0.3 |
| Alemão | ||||||||||||
| Gold | 56.5 | 1.36 | 53.9 | 1.08 | 110.5 | 1.22 | 28.7 | 0.75 | 122.7 | 1.23 | 31.9 | 0.7 |
| Paulo Afonso | ||||||||||||
| Gold | 379.4 | 0.06 | 599.8 | 0.10 | 979.2 | 0.09 | 428.3 | 0.10 | 1,068.0 | 0.09 | 461.4 | 0.1 |
| Furnas(6) | ||||||||||||
| Gold | - | - | 110.6 | 0.39 | 110.6 | 0.39 | 203.0 | 0.34 | - | - | - | - |
| Indonesia | ||||||||||||
| Onto(7) | ||||||||||||
| Gold | - | - | 1,174.0 | 0.51 | 1,174.0 | 0.51 | 984.9 | 0.24 | 851.7 | 0.58 | 793.6 | 0.4 |
| Total Platinum | 8.9 | 1.60 | 36.0 | 0.79 | 44.8 | 0.95 | 21.9 | 1.02 | 39.7 | 1.16 | 8.6 | 1.2 |
| Total Palladium | 11.5 | 1.57 | 49.9 | 0.81 | 61.5 | 0.95 | 42.2 | 0.70 | 58.8 | 1.12 | 15.4 | 0.9 |
| Total Gold | 782.0 | 0.18 | 2,906.4 | 0.32 | 3,688.4 | 0.29 | 1,966.6 | 0.23 | 3,489.0 | 0.28 | 1,636.0 | 0.3 |
(1) Mineral resources are reported exclusive of those mineral resources converted to mineral reserves. Tonnage is in millions of dry metric tons. Grade is grams per dry metric ton. Point of reference for the mineral resource estimate is in situ.
(2) Mineral resources have been adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business. In the case of Onto project, resources have been adjusted to reflect our 72% ownership.
(3) The mineral resource prospects of economic extraction were determined based on prices of: US$1,124 – 1,290/oz for platinum, US$225-1,400/oz for palladium and US$700- US$1,525/oz for gold, in each case depending on the mine. Variations in price for different mines are associated with timing of the associated estimate.
(4) Sudbury mineral resources includes material from selected zones within the Coleman, Copper Cliff, Creighton, Stobie, Garson, Totten, Victor and Ella Capre deposits.
(5) Sossego mineral resources includes material from Sossego Operation and Cristalino, Mata II, Bacaba, Barão, 118 and Visconde projects.
(6) Furnas project is an earn-in agreement between VBM and Ero Copper Corp. that contemplates Ero Copper earning a 60% interest in the project upon completion of three phases of work resulting in a definitive feasibility study.
(7) The reported mineral resources may differ in quantity or quality from those reported in other jurisdictions, under different standards.
(8) Numbers have been rounded.
In Sudbury, our mineral resource estimates for platinum, palladium and gold changed for the same reasons discussed above in connection with the nickel mineral resources. Mineral Resources estimates for gold changed for the same reasons discussed above in connection with the copper mineral resources.
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 108 |
| Table of Contents | ||
| RESERVES AND RESOURCES |
COBALT MINERAL RESERVES and MINERAL resources
Our cobalt reserves and resources have been adjusted to reflect our ownership after the completion of the sales of minority interests in both VBM and PTVI. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business.
|
Cobalt Mineral Reserves as of December 31,(9) (Tonnage in millions of dry metric tons. Grades in %) | |||||||||||||||
|
Proven – 2024 (1)(2)(3) |
Probable – 2024(1)(2)(3) |
Total – 2024(1)(2)(3) |
Total – 2023(1) |
Recovery Range (%) (6) | |||||||||||
| Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | ||||||||
| Canada | |||||||||||||||
| Sudbury(4) | 18.0 | 0.04 | 46.5 | 0.04 | 64.5 | 0.04 | 75.1 | 0.04 | 20-35 | ||||||
| Voisey’s Bay(5) | 12.6 | 0.11 | 13.8 | 0.12 | 26.4 | 0.12 | 31.1 | 0.11 | 69-86 | ||||||
| Indonesia | |||||||||||||||
| PTVI (7)(8) | 49.5 | 0.12 | 56.4 | 0.19 | 105.9 | 0.16 | 94.5 | 0.14 | - | ||||||
| Total | 80.1 | 0.10 | 116.7 | 0.13 | 196.8 | 0.11 | 200.7 | 0.10 | |||||||
(1) Tonnage is in millions of dry metric tons. Co grades are % of cobalt. Mineral reserves are dry tonnes run-of-mine material after adjustment for mining dilution ahead of the feed plants. Recovery range is overall metal recovered to point of first material sale.
(2) Mineral reserves have been adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business. In the case of PTVI, resources have been adjusted to reflect our 30.5% ownership.
(3) The mineral reserve economic viability was determined based on long-term prices of: US$42,475/t for cobalt.
(34 Sudbury mineral reserves includes material from Coleman, Copper Cliff, Creighton, Garson, Totten, Stobie mines and Copper Cliff Pit project.
(5) Cobalt reserves are reported on 100% basis and do not deduct the streaming amounts. For a description of our cobalt streaming arrangements, see Information on the Company—Lines of Business—Energy Transition Metals—Cobalt.
(6) Recovery range is overall metal recovered to point of first material sale, except for PTVI where recovery is not applied since the project considers to selling run of mine.
(7) The PTVI cobalt mineral reserves are limonite material from Sorowako Limonite and Pomalaa projects with reserves supported by ROM sales agreements.
(8) Numbers have been rounded.
Our cobalt mineral reserves estimates changed in 2024 for the same reasons discussed above in connection with the nickel mineral reserve. The mine exhaustion dates for Cobalt are the same as stated above for Sudbury, Voisey’s Bay and PTVI.
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|
Cobalt Mineral Resources as of December 31, (6) (Tonnage in millions of dry metric tons. Grades in %) | ||||||||||||
| Measured – 2024(1)(2)(3) | Indicated – 2024(1)(2)(3) | Measured and Indicated- 2024(1)(2)(3) | Inferred – 2024(1)(2)(3) | Measured and Indicated- 2023(1) | Inferred – 2023(1) | |||||||
| Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | Tonnage | Grade | |
| Canada | ||||||||||||
| Sudbury(4) | 8.9 | 0.03 | 36.0 | 0.03 | 44.8 | 0.03 | 21.9 | 0.03 | 39.7 | 0.04 | 8.6 | 0.04 |
| Thompson | 2.7 | 0.03 | 13.9 | 0.03 | 16.6 | 0.03 | 20.4 | 0.02 | 19.1 | 0.03 | 6.8 | 0.03 |
| Voisey’s Bay | 1.0 | 0.06 | 0.8 | 0.07 | 1.8 | 0.06 | 6.8 | 0.12 | 2.0 | 0.06 | 7.5 | 0.12 |
| Indonesia | ||||||||||||
| PTVI(5) | 12.1 | 0.10 | 82.5 | 0.12 | 94.6 | 0.11 | 9.5 | 0.11 | 200.0 | 0.11 | 13.8 | 0.11 |
| Total | 24.7 | 0.06 | 133.2 | 0.08 | 157.9 | 0.08 | 58.6 | 0.05 | 260.8 | 0.09 | 36.7 | 0.08 |
(1) Mineral resources are reported exclusive of those mineral resources converted to mineral reserves. Tonnage is in millions of dry metric tons. Co grades are % of cobalt. Point of reference for the mineral resource estimate is in situ.
(2) Mineral reserves have been adjusted to reflect our 90% ownership after the completion of the sale of minority interests in VBM. See Overview—Business Overview—Significant Changes in Our Business. In the case of PTVI, resources have been adjusted to reflect our 30.5% ownership.
(3) The mineral resource prospects of economic extraction were determined based on prices ranging from: US$11,023-US$56,300/t, depending on the mine. Variations in price for different mines are associated with timing of the associated estimate.
(4) Sudbury mineral resources includes material from selected zones within the Coleman, Copper Cliff, Creighton, Stobie, Garson, Totten, Victor and Ella Capre deposits.
(5) The PTVI cobalt mineral resources includes Sorowako, Tanamalia and Pomalaa projects material from limonites only.
(6) Numbers have been rounded.
Our cobalt mineral resource estimates changed in 2024 for the same reasons discussed above in connection with the nickel mineral resource.
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Regulatory Matters
We are subject to a wide range of governmental regulations in all the jurisdictions in which we operate worldwide. The following discussion summarizes the kinds of regulation that have the most significant impact on our operations.
MINING RIGHTS AND REGULATION OF MINING ACTIVITIES
Mining and mineral processing are subject to extensive regulation. In order to conduct these activities, we are required to obtain and maintain some form of governmental or private permits, which may include concessions, licenses, claims, tenements, leases or permits (all of which we refer to below as “concessions”). The legal and regulatory regime applicable to the mining industry and governing concessions differs among jurisdictions, often in important ways. In most jurisdictions, including Brazil, mineral resources belong to the government and may only be exploited pursuant to a governmental concession. In other jurisdictions, such as Ontario in Canada, a substantial part of our mining operations is conducted pursuant to mining rights we own (private permits). Government agencies are typically in charge of granting mining concessions and monitoring compliance with mining law and regulations.
The table below summarizes our main mineral rights and mining concessions for our operations and projects, not limited to areas within the mineral reserves and mineral resources footprint.
| Location | Mining title | Approximate area covered (in hectares) | Expiration date |
| Brazil | 515,185 | Indefinite | |
| Mining Concessions | 217,046 | Indefinite | |
| Application for Mining concessions | 258,525 | - | |
| Canada(1) | 195,495 | 2021 – 2045 | |
| Ontario | 105,469 | 2024 – 2042 | |
| Patented mineral rights | 81,145 | Indefinite | |
| Mineral Leases | 21,188 | 2024-2042 | |
| Mining Licenses of occupation | 3,136 | Indefinite | |
| Manitoba | 88,427 | 2021 – 2045 | |
| Order in Council leases | 73,431 | 2021-2025 | |
| Mineral Leases | 14,996 | 2034-2045 | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Mining Leases | 1,599 | 2027 |
| Indonesia | 137,277 | 2025 | |
| Sorowako(2) | Contract of work | 118,017 | 2025 |
|
Nusa Tenggara Barat (Hu’u Project)(3) |
Contract of work | 19,260 | 2025 |
(1) Applications submitted in 2024 are still in the process of being approved. All conditions required for the renewal were fulfilled. This process usually takes several months, and we can continue to operate while the approval process is ongoing. Order in Council Leases (OIC’s) in Manitoba are currently being converted to mining claims and mining leases through a Transition Agreement allowing Vale to retain ownership until the transition is complete. Some OIC’s will show past their expiration dates until the transition is complete.
(2) Sorowako - The contract of work entered by PTVI and the Indonesian government was set to expire in 2025. In 2024, a special mining business license (IUPK) was issued, confirming PTVI’s legal right to continue to operate until December 2035, with rights to extend the license beyond this period. With the issuance of the IUPK, PTVI’s initial mineral title, contract of work, was terminated.
(3) Nusa Tengara Barat – Contract of Work on Exploration stage which is annually renewed and can be renew indefinitely while at this stage. Operation and Production Stage will be valid for 30 years with two 10 years extensions, subject to government approval.
In addition to the concessions listed above, we have licenses and applications that allow us to explore 2.2 million hectares in Brazil and 1.4 million hectares for our mineral projects in other countries.
In Canada, we negotiated with the Government of Manitoba the renewal of its mineral rights, originally explored under Order in Council Leases, through the conversion to the regime of Mining leases and Claims in accordance with the applicable law. The process of conversion started in 2021 and will continue until 2025.
In Indonesia, the government issued new regulation in September 2021 on the implementation of mineral and coal mining business activities. Such regulations have a material impact on the operations of PTVI, including with respect to the total area that can be exploited by PTVI after the expiration of the Contract of Work and period of operation.
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ROYALTIES AND OTHER TAXES ON MINING ACTIVITIES
We are required in many jurisdictions to pay royalties or taxes on our revenues or profits from mineral extractions and sales. These payments are an important element of the economic performance of a mining operation. The following royalties and taxes apply in some of the jurisdictions in which we have our largest operations:
Brazil. We are required to pay a royalty known as CFEM (Compensação Financeira pela Exploração de Recursos Minerais) on the revenues from the sale of minerals we extract. The calculation of the CFEM is done as follows: (i) for domestic sales, the basis for calculation of CFEM is the revenue from sales, net of sales taxes levied; (ii) for exports, the basis for calculation of CFEM is the highest amount between the revenue from the exports and the amount equivalent to the transfer pricing in federal income tax legislation; and (iii) for a company’s internal mineral consumption, the basis for calculation of CFEM is the value equivalent to the current price of the ore in the domestic market, the international markets or a reference value, as to be determined by ANM. The current CFEM rates are: 3.5% for iron ore; 2% for copper, nickel and other materials; 3% for bauxite and manganese ore.
Brazilian states and municipalities. Several Brazilian states, including Minas Gerais and Pará, impose a mining inspection tax, which is currently assessed at rates ranging from US$0.41 to US$2.67 per metric ton of minerals produced in or transferred from the state.
In March 2021, a state decree enacted by the state of Pará increased the rate of the mining inspection tax from one fiscal reference unit in the amount of US$0.79 to three fiscal references units corresponding to US$2.31 per metric ton, with effectiveness as of April 2021. We have not implemented the new rates for 2021, as we understand that, under applicable principles of Brazilian constitutional law, the tax increase would only come into force in the year after its enactment.
In November 2022, we adhered to the state tax program entitled as “Programa Estrutura Pará”, which aims to promote infrastructure investments in the State of Pará, pursuant to the conversion of 50% of the mining inspection tax payments into construction projects, monthly calculated at the rate of three fiscal reference units per metric ton of minerals produced in the State of Pará in the amount of US$2.71, annually updated.
In December 2024, the state of Pará enacted a law reducing from 50% to 40% the conversion of the mining inspection tax payments into construction projects. The related constructions will be delivered to the local communities and, therefore, will not be owned by us. In 2024, we disbursed US$226 million (compared to US$451 million in 2023) related to this tax. Also in December 2024, the state of Pará enacted a law increasing the rate of the mining inspection tax applied to copper extraction, from 3 to 110 fiscal reference units, representing a US$97.96 metric ton, with effectiveness as of March 27, 2025. We are evaluating the legal aspects and economic effects in this regard.
Some municipalities such as Ourilândia do Norte, Marabá, Curionópolis and São Félix do Xingu in the state of Pará and Rio Piracicaba in the state of Minas Gerais, along with the State of Maranhão, have enacted laws imposing this mining inspection tax on ore extracted or transported in their territories, and we consider that we have solid arguments to contest these taxes. In April 2024, a law enacted by the State of Maranhão became effective, changing the collection of this mining inspection tax, in compliance with constitutional principles, and we have been paying this tax accordingly.
In August 2022, the Supreme Court of Justice decided that the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and Pará are authorized to impose the mining inspection tax. The decision is not final for the state of Pará and an appeal is still pending.
Canada. The Canadian provinces in which we operate charge us a tax on profits from mining operations. Profit from mining operations is generally determined by reference to gross revenue from the sale of mine output and deducting certain costs, such as mining and processing costs and investment in processing assets. The statutory mining tax rates are 10% in Ontario; with graduated rates up to 17% in Manitoba; and a combined mining and royalty tax rate of 16% in Newfoundland and Labrador. The mining tax paid is deductible for corporate income tax purposes.
Indonesia. PTVI pays mining royalties of 2% on its nickel matte revenues when LME nickel prices are below US$21,000 per metric ton and 3% of its nickel matte revenues when LME nickel prices are above or equal to US$21,000 per metric ton.
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ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
We are subject to environmental regulations that apply to our mining and processing activities. Current laws require us to get approvals, licenses, permits, or authorizations from government authorities to build and operate our facilities. In most places where we operate, we need to submit assessments of the environmental and social impacts of our activities for approval by the relevant authorities. We also need to invest in measures to avoid, reduce, and compensate for these impacts. We must conduct our activities according to the terms of the approvals, licenses, permits, and authorizations issued by government authorities. The Decree 48.747, of 12/29/2023, is applicable to dams included in the State Dam Safety Policy of the State Minas Gerais in Brazil and determines an environmental bond amount to be paid and maintained throughout the useful life of dam.
Environmental legislation is becoming stricter worldwide, which could lead to greater costs for environmental compliance. Environmental regulations affecting our operations relate, among other matters, to:
| · | Emissions of pollutants into the air, soil and water, including greenhouse gases and climate change regulations; |
| · | Recycling and waste management; |
| · | Protection and conservation of forests and other forms of native vegetation, coastlines, caves, cultural heritage sites, watersheds and other ecosystem characteristics; |
| · | Water use; |
| · | Financial provisions and closure plans required for mining licenses, including de-characterization, decommissioning, environmental liabilities and reclamation and remediation costs. |
Below is a discussion of some key regulatory matters:
Protection of caves. In Brazil, we are subject to extensive environmental regulation for protection of caves. In 2008, a federal decree amended the regulation for protection of caves that had been enacted in 1990 and established criteria for the classification of caves based on their relevance (maximum, high, medium or low), prohibiting interventions in areas of maximum relevance and allowing impact on areas of other degrees of relevance with proper environmental license. We are required to conduct extensive technical studies to identify the existence of caves and to determine degree of relevance of each identified cave. We are also required to negotiate compensatory measures with Brazilian environmental regulators in order to continue to operate in certain sites. In certain iron ore mining operations or projects, we may be required to limit or modify our mining plans or to incur additional costs to preserve maximum relevance caves or to compensate for the impact on non-maximum relevance caves, with potential consequences for our production volumes, costs or reserves in our iron ore business. In January 2022, a new federal decree was enacted, amending the regulation for the protection of caves, in particular with respect to relevance classifications and forms of compensation, and the impact on our operations is under review. This 2022 decree is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court of Justice by a political party claiming that it is unconstitutional, and it has been temporarily suspended until further decision of the court.
Protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. The Brazilian regulation (Interministerial Ordinance No. 60/2015) enacted in 2011 and revised in 2015 requires us to conduct impact assessments and define specific programs for the mitigation and/or compensation of impacts of our operations and projects that are close to the Indigenous Lands and Quilombola’s Territories. Approval of these impact assessments and mitigation and/or compensation measures by the affected communities is mandatory. In addition to our legal obligations, we also aim to build positive relationships with Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities in our areas of influence. We establish agreements with these communities, focusing on ethnodevelopment, territorial protection, cultural and institutional strengthening, and other aspects. Our goal is to contribute to improving the quality of life and autonomy of these communities.
Other environmental and cultural regulations in Brazil. There are also environmental and cultural regulatory obligations that could affect our operations or lead to compensatory measures related to the suppression of native vegetation such as in the state of Minas Gerais, in the Atlantic Forest biome, flora species protected by law, permanent preservation areas and archaeological and cultural heritage sites. In 2015, IPHAN set mandatory guidelines for studies on Archaeological Heritage that align with Environmental Licensing. In 2021, the State of Minas Gerais introduced regulations mandating studies on both Material and Intangible Heritage. These regulations added three new approval stages to the licensing process. In addition, all new projects that include activities with a significant environmental impact must collect financial resources to support the implementation and maintenance of conservation areas, in order to comply with the environmental compensation obligation.
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Climate change. The ratification of the Paris Agreement in late 2016 significantly increased global pressure for the establishment of carbon pricing at local, regional and global levels, prompting signatories to intensify efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In 2024, Brazil announced a new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target to reduce its emissions by 48% by 2025 and 53% by 2030. Additionally, the President of Brazil enacted a law regulating the carbon credit market, establishing the Brazilian Emissions Trading System (SBCE), which sets emission limits and creates a bonus system for companies that reduce their emissions. The Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy, currently under public consultation until March 2025, aims to guide the country’s economy towards a more sustainable future.
Regulation of chemicals. Some of our products are subject to regulations applicable to the marketing, distribution and use of chemical substances present in their composition. For example, the European Commission has adopted a European Chemicals Policy, known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals). Under REACH, European manufacturers and importers are required to register substances prior to their entry into the European market and in some cases may be subject to an authorization process. A company that fails to comply with the REACH regulations could face fines and penalties. We are compliant with the requirements of the EU REACH regulations. In addition, the U.K. and other regions are currently implementing a regulation similar to EU REACH, and we anticipate further expansion of REACH-like regulations in other countries.
Regulation of international maritime transportation. We are subject to health, safety and environmental regulation by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). IMO rules apply not only to the international shipping categories, but also to the types of cargoes transported, including special rules for iron ore, nickel and copper. The IMO is currently discussing further measures for enhancing the energy efficiency of international shipping and reducing its overall greenhouse gas emissions. In July 2023, the IMO reviewed the initial strategy, defined in August 2018, and approved more ambitious reduction targets. These targets include a 20-30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, 70-80% reduction target by 2040, both based on 2008 levels, and a net zero target by or around 2050. In June 2021, the IMO adopted amendments that became effective in 2023 and that combine technical and operational approaches to improve the energy efficiency of ships. The new measures require all ships to calculate their Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) – a one-time certification, targeting design parameters – and to establish their annual operational Carbon Intensity Indicator, which will have to comply with gradually decreasing carbon intensity parameters. These requirements may increase our freight cost in the future. In 2016, the IMO approved regulation establishing limits for sulfur oxides emission, which became effective in 2020. This regulation may increase freight cost due to the need to use bunker with low sulfur content or to install additional pollutant control equipment (i.e., scrubbers) to limit air emissions. It is expected that further discussions on scrubber wash water regulations will be concluded in 2025 which could restrain the use of open loop scrubbers. Also, the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments requires compliant ships during their international voyages to manage their ballast water and sediments in accordance with certain parameters. The convention became effective in September 2017 for new ships (those with keels laid after that date) and, for existing ships, the convention became effective in stages with specific deadlines depending on the vessel, beginning in September 2019, with the global fleet required to be fully compliant by September 2024. Such requirements may also result in increases in our freight and port operation costs. In 2022, the European Commission approved the proposals to regulate international shipping emissions. Starting in 2024, over a 3-year phase-in period shipping will be gradually introduced into the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), a carbon market that operates in all EU countries targeting climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. That will require ship operators to pay for the greenhouse gas emissions during their voyages to, from and between EU ports, and incentivize them to improve their fuels greenhouse gas intensity. Complementing the EU ETS, the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, which comes into force in 2025, will impose gradually decreasing GHG intensity standards for fuels used by vessels calling at EU ports, beginning with a 2% reduction in the first year. These measures may increase our freight cost in the future.
Other environmental laws and regulations. There are several examples of environmental laws and regulations, and compliance initiatives that may affect our operations:
Brazil. There are also environmental regulatory obligations applicable to our operations that require compliance with a series of measures, including compensatory measures, related to the suppression of native vegetation, protection of biomes and species of rare, endemic, threatened, or legally protected flora, as well as areas subject to special protection, such as conservation units and permanent preservation areas, and archaeological and cultural heritage. Additionally, new projects involving activities with significant environmental impact must raise financial resources to support the implementation and maintenance of Conservation Units of the full protection group, in order to fulfill the environmental compensation obligation established by Federal Law No. 9,985/2000. On December 12, 2024, Federal Law No. 15,042 was enacted, establishing the Brazilian Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System (SBCE). This law creates a regulated carbon market in Brazil, setting limits on greenhouse gas emissions and allowing companies and countries to offset their emissions through the purchase of carbon credits. The SBCE divides the market into two sectors: the regulated sector, which involves public initiatives, and the voluntary sector, which pertains to private initiatives. The goal of this law is to encourage the reduction of pollutant emissions and mitigate climate change, with operationalization expected by 2028.
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Canada. Canadian laws and policies to address climate change continue to evolve with stricter controls on greenhouse gas emissions. The Supreme Court of Canada upheld the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, a federal law to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and confirmed this Act will apply in provinces that have not enacted equivalent legislation. In June of 2021, the federal government enacted the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act which enshrines Canada’s 2050 target of reaching net-zero emissions with a framework to set and report on milestone emissions reduction targets. In addition, Canada has a plan to gradually increase the price of carbon by $15 per year, reaching $180 per tonne by 2030. Heightened enforcement for contravention of environmental legislation is also a trend. For instance, in Ontario, the government has proposed to expand the use of administrative penalties with enhanced fines for various environmental contraventions. Certain of our operations in Ontario and Manitoba have legacy conditions related to historical operations which give rise to potential impacts to water. We have invested in a Water Quality Management Program that is designed to be a proactive plan, involving hazard screening and a risk evaluation process, to guide with the identification, prioritization and execution of remedial activities to address potential water impacts from historical operations.
Indonesia. According to the Indonesian Government Regulation of 2014 on B3 waste (Toxic and Hazardous Materials), PTVI’s waste is classified as hazardous waste, and PTVI has submitted a formal request to the regulatory body for approval. In February 2021, a new Government Regulation was issued and, as result, PTVI’s waste is no longer classified as hazardous waste; however, it is required to report the use and the management of the waste to the government.
China. In 2020, the Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution Caused by Solid Waste was revised, leading to the Administrative Measures for the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution from Tailings became effective as of July 1, 2022. Those laws and regulations impose stricter obligations on prevention and control of pollution caused by solid waste, including tailings, in addition to imposing more severe penalties.
BRAZILIAN REGULATION OF MINING DAMS
In 2019, the National Mining Agency (ANM) issued a regulation requiring upstream dam owners to submit a technical de-characterization project and completely de-characterize these structures in the coming years. Additionally, a wide range of measures was imposed to ensure the stability and safety of mining dams and their monitoring and alert systems.
Also in 2019, the state of Minas Gerais enacted Law No. 23.291, establishing the State Dam Safety Policy (PESB), prohibiting the elevation and construction of upstream dams, and requiring the posting of an environmental bond in connection with the de-characterization of dams covered by the law. In 2023, the State of Minas Gerais, through Decree No. 48,747, regulated the environmental bond and set deadlines for the implementation of financial guarantees to be used in case of a rupture. The law also prohibits the increase, modification, or construction of any new dam if communities are established within its Self-Rescue Zone (ZAS), an area that encompasses the portion of the valley downstream of the dam, where there is not enough time for evacuation and intervention by the competent authorities in emergency situations.
In 2020, Federal Law No. 14,066/2020 amended Federal Law No. 12,334/2010, which established the National Dam Safety Policy (PNSB), reinforcing the ban on the construction and elevation of upstream dams in Brazil. The law also required companies to de-characterize their upstream structures by 2022. Due to the technical complexities involved in the de-characterization work and the actions necessary to increase the safety of the dams, we signed a term of commitment with the state of Minas Gerais, regulatory agencies, and both State and Federal Public Prosecutors in 2022. This agreement establishes a new de-characterization schedule, with the program’s completion deadline set for 2035.
In 2020, the state of Minas Gerais enacted the Decree No. 48,078, establishing the procedures for analyzing and approving the emergency action plan. In the same year, the ANM issued Resolution No. 51/2020 mandating an audit of the emergency preparedness and response plan. This requirement was incorporated and expanded upon in ANM Resolution No. 95/2022. External auditors must conduct this audit and issue an annual Conformity and Operability Report (RCO) and a Conformity and Operability Statement (DCO) for the EPRP.
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Additionally, the state published many other resolutions to regulate the emergency action plan, including guidelines for developing Civil Protection and Defense Actions, Potable Water Supply Plan, Diagnosis of Public and Private Water Supply, Domestic, Wildlife, and Production Fauna Rescue Plan, and Safeguard Plan for Cultural Assets.
In 2022, the ANM issued Resolution No. 95/2022, consolidating the content of various previously created standards related to mining dam safety, and introducing new features under the National Dam Safety Policy. Also in 2022, the ANM issued Resolution no. 122/2022, which regulates the administrative process and establishes new penalties. The regulation is currently under review by the mining sector and ANM, including due to the impacts expected from the values of fines and the criteria for its calculation, which is based on the amount attributed to companies’ total production in the previous year and exploration budget. Given the high level of the fines under the new rules, the imposition of such fines as a result of any failure to comply with mining laws and regulations could have an adverse effect on mining companies.
In December 2023, the federal government enacted Law No. 14,755, which established the National Policy on the Rights of Populations Affected by Dams (PNAB), outlined the rights of Populations Affected by Dams (PAB), provided for the Program on the Rights of Populations Affected by Dams (PDPAB), established rules for the social responsibility of the entrepreneur, among other aspects.
In accordance with Resolution No. 95/200 and Law 23.291/2010, companies operating mining dams in Brazil are required to comply with specific rules, including:
Regular Safety Inspection. Companies operating mining dams covered by the National Dam Safety Policy (PNSB) must issue semiannual Safety Inspection Reports for Dams with the issuance of a Stability Condition Declaration (DCE). In our Brazilian operations, an Engineer of Records (EoR), not directly involved in day-to-day operations, is responsible for assessing the site’s safety and issuing periodic reports on the structures, as part of our governance procedures.
Dam Safety Reviews (DSR). For dams covered by Nacional Dam Safety Policy (PNSB), the report must include detailed analysis of all dam’s documentation, including projects and procedures, stability analysis of the structures and the corresponding Stability Condition Statement (DCE) and reassessment of the risk category (CRI) and associated potential damage (DPA). The DSR must be renewed each 3, 5 and 7 years for high, medium and low associated potential damage (DPA) respectively, and whenever any structural modifications are made. The RPSB is performed by an external company not linked to the Engineer of Record (EoR).
Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP). All mining dams covered by National Dam Safety Policy must have an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, called PAEBM in Brazil, as stipulated in Article 12 and subsequent articles of Law No. 12,334/2010, as well as Article 33 and subsequent articles of Resolution ANM No. 95/2022.
REGULATION OF OTHER ACTIVITIES
We are subject to comprehensive regulatory regimes for some of our other activities, including rail transport, port operations and electricity generation. We are also subject to more general legislation on workers’ health, safety, and support of communities near mines, and other matters. The following descriptions relate to some of the other regulatory regimes applicable to our operations:
Brazilian railway regulation. Our Brazilian railroad business operates pursuant to concession agreements granted by the federal government, and our railroad concessions are subject to regulation and supervision by the Brazilian Ministry of Transportation and the Brazilian Land Transportation Regulatory agency (Agência Nacional de Transportes Terrestres – ANTT). The concessions for EFC and EFVM were renewed for 30 years, and will expire in 2057, upon commitment of investments (such as urban and infrastructure works) and payment of grant. Such investments are subject to risks inherent to the execution of works, including delays.
In December 2024, we and the federal government, through the Ministry of Transportation and ANTT, established the general framework for the renegotiation of the concession contracts for EFC and EFVM. The renegotiation will be carried out in accordance with the terms of the concession contracts renewed in 2020, which remain in force, aiming to promote their modernization and updating. Under this general framework, we commit to a maximum global contribution of approximately US$1,809 million, related to the EFC and EFVM’s asset base review, the optimization of contractual obligations and investment replanning. The negotiated terms result in an US$256 million increase in provisions related to the railway concessions. The general framework established for the renegotiation of the concession contracts will comply with usual formalities and will be submitted to the relevant authorities for evaluation and approval.
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VLI’s subsidiary, Ferrovia Norte Sul S.A. (FNS) has also been awarded a subconcession contract for commercial operation of a 720-kilometer segment of the FNS railroad in Brazil, which expires in 2037. In July 2022, MRS signed an amendment to the concession agreement providing for the early extension of its concession for another 30 years, until 2056. FCA concession expires in 2026 and may be renewed for 30 years at the federal government’s discretion. Rail transportation prices can be negotiated directly with the users of such services, subject to a price cap set forth in the concession agreements and annually reviewed by ANTT for each of the concessionaires and for the different products transported. ANTT regulations also require concessionaires to give trackage rights to other railway operators, to make investments in the railway network, and to meet certain productivity and safety requirements, among other obligations.
Brazilian port regulation. Port operations in Brazil are subject to regulation and supervision by ANTAQ, the federal agency in charge of maritime transportation services, and by the Ministry of Ports and Airports through the National Secretary of Ports and Aquatic Transport (SNPTA), whose purpose is to formulate policies and guidelines. The agreements to operate our private terminals are valid until 2039 and may be renewed for equal periods, with the exception of the Leases for the Copper Terminal (Itaqui port, state of Maranhão) and the CPBS and for the Iron Ore Export Terminal at Itaguaí Port, state of Rio de Janeiro. The lease for the Copper Terminal expired in January 2023 and we are now operating under a Court decision which authorizes operations to continue until the contract is renewed or a new contract is in place. An administrative procedure is being carried out by SNPTA for the potential renewal of the contract for 20 years, yet to be concluded. CPBS’s (Itaguaí Port, state of Rio de Janeiro) lease expires in 2026 and is currently under the process of being renewed for additional 25 years, at the discretion of the Federal Government.
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| III. | Operating and financial review and prospects |
Overview
In 2024, we recorded net income of US$5,975 million, compared to US$8,105 million in 2023. Our Adjusted EBITDA decreased to US$14,840 million in 2024 from US$18,601 million in 2023, mainly due to lower average realized prices of iron ore fines and pellets, which had an impact of US$3,754 million. Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure; for a reconciliation with our net income, see Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Reconciliation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.
MAJOR FACTORS AFFECTING PRICES
Iron ore and iron ore pellets
Iron ore prices are strongly affected by seaborne market supply and demand dynamics although structural changes in steel production can disturb the market fundamentals and iron ore price realization.
Iron ore fines, lumps and iron ore pellets are produced at a wide array of quality levels and physical characteristics. Price differences derive from various factors, such as iron content, particle size, moisture content and the type and concentration of contaminants (such as phosphorus, alumina, silica and manganese) in the ore. Also, fines, lump ore and pellets typically command different prices.
Demand for our iron ore products depends on the global demand for steel, which in turn is strongly influenced by real estate, infrastructure construction, and global industrial production. China’s demand has been the main driver of world demand and prices.
In 2024, the iron ore average price closed at US$109.44/dmt (Platts IODEX 62% Fe iron ore prices), 8.61% lower than in 2023. During 2024, prices fluctuated following global economy, as well as shifts in market perception in China amid changing expectations about mandatory steel production cuts and stimulus measures announced by Chinese authorities. China steel production remained at moderate levels in first half of 2024 but softened in the second half, and strong steel export helped to absorb steel production in China during 2024. The market experienced increased volatility due to a tighter seaborne market, significant increase in steel exports from China and market reactions on economic stimulus from Chinese authorities. China crude steel production declined by 1.7% in 2024, while iron ore imports increased by 4.3% in the same period. As a result, iron ore port inventory increased by 30Mt, from 118Mt in 2013 to148Mt in 2024. Steel mills reduced iron ore inventory at mills while trading companies adopted a conservative approach to new acquisitions amid market uncertainties, which contributed to a lower iron ore price in 2024. A drop in steel margins, which remained at negative levels for most of the second half of the year, along with lower coal prices, resulted in a decline in high-grade premiums.
The year 2024 was once again marked by geopolitical tensions, with the ongoing war between Gaza and Israel and the continued conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In 2024, we also observed central banks transitioning from inflation-fighting measures to creating a more favorable environment for consumers and businesses; however, signs of economic recovery are yet to be seen. The World Steel Association (WSA) released statistics for 2024, showing global crude steel production reaching 1,882.6 Mt, a decrease of 0.8% compared to 2023.
Among the major producers, China produced 1,005 Mt of crude steel in 2024, a year-on-year decrease of 1.7%, due to a still weak real estate market, infrastructure construction, and low consumer confidence. Steel production resulted in an oversupply and lower prices, forcing steel mills to seek external markets to offload their products. On the other hand, China’s value-added industrial production grew by 5.8% in 2024, driven by the country’s ongoing efforts to optimize and upgrade its industrial structure.
India’s strong performance is noteworthy, with production growing by 6.3% year-on-year to 149Mt, reflecting robust infrastructure investments being implemented in the country. We also saw a slight recovery in steel production in the European Union, with an increase of 2.6% to 129 Mt, Africa with an increase of 3.5% to 28Mt, and South America with a slight increase of 0.6% to 42Mt.
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Compared to 2023, steel production fell by 3.6% year-on-year in JKT (Japan, Korea, and Taiwan) to 166 Mt, and fell by 4.2% in North America to 105Mt. In these regions, the industrial sector recession in 2024 was caused by economic uncertainties and still restrictive financing conditions. Construction remained weak, affecting steel demand in key markets such as the US, Europe, Japan, and Korea. Automotive production in Europe was positive in 2024. The industry saw slight growth, with production levels remaining stable despite earlier expectations of a decline. Increases were also seen in Brazil and the US; however, the automotive sector recorded declines in Japan and Korea.
Nickel
Nickel is an exchange-traded metal, listed on the London Metals Exchange (LME) and, starting in 2015, on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE). Most nickel products are priced based on a discount or premium to the LME price, depending mainly on the nickel product’s physical and technical characteristics. Liquidity continued to improve in 2024 after several fundamental and technical factors impacted trading and reduced liquidity in 2023 resulting in the LME announcing a two-year change program to strengthen and enhance its markets. The nickel market is strongly affected by stainless steel production, which represented 65% of global primary nickel consumption in 2024.
We have short-term fixed-volume contracts with customers for the majority of our expected annual nickel sales, which vary in term. These contracts provide stable demand for a significant portion of our annual production. In 2024, 89% of our refined nickel sales were made for non-stainless steel applications (alloy steels, high nickel alloys, plating and batteries), compared to the industry average for nickel producers of 35%, bringing more diversification and stability to our sales volumes. As a result of our focus on such higher-value segments, our average realized nickel prices for refined nickel have typically exceeded LME cash nickel prices.
Historically, Chinese domestic production of nickel pig iron accounted for the majority of world nickel supply growth using unprocessed nickel ore from the Philippines and Indonesia. However, Chinese nickel pig iron production was adversely affected by export restriction of unprocessed ores from Indonesia, recommencing in 2020, allowing Indonesia to emerge as the largest producer of nickel pig iron. In 2024, approximately 9% of world primary nickel supply was produced as nickel pig iron in China. Approximately 41% of world primary nickel supply was produced as nickel pig iron in Indonesia, with much of it integrated directly to produce stainless steel. In 2024, production capability increases were seen in intermediate mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) and conversion of nickel pig iron into nickel matte for further conversion into battery suitable material as well as LME-deliverable Class I nickel. We expect that future growth will be focused on matte and MHP to feed the battery and Class I supply chains.
Stainless steel is a significant driver of demand for nickel, particularly in China. In 2024, stainless steel production in China represented 42% of total primary nickel demand. Therefore, changes in Chinese stainless-steel production have a large impact on global nickel demand. In 2024, Chinese stainless-steel production increased 7% year-on-year compared to an increase of 11% in 2023, as a ramp up in new capacity was offset by output cuts due to low stainless steel prices. While stainless steel production is a major driver of global nickel demand, stainless steel producers can obtain nickel with a wide range of nickel content, including secondary nickel (scrap). The choice between primary and secondary nickel is largely based on their availability, technological processes, and relative prices. On average between 2020 and 2024, secondary nickel accounted for approximately 35% of total nickel used for stainless steel. Regional availability and consumption of secondary nickel vary. In China, due to the low availability of scrap and an abundance of nickel pig iron, the use of secondary nickel represented 22% of the total nickel used for stainless steel in 2024.
In addition, the high-value segment, which consists of nickel use in plating, non-ferrous alloys, foundry, alloy steel and other applications, and excludes nickel used in batteries, is the second largest market, making up 20% of nickel demand in 2024. Global high-value demand increased by 5% year-on-year in 2024 led by growth in the non-ferrous alloys sector compared to an increase of 3% in 2023, with increases concentrated in China, France and the U.S.
The battery segment is the third largest market, accounting for 15% of nickel demand in 2024. Global nickel demand in battery precursors increases by 6% year-over-year in 2024, led by increased sales of electric vehicles, compared to a 7% increase in 2023. The marginally slower growth rate is due to (a) higher-than-expected sales in China, which is dominated by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistries, and (b) a pullback in battery electric vehicle (BEV) targets along with their replacement by lower-capacity plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). The battery segment is still displaying significant upside demand as electric vehicle production continues to draw substantial investments.
The nickel market was in a surplus in 2024 by approximately 286 kt. Global exchange inventories (LME and SHFE) increased by 119 kt from December 29, 2023 to December 31, 2024, driven by a rise in stocks at LME warehouses in Asia. LME country of origin data showed that at the end of 2024, 51% of nickel material in LME warehouses originated in Asia. For 2025, it is expected that the market will remain in a surplus primarily due to increased supply in Indonesia.
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Copper
Copper demand in recent years has been driven primarily by China, given the important role copper plays in construction in addition to electrical and consumer applications. Copper is an enabler of the energy transition due to its excellent properties as an energy conductor, with widespread applications in renewable energy and electric vehicles. Copper prices are determined on the basis of (i) prices of copper metal on terminal markets, such as the London Metal Exchange (LME), Shanghai Future Exchange (SHFE) and the Commodities Exchange (COMEX), and (ii) in the case of intermediate products, such as copper concentrate (which comprise most of our sales) and copper anode, treatment and refining charges negotiated with each customer.
Demand for refined copper increased 3.2% year-on-year in 2024, with China responsible for approximately 57% of worldwide refined consumption. For 2025, the market is expected to be relatively balanced on similar levels of growth in supply and demand.
Tailings Dam Failure In Brumadinho
Tailings Dam Failure in Brumadinho
The Brumadinho dam failure key impacts on our financial performance and operational results for the year ended December 31, 2024 are summarized below:
Impact on our income statement. The impact of the dam failure in our income statement in 2024 was US$483 million compared to US$930 million in 2023. This decrease mainly reflects lower incurred expenses (impact of US$106 million) and a reduction of other obligations (impact of US$269 million) related to Brumadinho event.
Impact on our balance sheet. The total amount of provisions recognized in our balance sheet as of December 31, 2024, in connection with Brumadinho dam failure, including provisions for remediation and reparation obligations under the Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation, individual indemnification and other commitments was US$1,970 million compared to US$3,060 million in 2023.
Dam de-characterization
Laws and regulations require us to de-characterize all our dams constructed using the upstream method in Brazil.
These structures are at various maturity stages, some of them still in the conceptual engineering phase. Estimating expenditures for these projects involves significant uncertainty in determining the total cost, in line with best market practices. The main impacts on our consolidated financial statements are summarized below.
Impact on our income statement. As of December 31, 2024, we recorded a reduction of the liability for the de-characterization of upstream geotechnical structures due to by the update in the discount rate, which increased from 5.41% on December 31, 2023, to 7.36% on December 31, 2024. As a result, we recorded a gain of US$206 million, compared to a loss of US$153 million for the same period in the previous year, due to revised estimates for dam de-characterization.
Impact on our balance sheet. Total amount of provisions recognized in our balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 in relation to the de-characterization of dams was US$2,213 million compared to US$3,451 million in 2023.
Operational stoppages. We have suspended some operations due to judicial decisions or technical analysis performed by us on our upstream dam structures located in Brazil. We recorded losses in relation to the operational stoppage and idle capacity of the Iron Solutions segment in the amounts of US$152 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to US$218 million on December 31, 2023.
Samarco Funding and the definitive Settlement
We hold a 50% interest in Samarco, which is accounted for using the equity method. Between 2016 and 2024, until the execution of the Definitive Settlement in November 2024, we and BHP Brasil provided funding to Fundação Renova during periods when Samarco was unable to meet its required disbursements. Upon the execution of the Definitive Settlement, the process of liquidating Fundação Renova commenced, with Samarco assuming responsibility for carrying out various reparatory actions.
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Under the terms of the Definitive Settlement, we and BHP Brasil, as Samarco’s shareholders, are required to cover pro rata to our equity interest any funding shortfalls that Samarco, as the primary debtor, are unable to cover. As December 31, 2024, our provision for these obligations totaled US$3,663 million, which includes estimated contributions from Samarco.
Below is a summary of the impact of the failure of Samarco’s dam, which occurred in November 2015, in our consolidated financial statements:
| · | The carrying value for our investment in Samarco was reduced to zero in 2015. |
| · | The amount of provisions related to Samarco as of December 31, 2024 is US$3,663 million, US$764 million lower than in 2023, mainly due in addition to the provision due to the Definitive Settlement amount of US$956 million, reflecting the change in our assessment of potential outflows to resolve all aspects of the reparation and compensation of the Samarco dam failure. Our reassessment considered the available information, including the progress of negotiations to reach a final settlement of obligations under the Framework Agreement, other claims related to the Samarco dam failure, and Samarco’s ability to fund any future outflows. This provision represents the present value of our best estimate of the amounts we may incur to comply with our obligations under the Framework Agreement, considering our 50% stake in Samarco. At each reporting period, we reassess the key assumptions used by Samarco in the preparation of its projected future cash flows and adjust the provision, as necessary. For more information on the legal proceedings resulting from the failure of Samarco’s tailings dam, related settlement agreements and the creation of Fundação Renova, see Additional Information—Legal Proceedings—Legal Proceedings Related to the Failure of Samarco’s Tailings Dam and note 26 to our consolidated financial statements. |
| · | In 2024, we contributed US$808 million, compared to US$553 million in 2023, in remediation obligations related to the failure of Samarco’s dam, of which a portion was contributed to the Fundação Renova and a portion was used to fulfill the obligations defined in the Definitive Settlement, signed in October, 2024. For more information see Information on the Company—Lines of Business—Other Investments—Samarco |
In September 2023, the JR Plan was approved as part of Samarco judicial reorganization, setting the parameters for debt restructuring. The JR Plan includes a cap of US$1 billion for Samarco to fund reparation and compensation programs from 2024 to 2030, with additional contributions beyond that period based on Samarco’s cash flow generation.
Prior to the JR Plan, we made contributions directly to the Fundação Renova on behalf of Samarco and deducted these contributions from our income tax calculations in accordance with Brazilian tax legislation. The JR Plan establishes limits for Samarco’s payments towards remediation obligations. Any additional cash demands from the Fundação Renova or related to other remediation obligations exceeding these limits will be covered by the shareholders, us and BHP Billiton, in proportion to our respective shareholdings, either directly to the Fundação Renova or through capital contributions to Samarco. After the JR Plan, due to the change in the funding mechanism for Renova, we will no longer be able to deduct future payments from our income tax calculations, as they are not tax-deductible in Brazil. As a result, the deferred income tax asset on the provision of US$1,078 million was fully reversed. Additionally, the JR Plan did not require the capitalization of expenses totaling US$703 million incurred in 2023 compared to US$652 million in 2024, so there is no change in the tax treatment previously adopted.
From the creation of Fundação Renova in 2016 until December 31, 2024, R$45 billion were disbursed across reparatory and compensatory actions, with contributions made by Samarco, BHP Brasil and us as part of the Mariana reparation efforts. Of this amount, R$40.5 billion correspond to performance obligations and R$4.6 billion to payment obligations. After the approval of Definitive Settlement on November 2024, Vale and BHP contributed with R$5.75 billion to Samarco and Fundação Renova to fulfill obligations determined in the Agreement, which includes the first installment paid to the federal government, the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, and some municipalities.
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EFFECT OF CURRENCY EXCHANGE VARIATION
Our results are affected in several ways by changes in the value of the Brazilian real which is the currency of the primary economic environment in which we operate, although some of our subsidiaries use other functional currencies, such as the US Dollar, Canadian Dollar and others. Year end exchange rate variations impact our financial results, while the average exchange rate impacts our operational performance.
In 2024, our financial results were mostly impacted by a loss of US$1,209 million related to mark-to-market adjustments in our derivatives financial instruments, following the Brazilian real depreciation by 27.9% against the U.S. dollar in 2024, compared to a gain of US$903 million associated with a 7.2% appreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar in 2023. These financial instruments know as are swaps primarily used to convert debt and other obligations denominated in Brazilian reais into U.S. dollars to protect our cash flow from exchange rate volatility. For more information on our use of derivatives, see Overview—Risk Management—Financial Risks.
In 2024, the annual average exchange rate for Brazilian reais against the U.S. dollar appreciated by 7.9%, from an average exchange rate of R$4.9953 to US$1.00 in 2023 to R$5.3920 to US$1.00 in 2024. This had a negative impact on our operational result and cash flows. The most important effect is described below:
Most of our revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars, while our cost of goods sold are denominated in various currencies, including the U.S. dollar (48.0% in 2024), the Brazilian real (47.6% in 2024), the Canadian dollar (4.3% in 2024) and other currencies (0.1% in 2024).
In 2024, we did not recognize any gains due to the reclassification of cumulative translation adjustments to the income statement.
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Results of operations
For commentary on our results of operations for the year 2023 compared with 2022, please see pages 129-136 of our Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Consolidated income statement data:
| For the year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | % change | |
| (US$ million, except %) | |||
| Net operating revenue | 38,056 | 41,784 | (8.9) |
| Cost of goods sold and services rendered | (24,265) | (24,089) | 0.7 |
| Gross profit | 13,791 | 17,695 | (22.1) |
| Operating expenses | |||
| Selling and administrative | (622) | (553) | 12.5 |
| Research and development | (790) | (723) | 9.3 |
| Pre-operating and operational stoppage | (403) | (450) | (10.4) |
| (Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net | 301 | (266) | (213.2) |
| Other operating revenues (expenses), net | (1,489) | (1,498) | (0.6) |
| Operating income | 10,788 | 14,205 | (24.1) |
| Financial income | 422 | 432 | (2.3) |
| Financial expenses | (1,473) | (1,459) | 1.0 |
| Other financial items, net | (2,772) | (919) | 201.6 |
| Equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures | (269) | (1,108) | (75.7) |
| Income before income taxes | 6,696 | 11,151 | (40.0) |
| Income taxes | (721) | (3,046) | (76.3) |
| Net income | 5,975 | 8,105 | (26.3) |
| (Loss) net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (191) | 122 | (256.6) |
| Net income attributable to Vale’s shareholders | 6,166 | 7,983 | (22.8) |
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Consolidated Revenues
In 2024, our net operating revenue decreased by US$3,728 million, or 8.9%, to US$38,056 million, from US$41,784 million recorded in 2023. The decrease was mainly due to the 7.8% drop in the realized average prices of iron ore fines and pellets, with an impact of US$3,754 million. For more information on our average realized prices and sale volumes, see Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Results of Operations by Segment.
Our revenue depends, among other factors, on the volume of production at our facilities and the prices for our products. For more information on our production, see Information on the Company—Lines of Business. Increases in the capacity of our facilities resulting from our capital expenditure program have an important effect on our performance. Our production is also affected by acquisitions and dispositions.
The following table summarizes, for each of the years indicated, the distribution of our net operating revenue based on the geographical location of our customers.
| For the year ended December 31, | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
| (US$ million) | (% of total) | (US$ million) | (% of total) | |
| Asia | ||||
| China(1) | 19,375 | 50.9 | 22,210 | 53.2 |
| Japan | 3,050 | 8.0 | 3,219 | 7.7 |
| Other | 2,887 | 7.6 | 2,675 | 6.4 |
| Asia – total | 25,312 | 66.5 | 28,104 | 67.3 |
| America | ||||
| United States | 1,075 | 2.8 | 1,623 | 3.9 |
| Brazil | 3,565 | 9.4 | 3,755 | 9.0 |
| Other | 970 | 2.5 | 897 | 2.1 |
| America – total | 5,610 | 14.7 | 6,275 | 15.0 |
| Europe | ||||
| Germany | 1,467 | 3.9 | 1,351 | 3.2 |
| Other | 3,019 | 7.9 | 3,677 | 8.8 |
| Europe – total | 4,486 | 11.8 | 5,028 | 12.0 |
| Rest of the world (2) | 2,648 | 7.0 | 2,377 | 5.7 |
| Total | 38,056 | 100.0 | 41,784 | 100.0 |
(1) In 2024, corresponds to 95.8% (2023: 97.2%) for China Mainland and 4.2% for Taiwan (2023: 2.8%).
(2) Corresponds to Middle East, Africa, and Oceania
CONSOLIDATED OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES
Our cost of goods sold and services rendered totaled US$24,265 million in 2024, an increase from US$24,089 million recorded in 2023, mainly due to higher spot freight prices of iron ore fines and pellets, with an impact of US$498 million, partially offset by lower costs associated with the acquisition of third-party products, with an impact of US$295 million.
Our research and development expenses totaled US$790 million in 2024, a 9.3% or US$67 million increase from US$723 million recorded in 2023, mainly due to projects related to decarbonization, efficiency and environmental innovation, development of mega hubs and mineral exploration.
Our pre-operating and operational stoppage expenses totaled US$403 million in 2024, a 10.4% or US$47 million decrease from US$450 million recorded in 2023, mainly due to the resumption of operations at Viga, Mutuca, Capão Xavier and Vargem Grande.
Impairment or reversal of impairment and gains or losses on disposal of non-current assets, net, totaled a gain of US$301 million compared to a loss of US$266 million recorded in 2023, mainly due to the gain from the divestments in PT Vale Indonesia Tbk and Vale Oman Distribution Center in the amounts of US$1,059 million and US$1,222 million, respectively, net of the impairment losses on nickel assets in Thompson and Newfoundland and Labrador in the amounts of US$1,405 million and US$540 million, respectively.
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Our other operating expenses, net, totaled US$1,489 million in 2024, in line with US$1,498 million recorded in 2023. For a description of our other operating expenses, see Note 6 (c) to our consolidated financial statements.
Results of Operations by Segment
Sales volumes
The following table sets forth our principal products and the total volumes sold of each product in each of the years indicated:
| For the year ended December 31, | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | % change | ||
| (thousand metric tons, except for %) | ||||
| Iron Solutions | ||||
| Iron ore fines | 260,314 | 256,789 | 1.4 | |
| Iron ore pellets | 38,300 | 35,840 | 6.9 | |
| ROM (run of mine) | 8,038 | 8,290 | (3.0) | |
| Energy Transition Metals | ||||
| Nickel and other products | 155 | 168 | (7.7) | |
| Copper | 250 | 234 | 6.8 | |
| Copper as nickel co-product | 77 | 74 | 4.1 | |
Average realized prices
The following table sets forth our average realized prices for our principal products for each of the years indicated. We determine average realized prices based on our net operating revenue, which consist of the price charged to customers, excluding certain items that we deduct in arriving at net operating revenue, mainly value-added tax.
| For the year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | % change | |
| (US$ per metric ton, except for %) | |||
| Iron Solutions | |||
| Iron ore fines | 95 | 108 | (12.0) |
| Iron ore pellets | 155 | 162 | (4.9) |
| Energy Transition Metals | |||
| Nickel | 17,078 | 21,830 | (21.8) |
| Copper | 8,811 | 7,960 | 10.7 |
| Copper as nickel by-product | 8,413 | 7,720 | 9.0 |
We discuss below, for each segment, the changes in our net operating revenue, cost of goods sold and services rendered (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization) and Adjusted EBITDA. The expenses incurred in connection with remediation, indemnification and donations in respect of the Brumadinho dam failure are not directly related to our operating activities and are therefore not allocated to any operating segment.
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Net operating revenue by segment
The following table summarizes our net operating revenue by product for the years indicated.
| For the year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | % change | |
| (US$ million, except for %) | |||
| Iron Solutions | |||
| Iron ore | 24,805 | 27,760 | (10.6) |
| Iron ore pellets | 5,921 | 5,803 | 2.0 |
| Other ferrous products and services | 718 | 516 | 39.1 |
| Iron Solutions – total | 31,444 | 34,079 | (7.7) |
| Energy Transition Metals | |||
| Nickel and other products | 3,666 | 5,193 | (29.4) |
| Copper | 2,805 | 2,376 | 18.1 |
| Other energy transition metals | 141 | - | n.m. |
| Energy Transition Metals – total | 6,612 | 7,569 | (12.6) |
| Other (1) | - | 136 | (100.0) |
| Total | 38,056 | 41,784 | (8.9) |
(1) The effects previously presented as “Other” were allocated to each segment starting from the year ended December 31, 2024. For more information, see Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Adjusted EBITDA by segment.
n.m. Not meaningful
Net operating revenue from sales of:
Iron Solutions. Total of US$31,444 million in 2024, a 7.7% or US$2,635 million decrease from US$34,079 million in 2023, mainly reflecting the 7.8% drop in the average realized prices of iron ore fines and pellets, with an impact of US$3,754 million, partially offset by the 2.0% increase in the sales volumes of iron ore fines and pellets, with an impact of US$917 million.
Energy Transition Metals. Total of US$6,612 million in 2024, a 12.6% or US$957 million decrease from US$7,569 million in 2023, mainly reflecting the 21.8% drop in the realized prices of nickel, with an impact of US$787 million, and a 7.7% decrease in nickel sales volumes due to planned maintenance in Ontario and furnace overhaul in Onça Puma, with an impact of US$112 million.
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Cost of goods sold and services rendered by segment (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)
The following table presents, for each year indicated, our cost of goods sold and services rendered (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization) by segment and the percentage change from year to year.
| For the year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | % change | |
| (US$ million, except for %) | |||
| Iron Solutions | |||
| Iron ore | 12,846 | 12,357 | 4.0 |
| Iron ore pellets | 2,920 | 2,759 | 5.8 |
| Other ferrous products and services | 556 | 335 | 66.0 |
| Iron Solutions – total | 16,322 | 15,451 | 5.6 |
| Energy Transition Metals | |||
| Nickel and other products | 3,414 | 4,169 | (18.1) |
| Copper | 1,472 | 1,357 | 8.5 |
| Other energy transition metals | 154 | - | n.m. |
| Energy Transition Metals – total | 5,040 | 5,526 | (8.8) |
| Other(1) | - | 196 | (100.0) |
| Total (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization) | 21,362 | 21,173 | 0.9 |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 2,903 | 2,916 | (0.4) |
| Total (including depreciation, depletion and amortization) | 24,265 | 24,089 | 0.7 |
(1) The effects previously presented as “Other” were allocated to each segment starting from the year ended December 31, 2024. For more information, see Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Adjusted EBITDA by segment
n.m Not meaningful
Cost of goods sold and services rendered from:
Iron Solutions (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization). Increased by 5.6% or US$871 million in 2024 to US$16,322 million from US$15,451 million in 2023. This increase primarily reflects higher spot freight prices (impact of US$338 million) and improvements to the production process mainly in the North and Southeast system (impact of US$286 million).
Energy Transition Metals (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization). Decreased by 8.8% or US$486 million in 2024 to US$5,040 million from US$5,526 million in 2023. This decrease primarily reflects lower costs associated with the acquisition of third-party products (impact of US$295 million) and a 7.7% decrease in nickel sales volume due to planned maintenance in Ontario and furnace overhaul in Onça Puma (impact of US$123 million).
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Adjusted EBITDA by segment
Our management uses Adjusted EBITDA as the measure to assess the contribution of each segment to our performance and to support decision-making in allocating resources. Adjusted EBITDA for each segment is defined as operating income or loss, for such segment, (a) adding the EBITDA from interests in associates and joint ventures and (b) excluding (i) depreciation, depletion and amortization and (ii) (impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net and other.
In 2024, our chief operating decision maker (CODM) changed our Adjusted EBITDA definition, as compared to the definition we used in 2023 and prior years, to replace, for each segment, “dividends received from associates and joint ventures” with the “EBITDA from associates and joint ventures”, which is a measure of our “equity results” excluding (i) net finance costs; (ii) depreciation, depletion, and amortization; (iii) taxation and (iv) (impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net.
The comparative information in our consolidated financial statements was revised to reflect this change in the Adjusted EBITDA definition. The effect of the inclusion of the “EBITDA from associates and joint ventures” and the exclusion of “dividends received from associates and joint ventures” in our Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, is US$940 million, US$844 million and US$774 million, respectively.
Our CODM believes this revision provides investors with a better view of the performance of our operating segments, as it reflects our proportional interest in the performance of our associates and joint ventures operating in the same segment. For more information, see note 5 to our consolidated financial statements.
Additionally, as a result of the reorganization of assets and the governance structure established for the Energy Transition Metals segment, following the sale of a noncontrolling interest in this segment (for more information, see note 17(e) to our consolidated financial statements), the “Other” segment was reorganized to better allocate the effects thereunder to each of the Iron Solutions and Energy Transition Metals segments. These effects have been allocated to each segment starting from the year ended December 31, 2024.
The following table summarizes our Adjusted EBITDA for each of our segments.
| For the year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| (US$ million) | |||
| Iron Solutions | |||
| Iron ore | 11,598 | 15,205 | 15,929 |
| Iron ore pellets | 3,166 | 3,136 | 3,758 |
| Other ferrous products and services | 321 | 473 | 410 |
| Iron Solutions – total | 15,085 | 18,814 | 20,097 |
| Energy Transition Metals | |||
| Nickel | 114 | 851 | 1,924 |
| Copper | 1,521 | 1,100 | 569 |
| Other energy transition metals | (182) | 12 | - |
| Energy Transition Metals – total | 1,453 | 1,963 | 2,493 |
| Other (1) | (1,698) | (2,176) | (2,210) |
| Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations | 14,840 | 18,601 | 20,380 |
(1) Includes revenues and expenses of other products, services, research and development, investments in joint ventures and associates of other business and corporate expenses unallocated to the reportable segments, as well the costs related to the Brumadinho event.
Adjusted EBITDA from:
Iron Solutions. Total of US$15,085 million in 2024, a decrease of US$3,729 million or 19.8%, when compared to our Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of US$18,814 million in 2023. This decrease mainly reflects lower average realized prices of iron ore fines and pellets, which had an impact of US$3,754 million. In 2023, the decrease of US$1,283 million compared to our Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of 2022 mainly reflects lower average realized prices of Iron Solutions and higher third-party purchases.
Energy Transition Metals. Total of US$1,453 million in 2024, a decrease of US$510 million or 26.0%, when compared to our Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of US$1,963 million in 2023. This reduction mainly reflects lower average realized prices of nickel, with an impact of US$787 million, offset by an increase in the average realized prices of copper, with an impact of US$214 million. In 2023, the decrease of US$530 million compared to our Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of 2022 is mainly due to lower realized prices of nickel and the decrease in nickel sales volumes due to planned maintenance in Ontario and furnace overhaul in Onça Puma.
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| Table of Contents | ||
| RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
FINANCIAL RESULTS
The following table details our financial results for the years indicated.
| For the year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | % change | |
| (US$ million, except for %) | |||
| Financial income (1) | 422 | 432 | (2.3) |
| Financial expenses (2) | (1,473) | (1,459) | 1.0 |
| Foreign exchange and indexation gains (losses), net | (1,388) | (1,643) | (15.5) |
| Participative shareholders’ debentures | (175) | (179) | (2.2) |
| Derivatives financial instruments, net | (1,209) | 903 | (233.9) |
| Total | (3,823) | (1,946) | 96.5 |
(1) Includes short-term investments and other financial income (see note 7 to our consolidated financial statements).
(2) Includes loans and borrowings interest, interest on supplier finance arrangements, interest expenses of REFIS (a tax settlement program), interest on lease liabilities and others financial expenses (see note 7 to our consolidated financial statements).
In 2024, our financial results were mostly impacted by a loss of US$1,209 million related to mark-to-market adjustments in our derivatives financial instruments, following the Brazilian real depreciation by 27.9% against the U.S. dollar in 2024, compared to a gain of US$903 million associated with a 7.2% appreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar in 2023. These derivatives financial instruments are swaps primarily used to convert debt denominated in Brazilian reais into U.S. dollars to protect our cash flow from exchange rate volatility.
EQUITY RESULTS AND OTHER RESULTS IN ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES
In 2024, we recorded a loss in equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures of US$269 million, a reduction of US$839 million compared to a loss of US$1,108 million in 2023. In 2024, our equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures were mostly impacted by an expense of US$956 million associated to the increase in the provision relating to Samarco’s dam failure due to the Definitive Settlement, partially offset by a gain of US$305 million from the remeasurement to fair value of the equity interest we previously held in connection with the acquisition of Aliança Geração de Energia S.A., compared to an expense of US$1,200 million in 2023 associated to the increase in the provision relating to Samarco’s dam failure due to changes in estimates based on all information available at that time about the status of a potential settlement agreement.
Income taxes
In 2024, we recorded an income tax expense of US$721 million, a reduction of US$2,325 million compared to the income tax expense of US$3,046 million recorded in 2023, mainly due to a 40% reduction in taxable income following the recognition of gains arising from acquisitions and divestitures, which has no tax impacts. The reconciliation of taxes calculated at nominal tax rates and the amount of taxes recorded at effective rate is presented in note 9 to our consolidated financial statements.
Net income and losses
For the reasons discussed above, our net income attributable to our shareholders in 2024 was US$6,166 million, compared to US$7,983 million in 2023.
Reconciliation of consolidated adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure, which is calculated based on the operating income or loss and (a) adding the EBITDA from interests in associates and joint ventures and (b) excluding (i) depreciation, depletion and amortization and (ii) (impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net. Our management uses Adjusted EBITDA as an additional measure of our consolidated performance.
In 2024, our CODM changed our Adjusted EBITDA definition. For more information, see Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Adjusted EBITDA by segment and note 5 to our consolidated financial statements.
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 129 |
| Table of Contents | ||
| RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
The table below shows a reconciliation of our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA with our consolidated net income or loss for the years indicated.
| For the year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| (US$ million) | |||
| Net income attributable to Vale’s shareholders | 6,166 | 7,983 | 16,728 |
| (Loss) net income attributable to non-controlling interests | (191) | 122 | 82 |
| Net income from continuing operations | 5,975 | 8,105 | 16,810 |
| Income taxes | 721 | 3,046 | 2,971 |
| Equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures | 269 | 1,108 | (305) |
| Financial results, net | 3,823 | 1,946 | (2,268) |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 3,057 | 3,070 | 3,171 |
| EBITDA from associates and joint ventures | 940 | 844 | 774 |
| (Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net and other (1) | 55 | 482 | (773) |
| Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations | 14,840 | 18,601 | 20,380 |
(1) Includes an adjustment of US$356 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 (2023: US$216 million), to reflect the performance of streaming transactions at market prices.
In 2024, our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations decreased to US$14,840 million from US$18,601 million in 2023, mainly due to the 7.8% drop in the realized average prices of iron ore fines and pellets, with an impact of US$3,754 million. In 2023, our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations decreased to US$18,601 million from US$20,380 million in 2022, mainly due lower net operating revenue from sales associated to lower average realized prices of Iron Solutions and average realized prices decrease of nickel and copper.
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 130 |
Liquidity and capital resources
Our principal funding requirements are for capital expenditures, dividends payments, share buybacks, debt service, tax payments, dam de-characterization and satisfaction of our obligations relating to the remediation and compensation of damages in connection with the Brumadinho dam failure and any contribution we may be required to make in connection with the Fundão dam failure, pursuant to the Definitive Settlement. We expect to meet these requirements, in line with our historical practice, by using cash generated from operating activities and financing activities.
Our investment guidance for capital expenditures in 2025 and thereafter is approximately US$6.2 billion. A principal amount of US$836 million of our debt matures in 2025. We expect to incur a total amount of US$3,113 million relating to the remediation and compensation in connection with the Brumadinho and Fundão dam failures and de-characterization of dams in 2025 and after 2025 our aggregate expected expenses with provision is US$6,253 million. We have an aggregate principal amount of US$2,690 million debt maturing between 2026 and 2028, and US$11,082 million maturing after 2028. We expect that our existing cash and cash equivalents and our operating cash flows will be sufficient to satisfy our obligations due in 2025 and thereafter. We are constantly evaluating opportunities for additional cash generation. Finally, we are committed to further reducing our costs and expenses and maintaining sound leverage levels and discipline in capital allocation.
Sources of funds
Our principal sources of funds are our operating cash flow and financing activities. In 2024, the net cash flow generated by operating activities was US$9,366 million, compared to US$13,165 million in 2023. The amount of operating cash flow is strongly affected by global prices for our products. This decrease in 2024 was mainly due to the decline in the average realized prices for iron ore fines and pellets and nickel, with an impact of US$4,541 million, partially offset by the increase in the volume of iron ore fines and pellets, with an impact of US$917 million.
As of December 31, 2024, our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled US$5,006 million compared to US$3,660 million as of December 31, 2023.
In 2024, we borrowed US$4,855 million, including (a) an amount in Brazilian reais equivalent to approximately US$1,000 million in Brazilian debentures, in three series, at a rate of IPCA plus 6.38% to 6.44% per year, maturing in 2034, 2036, and 2039, (b) US$1,000 million in bonds, with a 6.400% coupon per year, maturing in 2054; and (c) other loans and borrowings, mainly indexed to SOFR plus a spread, maturing from 2024 to 2035. In 2023, we borrowed US$1,950 million, including (a) US$1,500 million in bonds, with a 6.125% coupon per year, maturing in 2033, and (b) other loans and borrowings, at a rate of SOFR plus a spread, maturing in 2028.
Uses of funds
Reparation Obligations
In 2024, we used a total amount of cash of US$1,287 million (US$1,814 million in 2023) in matters related to the Brumadinho dam failure, of which US$583 million were used in connection with obligations assumed under settlement agreements (US$1,004 million in 2023), US$326 million in individual indemnification and other commitments (US$326 million in 2023), and US$378 million in connection to incurred expenses (US$484 million in 2023).
In 2024, we used a total of US$808 million in cash for remediation obligations related to Samarco’s dam failure, compared to US$553 million in 2023. For more information, see note 27(a) to our consolidated financial statements.
In 2024, we also used US$533 million in cash for matters related to the de-characterization of dams, compared to US$458 million in 2023. For more information, see note 28 to our consolidated financial statements.
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
Our acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets in 2024 totaled US$6.4 billion, compared to US$5.9 billion in 2023, including US$4.5 billion (compared to US$4.3 billion in 2023) dedicated to sustaining our existing operations and US$1.5 billion (compared to US$1.7 billion in 2023) allocated to project execution (construction in progress).
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| Table of Contents | ||
| LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES |
Our investment guidance for acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets in 2025 is approximately US$6.2 billion, to sustain our production, support our low-carbon agenda initiatives, and seize accretive growth opportunities.
The following table sets forth total expenditures in 2024 for our main investment projects and expenditures budgeted for those projects in 2025, together with estimated total expenditures for each project and the actual or estimated startup date of each project as of December 31, 2024.
|
Executed CAPEX |
Expected CAPEX | ||||||
| Business area | Main projects(1) | Actual or Estimated start-up | 2024(2) | Total executed(3) | 2025(4) | Total expected(5) | |
| (US$ million) | |||||||
| Iron Solutions | Gelado | 2H22 | 30 | 421 | 35 | 428 | |
| Iron Solutions | Briquetting Tubarão | 1H24 | 68 | 308 | 30 | 342 | |
| Iron Solutions | Northern System 240 Mt Program(6) | 2H24 | 85 | 728 | 17 | 772 | |
| Iron Solutions | Capanema Maximization | 2H25 | 298 | 691 | 199 | 913 | |
| Iron Solutions | Serra Sul +20 Program | 2H25 | 490 | 1.404 | 447 | 2.844 | |
| Energy Transition Metals: Nickel |
VBME | 2H24(7) | 413 | 2,879 | 52 | 2,940 | |
| Energy Transition Metals: Nickel | Onça Puma 2nd furnace | 2H25 | 175 | 275 | 167 | 555 | |
(1) Projects approved by our Board of Directors.
(2) Executed capital expenditures comprise the sum of cash outflows.
(3) Total executed CAPEX through December 31, 2024, including capital expenditures in prior periods.
(4) Figure presented corresponds to the investment guidance for capital expenditures in 2025 of approximately US$6,2 billion.
(5) Estimated total capital expenditure cost for each project, including capital expenditures in prior periods. Total expected CAPEX includes expenses, in line with the budget approved by our Board of Directors, while these expenses are not included in the expected CAPEX for the year or in the total executed CAPEX figures.
(6) The number presented includes the Northern System 240 Mt project, 240 Mtpa Porto, 240 Mtpa Ferrovia and +10 Mtpa.
(7) The project had 100% of physical progress completed in the 4Q24 and the full ramp-up is expected by the second half of 2026.
Distributions and share buyback
Distributions. In 2024, we approved dividends and interest on capital to our shareholders totaling US$4,360 million. On February 19, 2025, the Board of Directors approved remuneration to shareholders in the total amount of US$1,596 million.
Share buyback. In 2024, we repurchased 30,923,573 common shares (including common shares in the form of ADRs) at an average price of US$13.23 per share, totaling US$409 million. On February 19, 2025, the Board of Directors approved a new share buyback program for the acquisition of up to 120 million common shares within a period of 18 months.
Tax payments
We paid US$1,462 million in income tax in 2024, excluding the payments in connection with REFIS (a tax settlement program), compared to US$1,487 million in income tax in 2023. In 2024, we paid a total of US$397 million in connection with the REFIS, compared to US$403 million in 2023.
Liability Management
In 2024, we repaid US$2,605 million (compared to US$658 million in 2023) under our financing agreements.
In March 2025, we completed cash repurchases of notes issued by Vale Overseas Limited and guaranteed by Vale S.A., as follows: US$103 million of outstanding 8.250% guaranteed notes due 2034, US$ 171 million of outstanding 6.875% guaranteed notes due 2039, and US$55 million of outstanding 6.875% guaranteed notes due 2036. Combined, the tender offers allowed us to repay an aggregate principal amount of US$329 million in debt.
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 132 |
| Table of Contents | ||
| LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES |
Debt
As of December 31, 2024, our total outstanding debt (including loans and borrowings) was US$14,792 million (including US$14,608 million of principal and US$184 million of accrued charges) compared to US$12,471 million as of December 31, 2023.
As of December 31, 2024, we had loans and borrowings amounting to US$1,091 million secured by fixed assets and the weighted average of the remaining term of our debt was 8.7 years, compared to 7.9 years in 2023.
As of December 31, 2024, our current loans and borrowings was US$1,020 million compared to US$824 million in 2023, including accrued interest.
Our major categories of non-current loans and borrowings are described below. The principal amounts shown below, excluding accrued interest.
| · | U.S. dollar-denominated fixed rate notes as of December 31, 2024 was US$7,187 million compared to US$7,157 million as of December 31, 2023. We have issued in public offerings several series of fixed rate debt securities, directly by Vale and through our wholly owned finance subsidiary Vale Overseas Limited (debt securities guaranteed by Vale) totaling US$6,908 million, compared to US$6,878 million in 2023. Our subsidiary Vale Canada has outstanding fixed rate note in the amount of US$279 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to US$279 million as of December 31, 2023. |
| · | U.S. dollar-denominated debt contracts in the international market as of December 31, 2024 was US$5,042 million compared to US$3,945 million as of December 31, 2023. This category includes export financing lines, loans from export credit agencies, and loans from commercial banks and multilateral organizations. |
| · | Other debt as of December 31, 2024 was US$1,543 million compared to US$545 million as of December 31, 2023. We have outstanding debt, principally owed to BNDES, Brazilian commercial banks and holders of infrastructure debentures, denominated in Brazilian reais and other currencies. |
As of December 31, 2024, we had two revolving credit facilities with syndicates of international banks, which will mature in 2026 and 2029. The revolving credit lines, which are committed, allow more efficient cash management, consistent with our strategic focus on reducing cost of capital. We currently have US$5 billion available under these two revolving credit lines which can be drawn by Vale, Vale Canada and Vale International.
Some of our long-term debt instruments contain financial covenants and most include cross acceleration provisions. 18.2% of the aggregate principal amount of our total debt require that we maintain, as of the end of each fiscal year, (i) a consolidated ratio of total debt to adjusted EBITDA for the past 12 months not exceeding 4.5 to one and (ii) a consolidated interest coverage ratio of at least 2.0 to one. These covenants appear in our financing agreements with BNDES, with other export and development agencies and with some other lenders. We complied with these covenants in 2024 and 2023.
As of December 31, 2024, the corporate financial guarantees we provided (within the limit of our direct or indirect interest) for certain associates and joint ventures totaled US$210 million, compared to US$274 million in 2023.
In February 2025, Vale Overseas Limited issued US$750 million of 6.400% guaranteed notes due 2054, guaranteed by Vale S.A. These notes will be consolidated and form a single series with Vale Overseas Limited’s US$1,000 million 6.400% guaranteed notes due 2054 issued in June 2024.
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 133 |
| IV. | Share ownership and trading |
Major shareholders
As of February 28, 2025, our corporate capital was composed of 4,268,778,787 common shares, including 12 golden shares held by the Brazilian government. The 12 golden shares have veto powers over certain actions, such as changes to our name, the location of our headquarters and our corporate purpose as it relates to mining activities.
The following table sets forth information regarding ownership of our shares by the shareholders we know beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock, and by our directors and executive officers as a group, as of February 28, 2025 unless otherwise indicated.
| Shareholders | Common shares owned | % of class(5) |
| Caixa de Previdência dos Funcionários do Banco do Brasil (Previ)(1) | 396,079,982 | 9.3 |
| BlackRock, Inc. | 289,063,618(2) | 6.8 |
| Mitsui & Co., Ltd.(3) | 286,347,055 | 6.7 |
| Board of directors and executive officers as a group(4) | 752,732 | 0.0 |
(1) Previ is a shareholder of Litel Participações S.A. (Litel) and Litela Participações S.A. (Litela), which were part of our former control group.
(2) Number of shares as reported in BlackRock, Inc.’s Schedule 13G/A, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024.
(3) Mitsui & Co. Ltd. (Mitsui) was part of our former control group.
(4) Number of shares as of December 30, 2024.
(5) All percentages are based on 4,268,778,787 common shares outstanding as of February 28, 2025. We held 270,228,793 shares in treasury as of February 28, 2025.
We were informed of the following significant changes in the percentage ownership held by our major shareholders during the past three years:
| · | PREVI. In 2022 and 2023, PREVI reduced its shareholding interest in Vale, and as of February 29, 2024, PREVI held 396,876,382 common shares. From 2017 and 2020, Litel, Litela, Mitsui, Bradespar and BNDES Participações S.A. were parties to a shareholders’ agreement, pursuant to which they voted together on certain matters. Since 2020, there are no shareholders’ agreements filed at our headquarters, and we no longer have a controlling shareholder. |
| · | Bradespar. In January 2022, Bradespar S.A. (Bradespar) transferred to its shareholders, as a result of a capital reduction, 130,654,877 common shares. Consequently, Bradespar reduced its shareholding interest in Vale to 163,252,389 common shares, representing an aggregate of 3.3% of our outstanding share capital (based on a total outstanding share capital of 4,821,642,536 common shares outstanding as of January 31, 2022). |
| · | Capital Research and Management Company. Capital World Investors reported 161,357,883 shares as of December 29, 2023 and 294,061,122 shares as of December 30, 2022. Capital Research Global Investors reported 214,791,969 shares as of December 30, 2022. Capital International Investors reported 134,097,229 shares as of December 30, 2022. |
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 134 |
Related party transactions
In 2021, we released our revised policy on related party transactions. The policy sets forth rules and principles to ensure transparency and arm’s-length terms in our transactions with related parties and other situations of potential conflicts of interest. Pursuant to our new policy:
The definition of related party is based on applicable accounting standards and on this policy, which may be more restrictive than applicable laws and regulations under certain circumstances.
Our revised policy introduced the concept of “Reference Shareholders,” which are shareholders we consider to be related parties, based on the standards set forth in the policy such as, the effective influence over Vale through a direct or known relationship, the existence of common management with such shareholder or a company that is part such shareholder’s group, among others. The list of our Reference Shareholders will be annually reviewed by the Audit and Risks Committee.
Our Audit and Risks Committee is responsible for issuing reports about potential conflicts of interest between us and our shareholders or management and for reviewing the procedure and terms of related party transactions that are submitted to our Board of Directors for approval.
If we identify a conflict of interest with a shareholder, then that shareholder or its representative may not participate in any discussions related to the transaction at any shareholders’ meeting and will only have access to publicly available information about the matter.
If a director or an executive officer has a conflict of interest with the company in connection with any proposed transaction, such director or executive officer may not vote in any decision of the Board of Directors or of the Executive Committee regarding such transaction and must disclose the nature and extent of the conflicting interest for transcription in the minutes of the meeting. Any director or executive officer who has a conflict of interest cannot receive any relevant documentation or information and may not participate in any related discussions. None of our directors or executive officers can transact any business with us, except on reasonable or fair terms and conditions that are identical to the terms and conditions prevailing in the market or offered by unrelated parties.
The policy also prohibits the extension of any loans to related parties other than our subsidiaries and affiliated companies.
We have engaged, and expect to continue to engage, in arm’s length transactions with certain entities controlled by, or affiliated with, our major shareholders.
Previ, a pension fund of the employees of Banco do Brasil S.A. (Banco do Brasil), owns 8.7% of the common shares of Vale as of February, 2025. Banco do Brasil appoints three out of the six members of Previ’s senior management. An affiliate of Banco do Brasil is the manager of BB Carteira Ativa. Banco do Brasil is also a full-service financial institution, and Banco do Brasil and its affiliates have performed, and may perform in the future, investment banking, advisory or general financing and banking services for us and our affiliates, from time to time, in the ordinary course of business.
We have commercial relationships in the ordinary course of our business with Mitsui, a large Japanese conglomerate. Mitsui has direct investments in some of our subsidiaries, joint ventures and associated companies. Mitsui is also our joint venture partner at VLI.
Bradespar S.A. is controlled by a group of entities that also control Banco Bradesco S.A. (Bradesco). Bradesco and its affiliates are full-service financial institutions that have performed, and may perform in the future, investment banking, advisory or general financing and banking services for us and our affiliates, from time to time, in the ordinary course of business.
We have provided in the past, and may continue to provide, funding for Samarco and Fundação Renova. See Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Samarco Funding and the Definitive Settlement.
We have also entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers, in accordance with our Indemnity Policy, approved by our Board of Directors.
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 135 |
| Table of Contents | ||
| RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
We have engaged, and expect to continue to engage, in arm’s length transactions with certain of our associates, joint ventures and other related parties. For information regarding investments in associate companies and joint ventures and for information regarding transactions with major related parties, see notes 16 and 32(b) to our consolidated financial statements.
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 136 |
Distributions
Under Brazilian law and our bylaws, we are required to distribute to our shareholders an annual amount equal to not less than 25% of the distributable amount, referred to as the mandatory dividend, unless the Board of Directors advises our shareholders at our shareholders’ meeting that payment of the mandatory dividend for the preceding year is inadvisable in light of our financial condition. For a discussion of dividend distribution provisions under Brazilian corporate law and our bylaws, see Additional Information—Bylaws.
The tax regime applicable to distributions to non-resident shareholders and holders of ADRs will depend on whether those distributions are classified as dividends or as interest on shareholders’ equity. See Additional Information—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations.
By law, we are required to hold an annual shareholders’ meeting by April 30 of each year at which an annual dividend may be declared. Additionally, our Board of Directors may declare interim dividends. Under Brazilian corporate law, dividends are generally required to be paid to the holder of record on a dividend declaration date within 60 days following the date the dividend was declared, unless a shareholders’ resolution sets forth another date of payment, which, in either case, must occur prior to the end of the fiscal year in which the dividend was declared. A shareholder has a three-year period from the dividend payment date to claim dividends (or payments of interest on shareholders’ equity) in respect of its shares, after which we will have no liability for such payments.
We make cash distributions on the common shares underlying the ADSs in reais to the custodian on behalf of the depositary. The custodian then converts such proceeds into U.S. dollars and transfers such U.S. dollars to be delivered to the depositary for distribution to holders of ADRs net of the depositary’s fees. For information on taxation of dividend distributions, see Additional Information—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations.
The following table sets forth the cash distributions we paid to holders of common shares and preferred shares for the years indicated. Amounts are stated before any applicable withholding tax.
| Reais per share | U.S. dollars per share(1) | U.S. dollars total(1) | ||||
| Year | Payment date | Dividends | Interest on equity | Total | Total | (US$ million) |
| 2021 | March 15, 2021 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 3,972 |
| June 30, 2021 | 2.2 | – | 2.2 | 0.4 | 2,200 | |
| September 30, 2021 | 8.2 | – | 8.2 | 1.5 | 7,644 | |
| 2022 | March 16, 2022 | 3.7 | – | 3.7 | 0.7 | 3,500 |
| September 1, 2022 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 3,000 | |
| 2023 | March 22, 2023 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 1,823 |
|
September 01, 2023 |
– |
1.9 |
1.9 |
0.4 |
1,744 | |
|
December 01, 2023 |
1.6 |
0.8 |
2.4 |
0.5 |
2,000 | |
| 2024 | March 19, 2024 | 2.7 | - | 2.7 | 0.6 | 2,364 |
| September 4, 2024 | - | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 1,608 | |
| 2025 | March 14, 2025 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 1,984 |
(1) As approved by the Board of Directors.
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Trading markets
Our publicly traded share capital consists of common shares, without par value. Our common shares are publicly traded in Brazil on the Novo Mercado segment of the São Paulo Stock Exchange (B3), under the ticker symbol VALE3. Our common shares are also traded on the LATIBEX, a non-regulated electronic market created in 1999 by the Madrid stock exchange in order to enable trading of Latin American equity securities, under the ticker symbols XVALO.
Our common ADSs, each representing one common share, are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), under the ticker symbol VALE, level 2 ADS. Citibank N.A. serves as the depositary for the common ADSs. On December 31, 2024, there were 1,211,148,744 common ADSs outstanding, representing 26.7% of our total share capital.
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Depositary shares
Citibank N.A. serves as the depositary for our ADSs. ADR holders are required to pay various fees to the depositary, and the depositary may refuse to provide any service for which a fee is assessed until the applicable fee has been paid.
ADR holders are required to pay the depositary amounts in respect of expenses incurred by the depositary or its agents on behalf of ADR holders, including expenses arising from compliance with applicable law, taxes or other governmental charges, facsimile transmission or conversion of foreign currency into U.S. In this case, the depositary may decide in its sole discretion to seek payment by either billing holders or by deducting the fee from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions. The depositary may recover any unpaid taxes or other governmental charges owed by an ADR holder by billing such holder, by deducting the fee from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions, or by selling underlying shares after reasonable attempts to notify the holder, with the holder liable for any remaining deficiency.
ADR holders are also required to pay additional fees for certain services provided by the depositary, as set forth in the table below.
| Depositary service | Fee payable by ADR holders |
| Issuance of ADSs upon deposit of shares, excluding issuances as a result of distributions described in the following item | Up to US$5.00 or less per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) issued |
| Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs (i.e., spin-off shares) | Up to US$5.00 or less per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held |
| Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions (i.e., sale of rights and other entitlements) | Up to US$5.00 or less per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held |
| Distribution of ADSs pursuant to (i) stock dividends or other free stock distributions, or (ii) exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs | Up to US$5.00 or less per 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) held |
| Delivery of deposited property against surrender of ADSs | Up to US$5.00 or less per 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) surrendered |
| ADS services | Up to US$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary |
The depositary may deduct applicable depositary fees and charges from the funds being distributed in the case of cash distributions. For distributions other than cash, the depositary will invoice the amount of the applicable depositary fees to the applicable holders.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES
The holders, beneficial owners, persons depositing shares and persons surrendering ADSs for cancellation and for the purpose of withdrawing deposited securities are also subject to the following charges: (i) taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges; (ii) registration fees as may be applicable from time to time; (iii) reimbursement of certain expenses as provided in the deposit agreement; (iv) the expenses and charges incurred by the depositary in the conversion of foreign currency; (v) certain fees and expenses incurred by the depositary in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements; and (vi) certain fees and expenses incurred in connection with the delivery or servicing of deposited shares, as provided for under the deposit agreement.
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The depositary reimburses us for certain expenses we incur in connection with the ADR program and other expenses, subject to a ceiling agreed between us and the depositary from time to time. These reimbursable expenses currently include legal and accounting fees, listing fees, investor relations expenses and fees payable to service providers for the distribution of material to ADR holders. The depositary also agreed to make an additional reimbursement annually based on the issuance and cancellation fees, dividend fees and depositary service fees charged by the depositary to our ADS holders. For the year ended December 31, 2024, Citibank N.A. reimbursed us US$21 million, including US$10 million in dividend fees.
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Purchases of equity securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers
The table below sets forth the information of our share buyback programs in 2024. See note 31 to our consolidated financial statements for further information about our share buyback programs.
|
Total number of common shares purchased(1) |
Average price paid per common share (US$) |
Total number of common shares purchased as part of publicly announced programs(2)(3) |
Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the programs | |
| January 2024 | 13,692,328 | 14.24 | 13,692,328 | 133,307,672 |
| February 2024 | 5,938,686 | 13.54 | 5,938,686 | 127,368,986 |
| April 2024 | 4,388,719 | 12.10 | 4,388,719 | 122,980,267 |
| May 2024 | 2,622,440 | 12.61 | 2,622,440 | 120,357,827 |
| June 2024 | 2,417,000 | 11.35 | 2,417,000 | 117,940,827 |
| July 2024 | 1,074,800 | 11.42 | 1,074,800 | 116,866,027 |
| August 2024 | 789,600 | 10.25 | 789,600 | 116,076,427 |
| Total | 30,923,573 | 12.21 | 30,923,573 | 116,076,427 |
(1) Includes common shares represented by ADSs.
(2) On April 27, 2022, our Board of Directors approved a share buyback program, limited to a maximum of 500,000,000 common shares or their respective ADRs, that ended on October 27 of 2023.
(3) On October 28, 2023, our Board of Directors approved a share buyback program, limited to a maximum of 150,000,000 common shares or their respective ADRs, still ongoing.
Summary of purchases made by Vale S.A. and its wholly owned subsidiaries in 2024
| Company | Quantity | Amount US$ million |
| Vale S.A. | 18,251,159 | 240 |
| Wholly owned subsidiaries | 12,672,414 | 169 |
| Total | 30,923,573 | 409 |
In February 2025, our Board of Directors approved, a new share buyback program for the acquisition of up to 120 million common shares within a period of 18 months.
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| V. | Management and employees |
Management
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors sets general guidelines and policies for our business and monitors the implementation of those guidelines and policies by our executive officers. Our bylaws provide for a Board of Directors consisting of 11 to 13 members, including one member of the Board of Directors directly elected by our employees, in a separate election. Our employees also elect an alternate for the director elected by them. In the event of any vacancy or impediment of a member of the Board of Directors, the remaining members may appoint a substitute member until the next general shareholders’ meeting.
| · | Our shareholders vote to elect the members of our Board of Directors on an individual basis (as opposed to voting for a slate of candidates). |
| · | Our shareholders elect the chairperson and vice-chairperson of our Board of Directors directly. |
| · | We currently have eight independent members in our Board of Directors, out of a total of 13 members. |
| · | Our chief executive officer is not a member of our Board of Director. |
| · | Since 2023, the chairperson of the Board of Directors is not an independent member and, for this reason, the independent directors appointed a lead independent director (LID). |
| · | Under the rules of the Novo Mercado, to be considered independent, a director may not (i) be a direct or indirect controlling shareholder of Vale; (ii) have its vote subject to a shareholder’s agreement; (iii) be a relative, to the second degree of any director or executive of Vale; or (iv) have been an employee or executive of Vale in the past three years. The Novo Mercado rules also provide for other situations that require a case-by-case analysis of the independence of a director. Since March 2021, our bylaws provide that, in addition to the Novo Mercado independence standards, to be considered independent, a director may not (i) hold more than 5% of our share capital or have any formal or declared relation with any shareholder holding more than 5% of our share capital; or (ii) have been a director of Vale for five or more consecutive or non-consecutive terms or for 10 or more consecutive or non-consecutive years. The current independent members of our Board of Directors are in compliance with the rules established by the Novo Mercado special segment of B3 and our bylaws. |
The current members of the Board will hold office until the annual general shareholders’ meeting to be held in April 2025. The Board of Directors holds ordinary meetings at least eight times per year and holds extraordinary meetings whenever called by the Chairperson or, in his absence, by the Vice-Chairperson of the Board or by one third of the members of the Board. Decisions of the Board of Directors require the affirmative vote of the majority of its members.
The following tables lists the current and alternate members of the Board of Directors.
| Director | Year first elected |
| Daniel André Stieler (chairperson) | 2021 |
| Marcelo Gasparino da Silva (vice-chairperson)(1)(2)(3) | 2020 |
| Fernando Jorge Buso Gomes | 2015 |
| Manuel Lino Silva de Sousa Oliveira(1)(4) | 2021 |
| Rachel de Oliveira Maia(1) | 2021 |
| Douglas James Upton(1) | 2023 |
| João Luiz Fukunaga | 2023 |
| Luis Henrique Cals de Beauclair Guimarães(1) | 2023 |
| Paulo Cesar Hartung Gomes(1) | 2023 |
| Shunji Komai | 2023 |
| Heloisa Belotti Bedicks(1) | 2024 |
| Reinaldo Duarte Castanheira Filho(1) | 2024 |
| André Viana Madeira(5) | 2023 |
(1) Independent directors.
(2) Vice-chairperson since 2023.
(3) Alternate Director from 2019 to 2020.
(4) Lead Independent Director.
(5) Appointed by our employees.
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| Alternate Director | Year first elected |
| Wagner Vasconcelos Xavier(1) | 2023 |
(1) Appointed by our employees as alternate of André Viana Madeira.
Below is a summary of the business experience, activities, and areas of expertise of our current directors.
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice-Presidents are our executive officers and are responsible for day-to-day operations and the implementation of the general policies and guidelines set forth by our Board of Directors. Our bylaws provide for a minimum of six and a maximum of eleven executive officers. The executive officers hold weekly meetings and hold additional meetings when called by any executive officer. The executive officers are appointed and may be removed by our Board of Directors at any time. Our executive officers are appointed for three-year terms and can be reelected.
In December 2022, we implemented a new configuration for our Executive Committee (formerly named Board of Executive Officers), including a redesign of the attributions and responsibilities among the executive officers to accelerate the achievement of our strategic objectives. The following table lists our current executive officers.
| Officer | Year of appointment | Position |
| Gustavo Duarte Pimenta | 2024 | Chief Executive Officer |
| Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci | 2024 | Executive Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations |
| Alexandre Silva D’Ambrósio | 2021 | Executive Vice-President, Corporate and External Affairs |
| Carlos Henrique Senna Medeiros | 2019 | Executive Vice-President, Operations |
| Rafael Jabur Bittar | 2022 | Executive Vice-President, Technical |
| Rogério Tavares Nogueira | 2024 | Executive Vice President, Commercial and New Business |
Below is a summary of the business experience, activities and areas of expertise of our current executive officers.
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AUDIT and risks COMMITTEE
On March 11, 2020, our Board of Directors established an Audit Committee in accordance with the governance rules of Novo Mercado segment of B3.
Under our bylaws and internal rules, the Audit and Risks Committee shall have three to five members. The terms of the members of the Audit and Risks Committee expire at the end of the term of the members of the Board of Directors, upon removal approved by the Board of Directors or resignation. In addition, pursuant to our bylaws and the Audit Risks and Committee’s internal rules: (i) all members of the Audit and Risks Committee must be independent members of our Board of Directors, as provided by the Regulations of the Novo Mercado listing segment of B3 S.A. – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão (Novo Mercado Regulations), and (ii) at least one member of the Audit and Risks Committee must have demonstrated experience in corporate accounting matters pursuant to the requirements of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários – CVM), as per the regulations applicable, and such member shall be appointed as “Financial Expert” upon his/her nomination. All members of our Audit and Risks Committee are appointed by the Board of Directors. For more information, see Risk Management—Risk Governance Structure—Audit and Risks Committee.
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We are subject to Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, which requires, absent an exemption, that a listed company maintain an Audit and Risks Committee composed of members of the Board of Directors that meet specified requirements. Our Audit and Risks Committee is comprised only by independent members of the Board of Directors and complies with Rule 10A-3.
The following table lists the current members of the Audit and Risks Committee:
| Member | Year first elected |
| Manuel Lino Silva de Sousa Oliveira(1)(2) | 2021 |
| Heloisa Belotti Bedicks | 2024 |
| Reinaldo Duarte Castanheira Filho | 2024 |
(1) Coordinator
(2) Financial Expert
For a summary of the business experience, activities and areas of expertise of the members of our Audit and Risks committee please see summary under “Board of Directors.”
OTHER ADVISORY COMMITTEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our bylaws provide five permanent advisory committees to the Board of Directors, each governed by its own internal rules: the Audit and Risks Committee, the Capital Allocation and Projects Committee, the People and Remuneration Committee, the Sustainability Committee and the Nomination and Governance Committee. In April 2024, the Board of Directors decided to discontinue the Innovation Committee, which was a non-permanent and non-statutory committee, allocating its responsibilities among the remaining committees. Additional committees may be created by the Board of Directors, at their discretion.
Audit and Risks Committee. For further information on our Audit and Risks Committee, see Audit and Risks Committee in this section.
Capital Allocation and Projects Committee. Responsible for advising the Board of Directors on matters related to long-term capital allocation strategies, including investments and disinvestment projects; guidelines on the remuneration of shareholders, capital structure strategy and financial guidelines; our funding and indebtedness strategy; guidelines for implementation, management and monitoring the capital and investment projects portfolio; annual and multiannual budget, among other matters. Its current members are Luis Henrique Cals de Beauclair Guimarães (Coordinator), Daniel André Stieler, Douglas James Upton, Fernando Jorge Buso Gomes, Reinaldo Duarte Castanheira Filho and Shunji Komai.
People and Remuneration Committee. Responsible for assisting the Board in long-term strategies concerning people; recommending and monitoring the implementation of the guidelines to foster initiatives related to organizational culture, specifically as it refers to diversity, equity and inclusion and people health and safety; defining performance assessment goals for the Executive Committee and other officers directly reporting to the CEO; nominating the CEO, and recommending the succession plan for the Executive Committee and other officers directly reporting to the CEO, including their successors, among other responsibilities. Its current members are João Luiz Fukunaga (Coordinator), Luis Henrique Cals de Beauclair Guimarães, Marcelo Gasparino da Silva and Shunji Komai.
Sustainability Committee. Responsible for advising on the sustainability strategy and the integration thereof into our strategic planning, aiming the creation of value, competitivity, and socio-economic and environmental sustainability; our corporate sustainability policies related to safety, environment, health, education and relationship with communities, indigenous peoples and other stakeholders, human rights, communication and institutional relations; the direction of our strategic sustainability indicators and the communication and disclosure thereof, also through our Integrated Report; the guidelines for our adhesion to or permanence in initiatives, technical standards or agreements, in the domestic or international sphere, regarding sustainability matters, that may be under competence of the Board of Directors; guidelines for long-term social and environmental commitments that are under the competence of the Board of Directors; among other responsibilities. Its current members are Rachel de Oliveira Maia (Coordinator), André Viana Madeira, Heloisa Belotti Bedicks, João Luiz Fukunaga, Paulo Cesar Hartung Gomes and Wagner Vasconcelos Xavier.
Nomination and Governance Committee. Responsible for assessing and recommending our internal policies and norms regarding the nomination of members of the Board of Directors, Advisory Committees and the CEO, in compliance with the applicable legal requirements and best corporate governance practices; evolution and continuous improvement of our corporate governance practices, also regarding the structure, duties, size and composition of the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committees, aiming at a balance of experiences, knowledge and diversity in the profile of its members; the strategy and guidelines for our corporate governance documents, including Corporate Policies, Bylaws, Code of Conduct and the Internal Regulations of the Advisory Committees and the Board of Directors, among other matters. Its current members are Daniel André Stieler (Coordinator), Marcelo Gasparino da Silva and Rachel de Oliveira Maia.
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FISCAL COUNCIL
We have a Fiscal Council established in accordance with Brazilian law. The primary responsibilities of the Fiscal Council under Brazilian corporate law are to supervise management’s activities, review the company’s consolidated financial statements, and report its findings to the shareholders.
Brazilian law requires the members of a Fiscal Council to meet certain eligibility requirements. A member of our Fiscal Council cannot (i) hold office as a member of the Board of Directors, Fiscal Council or advisory committee of any company that is a competitor of Vale or otherwise has a conflicting interest with Vale, unless compliance with this requirement is expressly waived by shareholder vote, (ii) be an employee or member of senior management or the Board of Directors of Vale or its subsidiaries or affiliates, or (iii) be a spouse or relative within the third degree by affinity or consanguinity of an officer or director of Vale.
Members of the Fiscal Council are elected by our shareholders for one-year terms. The current members of the Fiscal Council and their respective alternates were elected on April 26, 2024. The terms of the members of the Fiscal Council expire at the next annual shareholders’ meeting following election. Our Fiscal Council shall be composed of three to five members. The holders of our golden shares are entitled to appoint one member.
The following table lists the current and alternate members of the Fiscal Council.
| Current member | Year first elected | Alternate | Year first elected |
| Márcio de Souza (1)(2) | 2022 | Ana Maria Loureiro Recart (2) | 2023 |
| Vacant | - | Adriana de Andrade Solé(2)(4) | 2022 |
| Paulo Clovis Ayres Filho(2) | 2023 | Guilherme José de Vasconcelos Cerqueira(2) | 2023 |
| Raphael Manhães Martins(2) | 2015 | Jandaraci Ferreira de Araujo(2) | 2021 |
| Dario Carnevalli Durigan(3) | 2023 | Rafael Rezende Brigolini(3) | 2022 |
(1) Chairperson.
(2) Appointed by shareholders of common shares.
(3) Appointed by the holder of golden shares.
(4) Adriana de Andrade Solé assumed the role of full member in September 2024, following the resignation of Heloisa Belotti Bedicks.
Below is a summary of the business experience, activities and areas of expertise of the members of our Fiscal Council.
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Management compensation
Under our bylaws, our shareholders are responsible for establishing annually the aggregate compensation for the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Fiscal Council and Board Committees members. Once the total compensation has been approved at the annual shareholders’ meeting, the Board of Directors, with the support of both the Nomination and Governance Committee (CIG) and the People and Remuneration Committee (CPR), as applicable, allocates the compensation to each member of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Fiscal Council and Board Committees individually. Compensation proposals and policies are prepared with the support of the People and Remuneration Committee, which makes recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding the annual global compensation of the executive officers.
As a global company, we require management with a deep knowledge of our business and market and unlimited dedication. Attracting and retaining talent, and engaging and motivating the professionals holding strategic positions, especially our executive officers, is critical for our success.
In accordance with our Directors Policy approved in March 2024 by the Board of Directors, our executive compensation proposals are based on the best practices of the global mining companies and large global companies in other similar industries and seek to align the interests and the purpose of the key management personnel with our strategic goals. In addition to market practices, the strategy and compensation packages for key management personnel are prepared based on the responsibilities and the scope of the position, competence and performance, alignment with our short and long-term strategies and the sustainability of the business.
Our policies for the Executive Committee members are linked to the achievement of certain economic and financial results, our market value, our key behaviors and ESG metrics, and for that, it considers, for example, short and long variable compensation plans with impact on the financial, security, risks and sustainability KPIs, virtual dividend payments, Stock Ownership Guidelines rules, annual individual performance evaluation process and Malus clause and Clawback clause.
Additionally, management compensation is subject to our Clawback Policy, pursuant to the applicable regulations. The latest developments in our executive compensation policies were to align more closely with international market practices and the interests of shareholders and aim to create long-term value and sustainable results.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
2024 Compensation Reporting
As of December 31, 2024, we had eight executive officers: the Chief Executive Officer and seven Executive Vice-Presidents. For the year ended December 31, 2024, including severance payments made to former executive officers, the average annual compensation to our executive officers was R$18.5 million, the highest annual compensation to an executive officer was R$51.8 million and the lowest annual compensation was R$7.6 million, all values without taxes. The average annual compensation corresponds to the total aggregate compensation to executives in 2024, divided by the monthly average number of active officers that received compensation during the year 2024, which was 9.17.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the total compensation related to executive officers’ packages is set forth in the table below.
| For the year ended December 31, 2024 | |
| (R$ million) | |
| Annual fixed compensation | 30.0 |
| In-kind benefits and pension plans | 7.4 |
| Variable compensation | 105.7 |
| Other expenses(1) | 8.5 |
| Total amount recognized in 2024 to active executive officers | 151.6 |
| Severance | 18.2 |
| Total amount recognized in 2024 to active and former executive officers | 169.8 |
(1) Additional compensation (spot payments) related to attraction, retention and incentives for deliveries and initiatives relevant to the company, according to Vale’s Directors Policy.
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CEO Compensation
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the total compensation of our prior CEO was the highest compensation of the management team, and was composed as set forth in the table below.
| For the year ended December 31, 2024 | |
| (R$ million) | |
| Annual fixed compensation | 4.5 |
| Variable compensation(1) | 38.0 |
| Other expenses(2) | 9.3 |
| Total amount recognized in 2024 to CEO | 51.8 |
(1) Includes annual bonus and Long Term Incentives.
(2) Including health and dental plans, insurance, contributions to pension funds and other.
Principles and components of our Directors Policy for the Executive Committee
The executive compensation is based on the principles below:
| · | Aligning the interests and objectives of key management personnel with our strategic goals; |
| · | Leveraging and rewarding value creation and sustainable results, in line with our short and long-term strategies and business sustainability; |
| · | Aligning executives’ priorities and efforts with shareholders’ vision, while striving to maintain a balance in stakeholder relations; |
| · | Adhering to global market best practices; |
| · | Strengthening meritocracy and performance enhancement, balanced with effective management and mitigation of business risks; |
| · | Aligning our compensation with recognized international governances’ practices; and |
| · | Offering competitive compensation to attract and retain highly qualified executives and encouraging them to execute the strategy and promote our purpose in the medium and long terms. |
The total compensation for executives is composed by (i) Fixed Compensation, including Private Pension and Benefits standards based on the local market, (ii) Short-Term Incentive – Annual Bonus, (iii) Long-Term Incentive programs, the Restricted Share Unit (RSU) Matching program and the Performance Share Unit (PSU) program, and (iv) spot incentives for attraction, retention or encouraging of relevant initiatives that meet performance needs or bring differentiated value to the Company, approved by the Board of Directors.
The executive’s compensation also includes a severance package to be paid after contract termination.
Fixed compensation
Fixed compensation and in-kind benefits include a base salary in cash, paid on a monthly basis, private pension plans contributions, health care, meal allowance, life insurance, driver and car expenses.
Variable compensation - Short and Long-Terms Incentives
Variable compensation consists of: (i) Short-Term Incentive – Annual Bonus, based on specific goals for each executive officer and collective goals, all approved by our Board of Directors, and (ii) payments tied to the performance of our shares under two Long-Term Incentives programs, the RSU Matching program and the PSU program.
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Short-Term Incentive – Annual Bonus:
| · | The Annual Bonus is designed to incentivize the achievement of short-term targets aligned with our strategic priorities and recognizes the contributions of the members of the Executive Committee to the company’s performance. |
| · | It is based on both collective and individual goals, considering economic and financial goals that reflect operating performance, as well as ESG-driven performance goals, directly related to health, safety, risk management and sustainability targets, besides other goals related to strategic initiatives, such as capital allocation targets, process-related safety events and black people in leadership positions, aligned with Vale’s ambitions and strategy. |
| · | Our scorecard goals are more focused on collective goals, to encourage collaboration among different teams. |
| · | In recent years, short-term compensation has incorporated a risk management component for all executives and employees, directly connecting it to our goals associated with health, safety, sustainability and risk management. |
| · | Our Technical Executive Vice-President and the teams responsible for health, operational safety, risk dams and risk management do not have their compensation tied to short-term financial results. |
| · | The goal related to occupational and process safety was recently introduced, contributing to the ambition of being a reference company in safety, with consistency and efficiency, creating and sharing sustainable value with our stakeholders. |
| · | The payment of the Bonus considers the reference targets, the results achieved in the scorecard goals and the individual performance considering our “key behaviors.” |
Long-Term Incentive – RSU Matching:
| · | Matching is a long-term plan in the Restricted Shares modality, designed to promote retention, long-term commitment and alignment between the management and the return generated to the shareholders. |
| · | Participation is mandatory for the members of the Executive Committee, who must use their own resources (either by purchasing shares in the market or using their vested shares) to accumulate a specific number of shares/ADRs and maintain ownership throughout the entire cycle. |
| · | At the end of a three-year cycle, they are entitled to receive a reward in at least the same number of shares/ADRs they hold since the beginning of the cycle. |
| · | The program also includes the payment of “virtual dividends” equivalent to the net amount per share distributed to shareholders upon payment of dividends and/or interest on equity during the cycle. |
| · | Executives cannot sell or transfer their shares or ADRs at any time during the vesting period and must observe the Securities Trading Policy and the Stock Ownership Guidelines to sell or transfer Matching program shares after the vesting period. |
Long-Term Incentive – PSU:
| · | PSU is a long-term plan under the Performance Shares modality designed to enhance the performance of the senior management in the creation of sustainable and long-term value for the company, aligning the focus of the executives with the vision of the shareholders, encouraging retention and long-term performance. |
| · | The executive officers receive payments tied to our performance, based on: |
| o | Relative metric: Total Shareholder Return (TSR) compared to a preselected group of global companies. |
| o | Absolute metric: (a) the achievement of long-term ESG targets (related to health & safety and sustainability) and (b) the Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) metric, included in 2024. |
| · | In 2022, we increased our focus on ESG metrics, raising the weight of this KPI from 20% to 25%. |
| · | Since 2021, PSU is rewarded in shares/ADRs and includes the payment of “virtual dividends” equivalent to the net amount per share distributed to shareholders upon payment of dividends and/or interest on equity during the cycle, both conditioned to the program performance at the end of three years period. |
Other Practices:
| · | Stock Ownership Guidelines (SOG) – to reinforce the alignment of the management with the shareholders’ vision and the good market governance practices, the executives are required to achieve and keep a minimum shareholding position in Vale (equivalent to three years’ worth of base-salary for the CEO and two years for the Executive Vice-Presidents). Until the minimum value is met, the executives are not allowed to sell shares issued by Vale. |
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| · | Malus and Clawback clauses – these provisions allow the Board of Directors to, upon facts or events of exceptional severity, decide to eliminate, reduce or even obtain the return, in whole or in part, of the variable compensation scheduled for payment (Malus) or installments already paid (Clawback) to the members of the Executive Committee. Such rules aim to respond to facts or events of exceptional severity, with obvious adverse impacts on our market value and/or reputation and the causes of which have arisen during the executive’s term of office. For additional information on our Clawback Policy, see Exhibit 97 to this annual report on Form 20-F. |
Severance package
At the discretion of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee members may be subject to individualized non-competition agreements and compensatory indemnities, allowing the company to establish conditions that reflect the complexity of each role and its impact on the organization.:
| · | A potential non-compete agreement compensation, that may vary up to the annual fixed compensation, to be paid in equal quarterly installments after termination, including non-solicitation, if decided by the Board of Directors. |
| · | Compensatory indemnity, that may vary up to one-half the annual fixed compensation for executive officers and up to the annual fixed compensation for the CEO, as decided by the Board of Directors, paid shortly after the termination date. |
In addition, executives are also entitled to payment of short-term and long-term variable compensation incentives (Annual Bonus, RSU Matching and PSU program), considering the time worked (pro rata period) and the final results achieved by each of the programs.
Other benefits and payments
Pension, retirement or similar benefits consist of our contributions to Valia, the manager of the pension plans sponsored by us. Social security contributions are mandatory contributions we are required to make to the Brazilian government for our executive officers.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
As of December 31, 2024, our Board of Directors had 13 members and one alternate. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the average annual compensation paid to the members of our Board of Directors was R$1.7 million, the highest annual compensation paid to a member of the Board of Directors was R$3.4 million and the lowest annual compensation was R$1.2 million. The monthly average number of members that received compensation during 2024 was 12.25.
In 2024, we paid R$20.71 million in aggregate to the members of our Board of Directors for services in all capacities, all of which was fixed compensation. We reimburse the members of our Board of Directors for travel expenses related to the performance of their functions.
As of December 31, 2024, the total number of common shares owned by our Board of Directors was 120,859 and by executive officers was 614,248. None of our directors or executive officers beneficially owns 1% or more of any class of our shares.
FISCAL COUNCIL
As of December 31, 2024, our Fiscal Council had four effective members and five alternate members. We paid an aggregate of R$1.79 million to members of the Fiscal Council in 2024. We reimburse the members of the Fiscal Council for travel expenses related to the performance of their functions.
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| MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION |
BOARD COMMITTEES
We paid an aggregate of R$2.78 million to members of our permanent advisory committees in 2024. Since 2023, all committee members are also members of our Board of Directors who are entitled to receive, in addition to the compensation as a board member, compensation for participating in one or more committees.
The compensation amounts described above do not include social security taxes.
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Employees
The following tables set forth the number of our employees (total, by groups based on the activity performed and by geographic location) as of the dates indicated.
| As of December 31, | |||
| By business | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| Iron Solutions | 43,601 | 43,090 | 41,816 |
| Energy Transition Metals | 13,664 | 15,606 | 13,318 |
| Corporate Activities | 7,345 | 8,111 | 9,382 |
| Total | 64,610 | 66,807 | 64,516 |
| As of December 31, | |||
| By location | 2024(1) | 2023(1) | 2022(1) |
| Brazil | 55,663 | 55,247 | 53,341 |
| North America | 7,265 | 6,813 | 6,565 |
| Asia | 1,359 | 4,416 | 4,287 |
| Europe | 271 | 277 | 270 |
| South America (except Brazil) | 41 | 41 | 41 |
| Oceania | 11 | 13 | 12 |
| Total | 64,610 | 66,807 | 64,516 |
(1) Since January 2017, we include in our total workforce figures all fixed-term contract employees, trainees and employees hired through our affirmative action program for Persons with Disabilities.
We negotiate wages and benefits with a large number of unions worldwide that represent our employees. We have collective agreements with unionized employees at our operations in Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, UK, and Oman.
The total number of third-party employees as of December 31, 2024 was 109,506, reflecting our new classification of third-party employees, which takes into account the total number of mobilized third-party individuals who access Vale’s units.
WAGES AND BENEFITS
Wages and benefits for Vale and its subsidiaries are generally established on a company-by-company basis. Our benefits policy is aligned with our attraction and retention strategy, in accordance with applicable laws and market practice in the countries where we operate.
We provide a benefits package aimed at ensuring health, wellness, protection and quality of life through the following benefits: private medical and dental insurance for employees and their dependents, life insurance, private pension plans, meal allowance, employee assistance program (EAP), extended parental leave, wellness incentive, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
We establish our wage and benefits programs for Vale S.A. and its subsidiaries, other than Vale Canada. In November 2024, we reached a one-year agreement with all Brazilian unions providing for a salary increase of 5%. The provisions of our collective bargaining agreements with unions also apply to our non-unionized employees.
Vale Canada and its subsidiaries also establishes wages and benefits for its unionized employees through collective bargaining agreements. In 2024, collective bargaining agreements were successfully negotiated for Canadian unionized employees at the Voisey’s Bay and Thompson Manitoba operations, resulting in the renewal of four-year agreements at each site. For non-unionized employees, Vale Canada undertakes an annual review of salaries and benefits. We provide these employees and their dependents with other benefits, including a flexible health care benefit plan.
PENSION PLANS
Brazilian employees of Vale and of most of its Brazilian subsidiaries are eligible to participate in pension plans managed by Valia. Most of the participants in plans held by Valia are participants in a plan named “Vale Mais,” which Valia implemented in 2000. This plan is primarily a defined contribution plan with a defined benefit feature relating to service prior to 2000 and another defined benefit feature to cover temporary or permanent disability, pension and financial protection to dependents in case of death. Valia also operates a defined benefit plan, closed to new participants since May 2000, with benefits based on years of service, salary and social security benefits. This plan covers retired participants and their beneficiaries, as well as a relatively small number of employees that declined to transfer from the old plan to the “Vale Mais” plan when it was established in May 2000.
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| EMPLOYEES |
Most employees within our Energy Transition Metals operations participate in defined benefit pension plans and defined contribution pension plans. The defined benefit plans have been closed to new participants since 2009, and most new employees within our Energy Transition Metals operations are eligible to participate in defined contribution pension plans. In 2023, Vale Canada, as administrator of the Canadian defined benefit pension plans, concluded the purchase of annuity contracts to transfer US$843 million of pension plan obligations and associated assets. Similarly, in 2024, Vale Canada finalized the purchase of annuity contracts to transfer US$934 million in pension plan obligations and associated assets.
PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION
All Vale parent-company employees may receive incentive compensation each year in an amount based on the performance of Vale, with ranges that are market-based and periodically revised, depending on certain targets set, and the cash generation in each period. Similar incentive compensation arrangements are in place at our subsidiaries.
Qualifying management personnel are eligible to participate in the PSU and RSU Matching Program. See description of these programs under Management and Employees—Management Compensation—Executive Committee.
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| VI. | Additional information |
Legal proceedings
We and our subsidiaries are defendants in numerous legal actions, including environmental, civil, labor and tax proceedings, and proceedings related to the Brumadinho dam failure and to Samarco’s dam failure. See Notes 26, 27 and 29 to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.
We use estimates to assess the probability of outflow of resources based on reports and technical assessments and on management’s assessment. We recognize provisions for probable losses that can be reliably estimated. We recognize a contingency after reviewing the reports from legal advisors and upon approving the probability assessment contained in such reports. The tables below contain a summary of our provisions and contingent liabilities as of December 31, 2024 and as of December 31, 2023.
| Provisions | ||
| (US$ million) | ||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Provisions for litigation | ||
| Tax litigation | 201 | 90 |
| Civil litigation | 290 | 380 |
| Labor litigation | 482 | 514 |
| Environmental litigation | 40 | 15 |
| Total | 1,013 | 999 |
| Liabilities related to Brumadinho¹ | 1,970 | 3,060 |
| Liabilities related to associates and joint ventures² | 3,663 | 4,427 |
¹ Liabilities related to Brumadinho include provisions related to the Integral Reparation Agreement, tailings containment, geotechnical safety and environmental reparation, individual indemnification, and other.
² Liabilities related to associates and joint ventures include provisions related to the Definitive Agreement, the provision related to the Samarco dam failure and remaining legal proceedings.
| Contingent Liabilities | ||
| (US$ million) | ||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Contingent liabilities | ||
| Tax litigations | 5,995 | 7,235 |
| Civil litigations | 1,274 | 1,366 |
| Labor litigations | 292 | 378 |
| Environmental litigations | 1,050 | 1,320 |
| Total | 8,611 | 10,299 |
We are engaged in administrative and judicial discussions with tax authorities in Brazil in relation to certain tax positions adopted by us for calculating income tax and social contribution on net income. See note 9 to our consolidated financial statements for additional information. The table below contain a summary of the amount under discussion with the tax authorities as of December 31, 2024 and as of December 31, 2023.
| Uncertain tax positions (“UTP”) | ||
| (US$ million) | ||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| UTPs recorded as part of the taxes payable liability on statement of financial position | 154 | 183 |
| UTPs not recorded on statement of financial position¹ | 8,556 | 9,144 |
¹Based on the assessment of its internal and external legal advisors, we believe that the tax treatment adopted for these matters will be accepted in decisions of the higher courts on last instance.
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| LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS RELATED TO THE DAM failure IN BRUMADINHO
We have been actively seeking non-judicial alternatives to promote a more expedited reparation and remediation to the victims and to settle the various legal proceedings relating to the Brumadinho dam failure. For a discussion of the multiple settlement agreements we have entered into in connection with the dam failure in Brumadinho, including but not limited to the Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation, see Business Overview—Reparation and Remediation Efforts—Brumadinho Reparation and Remediation Efforts. Below is a discussion of the main proceedings outstanding relating to Brumadinho dam failure:
a) Public civil actions, Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation and other settlement agreements. In January 2019, the Government of the State of Minas Gerais, the Public Defender Office of the State of Minas Gerais (Defensoria Pública de Minas Gerais – DPMG) and public prosecutors of the State of Minas Gerais (Ministério Público do Estado de Minas Gerais - MPMG) collectively brought three public civil actions before the 2nd Public Treasury Court of the City of Belo Horizonte, seeking several measures for the reparation and remediation of environmental and social damages resulting from the dam failure. In these actions, the authorities claimed economic and environmental damages resulting from the dam failure and sought a broad range of injunctions requiring us to implement specific remediation and reparation measures. In July 2019, the court decided that we are liable for the damages caused by the dam failure.
In February 2021, we entered into the Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation with the claimants of the public civil actions, settling the majority of the socio-economic and socio-environmental claims raised in these actions. The Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation resolved the collective and diffuse damages resulting from the event, but does not cover claims for individual damages and any unknown and future social-environmental damages, which are still being discussed in the public civil actions and are currently subject to technical/expert evaluation. We have been fulfilling the obligations under the Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation.
We have also entered into other settlement agreements with public authorities to establish frameworks for individual indemnification of the victims. An affected party or a group of affected parties has the option to pursue individual claims against us directly, or to settle its claims under an expedited out-of-court settlement process based on the framework we agreed with the authorities under these other settlement agreements. These other settlement agreements settled certain other judicial proceedings brought against us by public authorities.
b) Securities litigation in the United States. We and certain of our former executive officers were named defendants in securities class action suits, under U.S. federal securities laws, brought before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York by holders of our securities. The lead plaintiff in this case alleges that the defendants made false and misleading statements or omitted to make disclosures concerning Brumadinho dam and the adequacy of related risk management programs and procedures.
In March 2022, the court granted the lead plaintiff’s motion for class certification. In November 2023, discovery closed and defendants moved to decertify the case as a class action. The decertification motion is pending. In August 2024, a hearing was held in court, during which the parties and experts presented oral arguments in support to our motion to exclude the plaintiff’s expert report on loss causation and damages. A decision on this motion is also pending.
In November 2021, eight related investment funds affiliated with a privately owned asset manager (all of whom are currently part to the putative class discussed above) filed an “opt-out” complaint, similar to the class action complaint in all material respects. In December 2023, defendants moved to partially dismiss the amended complaint, and the motion remains pending. Given the current status of the actions, we cannot predict the outcomes or reliably estimate our potential exposure at this time. We will continue to vigorously contest these claims.
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c) Criminal proceedings and investigations. In January 2023, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) brought criminal charges against 16 individuals (including former executive officers of Vale and current and former employees) for a number of potential crimes, including homicide, and against Vale S.A. for alleged environmental crimes. The 6th Federal Court of Belo Horizonte then accepted all charges and divided them into three separate proceedings: one to prosecute the environmental crime charges against us and former employees; another to prosecute the environmental crime charges against TUV SÜD, and its employees, and a third solely against the individuals to prosecute the homicide charges. The defendants in these three proceedings have been summoned to present their responses within the legal timeframe, and we submitted our response in December 2024.
The federal police also conducted a separate criminal investigation into potential fraud and forgery of documents related to the certification of stability of the Brumadinho dam prior to the dam collapse. In September 2024, federal prosecutors decided not to bring a separate criminal action, as the findings from this investigation were already included in the proceeding described above. A civil association challenged this decision before the review instance of the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, but in February 2025, the decision not to file a new criminal action or amend the existing action was upheld.
d) Public civil actions brought by prosecutors and civil associations.
- Public civil actions by labor unions. We are a defendant in two public civil actions brought by labor unions before a labor court in the district of Betim, Minas Gerais. The unions claim to be the legitimate parties to defend the interest of certain employees and outsourced workers represented by the union and who were victims of the dam collapse and seek compensation. In these cases, the lower court has issued initial decisions ordering us to pay R$1 million to R$1.5 million per deceased worker. We believe that death-related damages were covered by the settlement agreements that we have already entered into, and considering that in 2022 the Regional Labor Court ruled in a similar public civil action that the damage claims had no grounds, we expect that the Superior Labor Court will rule on our favor. If the decision of the Superior Labor Court rules against us, we expect that total financial impact, based on previous decisions, to be approximately R$199.6 million in historical value. These proceedings are currently suspended for conciliation negotiations.
- Public civil action related to our internal policies. We are a defendant in a public civil action brought by the MPF before the 14th Federal Court in the city of Belo Horizonte against the ANM, the CVM and us, requesting a judicial intervention on Vale, until we restructure and improve our internal policies relating to safety and disaster prevention. Since this public civil action was included in the Definitive Settlement (as defined below) approved in November 2024 by the STF in connection with Samarco’s dam collapse, we are awaiting a decision on the termination of the case.
- Public civil action related to individual agreements. In January 2024, a non-governmental organization initiated a civil public action against us, alleging that we failed to comply with the term of commitment signed with the Public Defender’s Office of the state of Minas Gerais in the out-of-court settlement agreements between the affected individuals and us. The plaintiff is requesting the partial suspension of the effects of certain clauses of the individual agreements related to compensation for the mental health issues, and the shift of the burden of proof. In February 2024, the court rejected the preliminary requests, on the basis that it was not possible to assume that the beneficiaries of the agreements did not have due knowledge of the clauses, particularly because they were assisted by their own counsel, and the plaintiff appealed. Given the preliminary stage of this action, we cannot at this time determine the impacts of potential outcomes. We will continue to vigorously contest these claims.
- Public civil action related to relocation of Indigenous community. In January 2022, the MPF filed a request for a provisional remedy against us, requesting that we present a temporary relocation plan for the Pataxó and Pataxó Hã Hã Hãe Indigenous communities, especially the Naô Xohâ Village, and provide monthly payments of installation and maintenance allowance to the relocated families. In February 2022, the federal court in the city of Belo Horizonte granted an injunction ordering the temporary relocation of the Pataxó and Pataxó Hã Hã Hãe Indigenous communities, and the provision of monthly payments by us until definitive settlement of the communities. We have been complying with the court's decision, and have acquired a piece of land in Brumadinho for the temporary relocation of part of the families, with the possibility of making it permanent as part of the collective reparation for part of the group. We will continue to vigorously contest this lawsuit, which we believe is without merit.
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- Public civil action and investigation under the Brazilian Anticorruption Law. We are a defendant in certain investigations and legal proceedings relating to the failure of Brumadinho dam in which authorities make claims based on the Brazilian Anticorruption Law (Federal Law No. 12,846/2013). In these proceedings, the authorities claim that we had concealed relevant information about the stability of the Brumadinho dam by presenting a false declaration of stability prior to the dam collapse, which has allegedly adversely affected oversight by public authorities concerning the stability of the dam and allegedly allowed us to omit relevant information about the dam risks and therefore this would be an interference with the oversight of public authorities that is prohibited under the Brazilian Anticorruption Law. We will continue to vigorously contest this action, which we believe is without merit. These proceedings include: (i) a public civil action by public prosecutors of the state of Minas Gerais (Ministério Público do Estado de Minas Gerais - MPMG) before the 1st Public Treasury Court in Belo Horizonte, (ii) an administrative proceeding by Federal Office of the Comptroller General (Controladoria-Geral da União – CGU), in which the authorities imposed a fine in August 2022 of approximately R$86.3 million, although the decision also recognized the absence of corruption acts and did not indicate any involvement or tolerance of our top management. and which decision is being challenged by us before the Superior Court of Justice, and (iii) an administrative proceeding by the Comptroller General of the State of Minas Gerais (Controladoria-Geral do Estado de Minas Gerais – CGE), which was suspended by the court in 2023 due to the prior filing of the aforementioned public civil action by the MPMG, but remains subject to appeal.
e) Damages claim by the municipality of Brumadinho. In December 2021, the municipality of Brumadinho filed an action against us before the state court in Brumadinho, requesting compensation for property and extra-patrimonial damages suffered by the municipality, as well as moral damages. The municipality also requested the attachment of assets in the amount of R$5 billion, as well as monthly payments of approximately R$3.7 million to compensate alleged financial losses due to the drop in tax revenues following the collapse of the Brumadinho dam. All of those preliminary requests were rejected. This proceeding is ongoing and we will continue to vigorously challenge this action, which we believe is without merit.
f) Investor arbitration proceedings in Brazil. We are a defendant in six arbitrations filed before the B3 arbitration chamber by: (i) 385 minority shareholders; (ii) a class association allegedly representing minority shareholders; and (iii) foreign investment funds. In these proceedings, the claimants argue that we were aware of the risks at the Córrego do Feijão mine dam in Brumadinho, and failed to disclose information to shareholders as required under Brazilian laws and CVM rules. On that basis, claimants seek compensation for alleged losses related to a decrease in our share value. In one of the proceedings filed by foreign funds, the claimants allege that the estimated amount of the losses is approximately R$1.8 billion. In another proceeding filed by foreign funds, the claimants estimate the losses at about R$3.9 billion. We find these claims to be without merit and will continue to vigorously contest them. These proceedings are still in early stages, with the parties discussing the appointment of arbitrators in five of them. In one proceeding, the Arbitral Tribunal has already been formally constituted, but the case is stayed until the claimants pay their share of the arbitrators’ fees.
In addition to the above, we are involved in other legal proceedings and investigations in connection with the Brumadinho dam collapse, which we do not believe to be material at this moment, and additional proceedings may be brought in the future.
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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS RELATED TO THE COLLAPSE OF SAMARCO’S TAILINGS DAM
In October 2024, we, together with Samarco and BHP Brasil Ltda., entered into an agreement with the federal government, the governments of the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, the Federal and State Public Prosecutors’ Offices, and the Federal and State Public Defender’s Offices of the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo and other federal and state governmental authorities (the “Definitive Settlement”). The Definitive Settlement is expected to resolve most of the legal proceedings in Brazil relating to Samarco’s dam failure. In November 2024, the Federal Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal – STF) ratified the Definitive Settlement. See Business Overview—Reparation And Remediation Efforts— Reparation and remediation efforts related to Samarco’s tailings dam. Below is a discussion of the main proceedings still pending following the Definitive Settlement:
a) Criminal proceeding. In October 2016, the MPF filed criminal charges before the federal court of Ponte Nova, state of Minas Gerais, against us, certain of our employees and a former officer, among other corporate and individual defendants. The court has dismissed part of these charges, but accepted charges of environmental crimes against us and one of our employees relating to an alleged omission in the provision of relevant information of environmental interest, false statements and fraud in a public filing, in connection with the alleged failure to disclose that tailings from our Alegria mine were discharged at the Fundão dam. In November 2024, the federal court of Ponte Nova acquitted all defendants (including Vale and the former employee) of all charges brought by the MPF. The court ruling acknowledged that it was proven we did not contribute to the commission of the alleged environmental crimes related to the rupture of the Fundão dam. The MPF filed an appeal to the Federal Regional Court of the 6th Region (Tribunal Regional Federal da 6ª Região – TRF6). In February 2025, we filed our counter-arguments to the MPF’s appeal. The acquittal of the former employee has become final and unappealable.
b) Tax proceeding. In September 2018, the federal tax authorities filed a request before a federal court in Belo Horizonte for an order to Vale’s assets to secure the payment of Samarco’s federal tax and social security debts, in the amount of approximately R$11 billion (as of June 2018). In May 2019, a favorable decision was issued dismissing the claim without prejudice, due to lack of procedural interest. The General Attorney for the National Treasury (Procuradoria Geral da Fazenda Nacional—PGFN) filed an appeal to the local court, and a decision is pending.
c) London proceeding. Around 610,000 claimants (including individuals, Brazilian municipalities, companies and members of indigenous, quilombolas and other traditional communities) are seeking damages from BHP Group Ltd. and BHP Group UK Ltd. as a result of the collapse of Samarco’s Fundão dam, before the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales Technology and Construction Court in London, UK (the “UK Claim”). The damages are estimated by the claimants at GBP 36 billion (about US$45.7 billion). In connection with the UK Claim, in July 2024, we signed a liability sharing deed with BHP, under which we accepted to share with BHP, on a 50%/50% basis, any compensation eventually imposed as a result of the UK Claims and the Netherlands proceeding (see below) that is not duplicative to compensation already paid in Brazil. On October 21, 2024, the first-stage trial started, to determine if both BHP companies are liable to the claimants of the UK Claim. If this trial establishes liability, a second-stage trial will follow to determine damages and quantum. The second-stage trial is scheduled for October 2026, with the estimated length of 22 weeks.
d) Netherlands proceeding. On March 18, 2024, around 78,000 claimants (individuals, Brazilian municipalities, companies and members of indigenous, quilombolas and other traditional communities) filed a lawsuit against us and Samarco Netherlands NL before the District Court of Amsterdam. Claimants are seeking a declaratory judgement, establishing that Samarco Netherlands and we are jointly and severally liable for an unspecified amount of damages as a result of the failure of Samarco’s Fundão dam. If these proceedings establish liability of Samarco Netherlands and/or us, follow-up proceedings will have to determine the amount of damages. In March 2024, the court granted a preliminary injunction freezing our shares in Vale Holdings B.V., our wholly-owned subsidiary incorporated in the Netherlands, along with the economic rights attached to those shares, as guarantee of an amount of approximately €920 million related to these claims. Based on the liability sharing agreement we entered into with BHP in July 2024, BHP will share with us, on a 50%/50% basis, any compensation eventually imposed as a result of the Netherlands proceeding that is not duplicative of compensation already paid in Brazil. The final amount of the claims cannot be estimated at this time, and the court has yet to decide on the timing of the next steps in the proceedings.
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In addition to the above, we are involved in other legal proceedings and investigations in connection with Samarco’s dam collapse, which we do not believe to be material at this moment, and additional proceedings may be brought in the future.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY PROCEEDINGS
Legal proceedings regarding dam safety. We are involved in a number of other public civil actions in which public prosecutors and other authorities seek to suspend or restrict our operations, obtain injunctions compelling us to implement safety measures at other existing tailings dams, as well as other proceedings seeking collective compensation due to the evacuation of communities following dams emergency level. Most of these lawsuits were already dismissed as a consequence of several agreements we entered into with public prosecutors and the state of Minas Gerais, but some are still ongoing.
a) Maravilhas II and III litigation. In October 2017, the MPMG brought public civil actions challenging our environmental licenses for the construction of the Maravilhas III tailings dam, which is expected to support our operations in the Vargem Grande mining complex, in our Southern System. After the failure of the Brumadinho dam, the MPMG filed a request for a preventive injunction seeking to discontinue the project, but the request was rejected by the court. If the construction of this dam is interrupted, our ability to resume operations in the mining complex of Vargem Grande could be adversely impacted. This proceeding is still ongoing, and the appointment of a judicial expert is pending.
In October 2018, the MPMG brought a public civil action related to Maravilhas II and III tailings dam seeking, among other requests, an injunction ordering us to refrain from disposing tailings in such dams. The injunction request was initially granted by the court, but in July 2019 the decision was reversed by the Court of Appeals of the State of Minas Gerais. This proceeding is still ongoing.
In April 2019, the MPMG brought a public civil action related to the Maravilhas II tailings dam, requesting injunctions ordering us to (i) refrain from disposing tailings, operating, constructing or making other interventions on the dam; (ii) refrain from increasing the risks of other structures in the mining complex where Maravilhas II is situated; and (iii) review technical studies and other documents related to the dam, and conduct an external audit on the structure. The injunction requests were granted by the state court of the city of Itabirito. The Maravilhas II tailings dam supports our operations in the Vargem Grande complex, which had been suspended since February 2019 and have partially resumed. These proceedings were partially dismissed following a settlement agreement signed by the parties in September 2019. No agreement has been reached regarding the prohibition of measures that could potentially increase the risks of the structure, and the proceeding remains ongoing.
b) Forquilha V. In December 2021, the MPMG filed a public civil action requesting an injunction to halt the operations of Forquilha V dam, which is part of the Fábrica mining complex, until the review and approval by the public authorities of a new Emergency Action Plan. In July 2024, after we informed the planned suspension of the dam’s use for tailings disposal, the court dismissed the request for injunctive relief, subject to certain conditions, including evidence of the suspension of the activities at Forquilha V and of the safety conditions of the dam. We will continue to contest this action, which we believe is without merit.
c) Public civil actions relating to evacuation and removal of communities. We are defendants in four public civil actions brought by the MPMG against us claiming a number of injunction reliefs and socioeconomic damages resulting from the evacuation and/or removal of communities located in the self-rescue zones of certain of our dams located in Nova Lima, Ouro Preto, Barão de Cocais, and Itabira.
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In December 2022, the public civil action related to the evacuation of Nova Lima (B3B4) was settled, and a new agreement was signed by the MPMG, the MPF, the Public Defenders Office of the State of Minas Gerais and us, providing for the compensation and full reparation of the impacts suffered by the affected population and the Municipality of Nova Lima, in the estimated amount of R$500 million. Indemnifications for individual damages, however, were excluded from the settlement, and may still be pursued. The lawsuit concerning Ouro Preto remains active and ongoing.
In August 2023, the public civil action concerning the evacuation of part of the population of Barão de Cocais (Sul Superior) was settled following the execution of a settlement agreement between by the MPMG, MPF, the Public Defenders Office of the State of Minas Gerais, and us, with the Arquidiocese de Mariana as a intervening party, for the compensation and comprehensive remediation of the impacts experienced by the affected population and the Municipality of Barão de Cocais. The settlement amount is estimated at R$528 million. Claims for individual damages were excluded from the settlement and may still be pursued in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the Public Defender’s Office of the state of Minas Gerais. Additionally, this agreement resulted in the closure of a civil investigation initiated by public prosecutors, which investigated potential violations or threats to individual and collective human rights in our interactions with the communities and individuals affected by the evacuation prompted by the elevated emergency level of the Sul Superior dam.
In April 2022, the MPMG filed a public civil action seeking, among other requests, full reparation of the alleged damages and socioeconomic impacts caused to the community of Itabira as a result of the decharacterization of the Pontal Dam and its dikes. While various claims were denied, other claims, including a request to prevent us from entering into new individual agreements with the alleged victims, were granted. We filed an appeal against this decision, which was partially granted, specifically with respect to the possibility of entering into new individual compensation agreements with the victims, and the obligation to pay for the production of expert evidence. In September 2024, the court issued a judgment determining that we indemnify all individual damages, as well as collective moral damages, to the individuals affected by the works of decharacterization of the Pontal system. The court also ordered us to pay for an independent technical entity to advise the affected individuals. We appealed this decision in October 2024 and the MPMG responded to the appeal in January 2025. Prior to that, on December 9, 2024, the MPMG sought provisional enforcement of the judgment, seeking an order requiring us to remove the at-risk family units residing in Itabira. On December 18, 2024, the court granted part of the requests made by the MPMG, including, among other measures, ordering us to carry out the removal. We have filed an appeal, which is pending judgment. We will continue to vigorously contest this action, which we believe is without merit.
Legal proceedings seeking cancellation of licenses or suspension of operations in the State of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo
d) Mar Azul, Tamanduá and Capão Xavier litigation. In June 2020, a civil association that represents owners of properties located in the proximities of the Mar Azul, Tamanduá and Capão Xavier mines brought a public civil action against the state of Minas Gerais, the ANM and us, before a federal court in the state of Minas Gerais, requesting the cancellation of our mining and environmental licenses to operate the Mar Azul, Tamanduá and Capão Xavier mines in our Southern System. The plaintiff also filed for an injunction to suspend such environmental licenses and, consequently, our operations at these mines, alleging, among other matters, that our activities at these mines are contaminating water springs in the region. We submitted a response and the lower court issued a decision declaring the court's lack of jurisdiction and sent the case to the Belo Horizonte state court. The plaintiff filed an appeal, which was rejected, and the lawsuit was dismissed. We are currently waiting for this proceeding to be archived.
e) Viga litigation. In September 2020, the municipality of Jeceaba, in the state of Minas Gerais, filed a public civil action against us before the local court. In this proceeding, the court granted an injunction requiring us to refrain from (i) disposing tailings in Dam 7, a tailings dam located at our Viga mine in the Southern System, without the required location and operating permits, and (ii) carrying out works at Dam 7 without the required construction permit. In November 2021, we entered into a settlement agreement with the municipality of Jeceaba, which was ratified by the court, pursuant to which such municipality agreed to issue the construction permit for Dam 7. However, the public civil action continued regarding the other claims. In July 2024, the court ratified the agreement between us and the municipality of Jeceaba, which provided for the settlement of this matter through the payment of R$30 million by us. Payment of the last installment under the agreement was made in January 2025 and we are waiting for the proceeding to be archived.
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f) Pelletizing plant 8 - Tubarão litigation. In September 2019, a civil association brought a public civil action against us, before a state court in Vitória, state of Espírito Santo, claiming that the licensing process for the expansion of our operations at the Tubarão Complex failed to fulfill formal requirements and consider environmental impacts; and established emission parameters different than the ones that had been set forth in the relevant Environmental Impact Study. In this proceeding, the plaintiff filed for an injunction seeking the suspension of Tubarão Complex operating license. We filed our defense and in October 2020, and the court rejected plaintiff’s request for the injunction. The court has also appointed an expert to prepare a technical report and notified the public prosecutors.
g) EFVM railroad litigation. In March 2021, the Legislative Assembly of the State of Minas Gerais filed a public civil action before the 13th Federal Court of Minas Gerais alleging that the third amendment to the concession agreement of the Vitória-Minas Railroad (EFVM), which renewed the EFVM's concession, is null and void, and requesting an injunction to either: (i) suspend the effectiveness of the third amendment to the concession agreement, or (ii) suspend the payment by us to the Federal Government, until a final decision. In April 2021, the court issued a decision favorable to us, extinguishing the lawsuit based on the merits. The plaintiff filed an appeal and a decision on the appeal is pending.
h) Environmental matters relating to Tubarão Port. In 2018, we entered into a settlement agreement with the MPF, the public prosecutors of the State of Espírito Santo (Ministério Público do Estado do Espírito Santo – MPES) and environmental authorities of the State of Espírito Santo (Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Hídricos – SEAMA and Instituto Estadual de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Hídricos – IEMA) to enhance control over atmospheric emissions at Tubarão Port and pelletizing plants. We are currently awaiting the assessment of public authorities of our compliance with the agreement.
In July 2006, the National Association of Friends of the Environment (ANAMA) filed a class action against us, the State of Espírito Santo, the Environmental Agency of the State of Espírito Santo (IEMA), the Municipality of Vitória, the Federal Union, and the Brazilian Environmental Agency. The ANAMA sought compensation for pollution we had allegedly caused in the Metropolitan Region of the Municipality of Vitória. As reported above, in 2018, we entered into a settlement agreement that established major investments to improve control over atmospheric emissions at Tubarão Port and pelletizing plants. This agreement halted the continuation of the lawsuit. Despite the conclusions of the judicial technical evidence and the execution of the agreement, in November 2023, the court ordered that we submitted complementary technical evidence to assess our contribution to the air quality of the metropolitan region of Vitória, in the State of Espírito Santo. We have appealed, but the appeal was rejected, and the court upheld the requirement to produce complementary evidence.
i) Public Health System lawsuit. In September 2013, an individual filed a lawsuit (ação popular) against us and another steel company before a federal court in the state of Espírito Santo, claiming that the companies are responsible for air pollution in the metropolitan region of the city of Vitória that causes respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and, therefore, generates expenses for the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS), that should be reimbursed by those companies. In this lawsuit, the plaintiff filed for an injunction to compel the companies to submit technical studies regarding the alleged connection between the air pollution and the diseases, as well as expenses with health treatments and the cost of infrastructure and medication. The plaintiff is requesting that the companies indemnify the SUS for expenses arising from the treatment of illnesses supposedly caused by the atmospheric pollution. In June 2024, the lawsuit was dismissed. The plaintiff´s appeal is pending judgment by the court.
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j) Public civil action related to artesian wells. In May 2017, a non-governmental organization (Associação Juntos SOS Espírito Santo Ambiental) initiated a public civil action against us before the Federal Court of the State of Espírito Santo, challenging our authorizations to exploit groundwater from artesian wells in the Tubarão complex, based on a new regulation for obtaining authorizations that had been issued at that time. The NGO is demanding that we submit new water quality analyses and make improvements to the sanitary treatment systems. The lawsuit is currently awaiting the start of the expert phase. Given the preliminary stage of the action, it is not possible at this time to determine the impacts of potential outcomes.
Other environmental proceedings.
k) EFC accident – km244. The Maranhão State Environment Department and the Alto Alegre do Pindaré Municipality Environment Department issued several infraction notices against us, due to an accident on November 8, 2023 at km 244 of the Carajás Railroad - EFC. A train carrying 49 TCT fuel wagons (Type A Gasoline, S10 Diesel Oil, and S500 Diesel Oil) derailed, causing a fuel leak and a large fire. We managed to control and extinguish the fire within 24 hours. Authorities attributed several punishable acts to us, including destroying native vegetation, vegetation in APP (Area of Permanent Preservation), air pollution, water pollution, discharging oils or oily substances, soil pollution, and non-compliance with the emergency response plan. The aggregate amount of the penalties under the infraction notices totals more than R$300 million. After we submitted our administrative defense in these cases, some of the penalties have been reduced and others maintained. We have appealed these decisions. At this stage, it is not possible to determine the impacts of potential outcomes of these proceedings,
l) Stellar Banner accident. Following the accident in February 2020 involving the iron ore carrier MV Stellar Banner operated by Polaris Shipping Co. Ltd., we became a party the following proceedings related to the accident: (i) in August 2020, the Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) issued an infraction notice against us for allegedly causing pollution at levels that could result in the destruction of local marine biodiversity; (ii) in December 2020, the MPF filed a public civil action against us, seeking compensation for the alleged environmental damage and reimbursement of the expenses incurred by public authorities; and (iii) in April 2022, the MPF filed a criminal lawsuit before the Federal Court against the carrier’s captain, Polaris and us, for alleged pollution crime by means of the unauthorized dumping of oily waste. In November 2023, the court accepted the complaint against us for the alleged crime of pollution from the discharge of oil into the sea. We have been vigorously defending in these proceedings, primarily on the basis that we have no standing to be sued and should not be held liable for the incident.
m) Settlement Agreements and Legal Proceedings Involving Indigenous Communities. Since 2012, the MPF and associations representing Indigenous peoples Xikrin do Cateté and Kayapó, located in the state of Pará, have brought various legal proceedings against us seeking monetary compensation and a broad range of injunctive reliefs as a result of alleged irregularities in the licensing process for certain of our operations or alleged impact of our iron ore and Energy Transition Metals mining activities on these communities. These legal proceedings involved our Onça Puma nickel operations, S11D iron ore operations, Salobo copper operations, Ferro Carajás project and Alemão copper project.
In December 2021, we entered into a settlement agreement with the Xikrin do Cateté People, and in February 2022, we entered into a settlement agreement with the Kayapó People, pursuant to which we agreed to provide certain social and economic compensation to these communities. The settlement agreement with the Xikrin do Cateté People was approved by the court responsible for the Onça Puma, S11D and Salobo projects lawsuits. In August 2022, the Xikrin Indigenous community of TI Bacajá appealed a decision that dismissed the case with respect to the Xikrin Bacajá. We presented our response and a decision on the appeal is pending. In October 2022, the settlement agreement with the Kayapó People was approved by the court responsible for Onça Puma lawsuit. In March 2023, the settlement agreement with the Xikrin community was approved by the court responsible for the Alemão Projects lawsuit. In March 2024, the agreement was approved by the competent court responsible for the cases related to the Ferro Carajás project.
In February 2025, the MPF filed a new public civil action against the federal government, the state of Pará and us, regarding the health condition of the Xikrin do Cateté People affected by the alleged contamination of the Cateté and Itacaiúnas rivers as a result of our activities at the Onça Puma mine. In this action, the MPF is requesting a preliminary injunction that would require us to cover certain costs, including related to transportation, accommodation, food, medicine, and the treatment of the Indigenous people allegedly affected, as well as the implementation of a health monitoring program. In March 2025, we submitted our preliminary statement to the court, in which we reiterate, among other arguments, that there is no link between contamination and the Onça Puma mine project. This position is supported by a series of arguments that were previously confirmed by judicial experts appointed by the Federal Court of Redenção in an expert report issued in 2018. A decision on the MPF’s preliminary request is currently pending.
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n) Itabira suits. We are a defendant in two lawsuits filed by the municipality of Itabira, in the state of Minas Gerais. In the public civil action filed in August 1996, the plaintiff alleges that our Itabira iron ore mining operations have caused environmental and social harm, and claims damages with respect to the alleged environmental degradation of the site of one of our mines, as well as the immediate restoration of the affected ecological complex and the performance of compensatory environmental programs in the region. In the action filed in September 1996, the plaintiff claims the right to be reimbursed for expenses it has incurred in connection with public services rendered as a consequence of our mining activities. The damages sought, adjusted as of December 31, 2024, amount to approximately US$4.5 billion. Both lawsuits are in the evidence production phase. We believe these suits are without merits and will continue to vigorously contest them.
o) Expansion of EFC. We are defendants in a public civil action filed in July 2012 by the Maranhão Society for Human Rights, the Indigenous Missionary Council, and the Center for Black Culture of Maranhão, challenging the environmental licensing process for the expansion of the Carajás railroad (EFC). In December 2020, a judicial expert report confirming the legality of the licensing process in our favor. Following the completion of the instruction phase of the proceeding, a decision is currently pending. We believe this action is without merit and, considering the completion of the expansion works since 2017, and the authorization for the operation of the second line of the railroad by the environmental agency, we consider the action to be without purpose.
CIVIL PROCEEDINGS
a) Claims involving our participative shareholders’ debentures. At the time of our privatization in 1997, we issued Brazilian law governed debentures known in Brazil as “debêntures participativas” to our then-existing shareholders. Our participative shareholders' debentures are governed by a debenture deed, which provides that premium payments are due once sales volumes at reference assets attain specified thresholds. Certain holders of our participative shareholders' debentures have brought claims against us, alleging that premium payments should have been triggered by production volumes, rather than sales volumes. If successful, these claims would affect the timing of premium payments, and may require us to recognize one-time payments to the claimants based on the initial premium payments that were allegedly owed and not paid. We believe that these claims are meritless, and do not recognize any obligation to make premium payments prior to the time specifically provided by the debenture deed. In October 2024, the Court of Justice of the State of Rio de Janeiro rendered a decision, dismissing one of these lawsuits that sought payment of a difference in the premium. This decision is no longer subject to appeal. We have in the past, and intend to continue to, vigorously defend our position with respect to any ongoing claims.
b) Patent breach claim. In November 2023, a former employee filed a lawsuit against us before the First Civil Court of Vitória, seeking damages of approximately R$13.5 billion. The plaintiff alleges that we unduly used and benefited from a patent (registered in our name with the National Institute of Industrial Property - INPI) of a technology that he allegedly invented while working for us. In October 2007, the plaintiff had initiated preliminary proceedings against us to produce technical evidence of our use of the patent and to calculate our alleged profits from such use. In March 2016, a court-appointed expert submitted a technical report, estimating our economic benefit from using the patent at approximately US$5.5 billion. In March 2018, the court accepted our argument that new expert evidence was needed due to the expert’s lack of technical expertise. The plaintiff appealed this decision, and the Court of Appeals of the State of Espírito Santo has concluded the appeal, deciding that the expert evidence is adequate. In August 2024, following prior appeals from the parties, we filed a special appeal to the STJ, and such appeal is currently pending judgment. Throughout these proceedings, we have strongly contested both the plaintiff's claims and the accuracy of the economic benefits estimated by the court-appointed expert. We believe that this suit is without merit, and we will continue to defend it vigorously.
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c) Land dispute relating to Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal. In June 2024, we filed a lawsuit before the 5th Federal court of São Luis, State of Maranhão, seeking the annulment of a transaction entered into between the State of Maranhão and BR Infra. The transaction involved the purchase by such company of land that partially overlaps an area that was ceded to us pursuant to an agreement signed by the Federal Government in 1979, which was intended for the implementation of part of the logistics of the Carajás Project (port and railway). The disputed area is also relevant for future projects. The case is in currently in the preliminary stage, with defendants presenting their defenses. Given the early stage of the proceeding, it is not possible at this time to assess the potential impacts and outcomes.
LABOR PROCEEDINGS
a) Public civil actions related to single-conductor operating system. In 2014, a labor union representing railroad workers in the state of Minas Gerais filed a public civil action against us requesting an injunction to order us to replace the single-conductor operating system (one conductor per train) with a dual-conductor system, among other requests, based on health and safety work conditions, subject to the imposition of a fine to be determined by the court. After initially obtaining a favorable decision, the Labor Court of Appeals and the Superior Labor Court (TST) ruled against us. In July 2024, we entered into an agreement with the labor union for the termination of this lawsuit, committing to the payment of R$49 million, without the obligation to refrain from the single-conductor operating system.
In 2017, the labor union representing the railway train conductors in the state of Maranhão and the Public Ministry of Labor of the State of Maranhão (MPT-MA) filed public civil actions against us, seeking an injunction to order us to replace the single-conductor operating system with a dual-conductor system, among other requests related to health and safety work conditions. The actions are being processed jointly before the Maranhão Labor Court (TRT – 16th Region). In April 2024, the court issued a decision determining that we should refrain from using the single-conductor operating system, and ensure a one-hour intra-day break for train drivers, as well as imposing payment of moral damages in the amount of R$5 million. We have appealed, and submitted a request for suspension of the effects of the sentence, which was granted. In 2014, similar lawsuit had also been proposed in the state of Pará with respect to the same railway, The proceeding is also ongoing. The cases are awaiting judgment on appeals from the parties.
In 2024, the labor union that represents railroad workers in the state of Espírito Santo filed a public civil action against us also requesting an injunction to replace the single-conductor operating system with a dual-conductor system, among other requests. In December 2024, we presented our defense, and the lawsuit is in the evidence production phase.
b) Other labor proceedings. We and our subsidiaries are defendants in other labor proceedings, including numerous proceedings related to claims for additional compensation for overtime work, moral damages or health and safety conditions overtime and hazard pay. See Note 29 to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.
TAX PROCEEDINGS
We and our subsidiaries are defendants in numerous tax proceedings. The most significant proceedings are discussed below and in notes 9.d, 9.e and 29 to our consolidated financial statements.
Income Tax Litigation
a) Litigation on Brazilian taxation of foreign subsidiaries. In 2003, we filed for a writ of mandamus to prevent Brazilian corporate income tax (IRPJ) and social contributions on the net income (CSLL) taxation on the profits of our non-Brazilian subsidiaries and affiliates. The Brazilian Federal Government has filed various administrative and judicial proceedings against us claiming the payment of IRPJ and CSLL on the profits of our non-Brazilian subsidiaries and affiliates in relation to the 1996 and 2008 fiscal years. The discussion regarding the period between 1996 to 2002 was resolved in our favor in a final decision.
In 2013, we significantly reduced the amount in dispute by participating in the REFIS-TBU, a federal tax settlement program for payment of amounts relating to IRPJ and CSLL on profits of subsidiaries abroad from 2003 to 2012 fiscal years. Under the REFIS-TBU, we paid R$5.9 billion in 2013, and we have been paying the remaining R$16.3 billion in monthly installments, bearing interest at the SELIC rate. As of December 31, 2024, the remaining balance was R$8.2 billion, to be paid in 46 further installments.
In 2014, the STJ issued us a favorable decision in the proceeding that had been initiated by us in 2003. The Brazilian Federal Government filed an appeal before the Federal Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal – STF), which was rejected in March 2021. The Brazilian Federal Government filed a new appeal, and a decision is pending.
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b) Litigation related to the deduction of CSLL from the taxable income. In 2004, a final decision of the STJ granted us the right to deduct the amounts we had paid as CSLL from our taxable income. In 2006, the Brazilian federal government filed an action against us, seeking to overturn the 2004 decision. After multiple appeals, in November 2019, the Federal Court of Appeals (Tribunal Regional Federal - TRF) reversed the 2004 decision. Despite our appeals, we have decided not to deduct the CSLL from our taxable income for the year 2018 and subsequent years. We and the federal government have filed appeals, and final decision is pending.
The Brazilian Federal Government has filed various administrative proceedings against us claiming the payment of IRPJ related 2004 to 2008, 2011 to 2014 and 2016 to 2017 fiscal years. As of December 31, 2024, the amount in dispute was R$1.7 billion, in addition to a R$607 million reduction in our tax losses with a tax impact of R$152 million, excluding fines and interest, totaling R$1.9 billion. We filed an administrative appeal, which was partially granted to reduce the amount of the tax assessment related to 2016 and 2017 in R$2 billion. A favorable decision related to fiscal years 2011 to 2013 stated that this charge has no merit, as the claim is time-barred. Both parties have filed additional appeals, and a final decision is pending. For other fiscal years, we submitted an administrative defense and are currently awaiting its analysis. We believe this charge is without merit, as the claim is time-barred.
In February 2023, the STF ruled on two appeals with an impact on all taxpayers. These appeals concern the length of time for which a court decision on a tax matter would remain valid if the STF had subsequently issued a contrary decision. As a result of these rulings, we have recorded an impact of R$952 million, regarding the tax assessment related to the period of 2016 and 2017. We understand that the tax assessments related to the fiscal years 2004 to 2008, 2011 to 2013 and 2014 are not impacted by this judgement, as they are time-barred.
c) Transfer pricing tax assessment. In December 2024, we received a tax assessment charging IRPJ and CSLL for the period 2019 and 2020. The tax authorities claim that we unduly calculated the transfer pricing basis related to iron ore sales to our foreign controlled company because we calculated the price according to the average price of the ore in the shipments, in addition to considering the average grades of the ore exported. As of December 31, 2024, the amount in dispute is R$6.12 billion, in addition to a reduction of R$52 million of our tax losses with a tax impact of R$13 million, excluding fines and interest. totaling R$6.13 billion. We are contesting this assessment before the first administrative level, and the final decisions are pending.
d) Proceeding related to deductions for compensation expenses for the dam failure in Brumadinho. In December 2024, we received a tax assessment charging IRPJ and CSLL for the 2019 fiscal year in the amount of R$3.1 billion. The tax authorities claim that we unduly deducted expenses associated with the remediation of the efforts related to the Brumadinho dam failure. We are contesting this assessment at the administrative level.
e) Assessment related to the deduction of interest and negative exchange variation related to export prepayment agreements. In November 2024, we received a tax assessment charging IRPJ and CSLL for the 2019 fiscal year, which considered that we unduly deducted the interest and negative exchange variation associated with export prepayment agreements with our subsidiary Vale International S.A. We believe that this assessment has no merit, since we have complied with all applicable rules for the deduction of expenses incurred with related parties (transfer pricing and thin capitalization rules). The tax authorities claim that we could not have deducted these expenses because our subsidiaries had retained earnings in 2018 that could have been distributed to us. We are discussing this at the administrative level and the amount under discussion is R$2.3 billion as of December 31, 2024.
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UPDATES ON OTHER PROCEEDINGS
As reported in our annual report on Form 20-F for prior years, in July 2021, state prosecutors in the state of Rio de Janeiro initiated a criminal lawsuit against former MBR officers before a criminal court alleging supposed tax evasion of service taxes (Imposto Sobre Serviço - ISS) levied by the municipality of Mangaratiba on port cargo handling services at the Terminal Ilha Guaíba (TIG), located in Mangaratiba. In February 2023, one of the former officers was summoned and presented his defense. The lawsuit is at an early stage, currently waiting for the summon of the others former directors to present their defense to seek the case dismissal. We believe this proceeding is without merit.
As also previously reported, in May 2020, the MPMG presented criminal charges against us and one of our employees alleging that we had committed environmental crimes through an environmental intervention carried out in our mineral development center located in the city of Santa Luzia, in the state of Minas Gerais, without legal authorization, which allegedly led to the suppression of tree specimens. In May 2023, the court acquitted us of all crimes charged, but upheld the conviction of the employee for one crime. We will appeal from this decision.
As also previously reported, in 2015, the Ministry of Labor commenced two administrative proceedings against us, one alleging illegal outsourcing and another alleging that the illegally outsourced employees were working in conditions similar to slavery. In December 2018, the regional labor court upheld our annulment action and confirmed that the outsourcing of the transportation services in this case was lawful. In July 2024, we obtained a new favorable judgment, with the confirmation by the Regional Labor Court of our annulment action. Due to the legality of outsourcing and the absence of an employment relationship between the outsourced workers and Vale, the court determined that we are not liable for the slave labor claims.
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Bylaws
COMPANY OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES
Our corporate purpose is defined by our bylaws to include:
| · | the exploration of mineral deposits in Brazil and abroad by means of research, including through aerial surveying, exploitation, extraction, processing, industrialization, transportation, shipment and commerce of mineral assets; |
| · | the construction and operation of railways and the exploitation of both our own and third-party rail traffic; |
| · | the construction and operation maritime terminals, whether owned by us or third-parties, and the exploitation of navigation and port support activities; |
| · | the provision of logistics services integrated with cargo transport, including inflow management, storage, transshipment, distribution and delivery within a multimodal transport system; |
| · | the production, processing, transportation, industrialization and commercialization of any and all sources and forms of energy, including the production, generation, transmission, distribution and commercialization of our products, derivatives and by-products; |
| · | the engagement, in Brazil or abroad, in other activities that may directly or indirectly contribute to the achievement of our corporate purposes, including research, industrialization, purchasing and sales, importation and exportation, the exploitation, industrialization and commercialization of forest resources and the provision of services of any kind; and |
| · | the establishment or participation, in any form, in other companies, consortia or entities whose corporate objectives are directly or indirectly related, accessory or instrumental to our business purpose. |
COMMON SHARES AND GOLDEN SHARES
Set forth below is certain information concerning our authorized and issued share capital and a brief summary of certain significant provisions of our bylaws and Brazilian corporate law. This description does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to our bylaws (an English translation of which we have filed with the SEC) and to Brazilian corporate law.
Our bylaws authorize the issuance of up to 7 billion common shares based solely on the approval of the Board of Directors without any additional shareholder approval. The Brazilian government holds 12 golden shares of Vale. Our bylaws do not provide for the conversion of golden shares into common shares.
Voting Rights
The golden shares are preferred shares that entitle the holder to veto any proposed action in a General Shareholders´ Meeting relating to the following matters:
| · | a change in our name; |
| · | a change in the location of our head office; |
| · | a change in our corporate purpose as regards mining activities; |
| · | any liquidation of the Company; |
| · | any disposal or winding up of activities in any of the following parts of our iron ore mining integrated systems: mineral deposits, ore deposits, mines, railways, or ports and maritime terminals; |
| · | any change in the bylaws relating to the rights afforded to the classes of capital stock issued by us; and |
| · | any change in the bylaws relating to the rights afforded the golden shares. |
The golden shares do not have any preference upon our liquidation and there are no redemption provisions associated with the golden shares.
Under Brazilian corporate law and applicable CVM regulations, shareholders representing at least 5% of our voting capital have the right to demand that a cumulative voting procedure be applied in any specific shareholder’s meeting. When cumulative voting is applied, each common share has as many votes as there are board members and each holder of common shares has the right to cast all of its vote on one candidate of our Board of Directors or to distribute its votes among several candidates. For more information on the exercise of the voting rights of each share, see Additional Information—Bylaws—Shareholders’ Meetings.
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Shareholders’ meetings
Our Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting is convened by April of each year for shareholders to resolve upon our consolidated financial statements, distribution of profits, election of Directors and Fiscal Council Members, and compensation of senior management. Extraordinary General Shareholders’ Meetings are convened by the Board of Directors as necessary in order to decide all other matters relating to our corporate purposes and to pass such other resolutions as may be necessary.
Pursuant to Brazilian corporate law, shareholders voting at a general shareholders’ meeting have the power, among other powers, to:
| · | amend the bylaws; |
| · | elect or dismiss members of the Board of Directors and members of the Fiscal Council at any time; |
| · | establish the compensation of senior management and members of the Fiscal Council; |
| · | receive annual reports by management and accept or reject management’s consolidated financial statements and recommendations including the allocation of net profits and the distributable amount for payment of the mandatory dividend and allocation to the various reserve accounts; |
| · | authorize the issuance of convertible and secured debentures; |
| · | suspend the rights of a shareholder in default of obligations established by law or by the bylaws; |
| · | accept or reject the valuation of assets contributed by a shareholder in consideration for issuance of capital stock; |
| · | pass resolutions to reorganize our legal form, to merge, consolidate or split us, to dissolve and liquidate us, to elect and dismiss our liquidators and to examine their accounts; and |
| · | authorize management to file for bankruptcy or to request a judicial restructuring. |
Pursuant to the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM) recommendations, all general shareholders’ meetings, including the annual shareholders’ meeting, require no fewer than 21 days’ notice to shareholders prior to the scheduled meeting date. Where any general shareholders’ meeting is adjourned, 8 days’ prior notice to shareholders of the reconvened meeting is required. Pursuant to Brazilian corporate law, a summary of this notice to shareholders is required to be published no fewer than three times, in a newspaper with general circulation in the city where we have our registered office, in Rio de Janeiro, with the simultaneous disclosure of the entire documents on the internet website of such newspaper. We have currently designated Valor Econômico as the newspaper for this purpose. Such notice must contain the agenda for the meeting and, in the case of an amendment to our bylaws, an indication of the meeting’s subject matter. In addition, under our bylaws, the holder of the golden shares is entitled to a minimum of 15 days’ prior formal notice to its legal representative of any general shareholders’ meeting to consider any proposed action subject to the veto rights accorded to the golden shares.
A shareholders’ meeting may be held if shareholders representing at least one-quarter of the voting capital are present, except, subject to other exceptions, for meetings convened to amend our bylaws, which require a quorum of at least two-thirds of the voting capital. If no such quorum is present, notice must again be given in the same manner described above, and a meeting may then be convened without any specific quorum requirement, subject to the minimum quorum and voting requirements for certain matters, as discussed below.
Except as otherwise provided by law, resolutions of a shareholders’ meeting are passed by a simple majority vote, abstentions not being taken into account. Under Brazilian corporate law, the approval of shareholders representing at least one-half of the issued and outstanding voting shares is required for the types of action described below, as well as, in the case of the first two items below, a majority of issued and outstanding shares of the affected class:
| · | creating a new class of preferred shares with greater privileges than the golden shares or changing a priority, preference, right, privilege or condition of redemption or amortization of the golden shares; |
| · | reducing the mandatory dividend; |
| · | changing the corporate purposes; |
| · | merging us with another company or consolidating or splitting us; |
| · | participating in a centralized group of companies as defined under Brazilian corporate law; |
| · | dissolving or liquidating us; and |
| · | canceling any ongoing liquidation of us. |
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Whenever the shares of any class of capital stock are entitled to vote, each share is entitled to one vote. Annual shareholders’ meetings must be held by April 30 of each year. Shareholders’ meetings are called, convened and presided over by the chairperson or, in case of his absence, by the vice-chairperson of our Board of Directors. In the case of temporary impediment or absence of the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Board of Directors, the shareholders’ meetings may be chaired by a director or other person especially appointed by the chairperson of the Board of Directors.
A shareholder may be represented at a general shareholders’ meeting by a proxy appointed in accordance with applicable Brazilian law not more than one year before the meeting, who must be a shareholder, a company officer, a lawyer or a financial institution. If the proxy document is in a foreign language, it must be accompanied by corporate documents or a power of attorney, as applicable, each duly translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator. Notarization and consularization of proxies and supporting documents is not required. Proxies and supporting documents in English or Spanish do not require translation.
Holders of our ADRs are not entitled to vote directly in our shareholders meetings. Holders of ADRs should exercise their voting right pursuant to the depositary agreement. For more information, see Exhibit 2 to this annual report.
Redemption rights
Our common shares and golden shares are not redeemable, except that a dissenting shareholder is entitled under Brazilian corporate law to obtain redemption upon a decision made at a shareholders’ meeting approving any of the items listed above, as well as:
| · | any decision to transfer all of our shares to another company in order to make us a wholly owned subsidiary of such company, a stock merger; |
| · | any decision to approve the acquisition of control of another company at a price which exceeds certain limits set forth in Brazilian corporate law; or |
| · | in the event that the entity resulting from (i) a merger, (ii) a stock merger as described above or (iii) a spin-off that we conduct fails to become a listed company within 120 days of the general shareholders’ meeting at which such decision was taken. |
The right of redemption triggered by shareholder decisions to merge, consolidate or to participate in a centralized group of companies may only be exercised if our shares do not satisfy certain tests of liquidity, among others, at the time of the shareholder resolution. The right of redemption lapses 30 days after publication of the minutes of the relevant general shareholders’ meeting, unless the resolution is subject to confirmation by the holder of golden shares (which must be made at a special meeting to be held within one year), in which case the 30-day term is counted from the publication of the minutes of the special meeting.
We would be entitled to reconsider any action giving rise to redemption rights within 10 days following the expiration of such rights if the redemption of shares of dissenting shareholders would jeopardize our financial stability. Any redemption pursuant to Brazilian corporate law would be made at no less than the book value per share, determined on the basis of the last balance sheet approved by the shareholders; provided that if the general shareholders’ meeting giving rise to redemption rights occurred more than 60 days after the date of the last approved balance sheet, a shareholder would be entitled to demand that his or her shares be valued on the basis of a new balance sheet dated within 60 days of such general shareholders’ meeting.
Preemptive rights
Each of our shareholders has a general preemptive right to subscribe for shares in any capital increase, in proportion to his or her shareholding. A minimum period of 30 days following the publication of notice of a capital increase is assured for the exercise of the right, and the right is transferable. Under our bylaws and Brazilian corporate law, and subject to the requirement for shareholder approval of any necessary increase to our authorized share capital, our Board of Directors may decide not to extend preemptive rights to our shareholders, or to reduce the 30-day period for the exercise of preemptive rights, in each case with respect to any issuance of shares, debentures convertible into shares or warrants in the context of a public offering.
Tag-along rights and mandatory tender offers
In accordance with Novo Mercado listing rules and our bylaws:
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| · | in case of a transfer of control, the purchaser must conduct a tender offer to purchase any and all of our common shares for the same price paid for the voting shares representing control; |
| · | in case of a proposed delisting from the Novo Mercado segment of B3, the controlling shareholder must conduct a public offer to acquire any and all of our common shares for a price corresponding to the economic value of the shares, as determined in an independent appraisal valuation; and |
| · | any shareholder who acquires 25% of our outstanding capital stock must, within 30 days after the date in which such shareholder achieved the 25% stake, make a tender offer for any and all of our common shares (oferta pública para aquisição) for a price equal to the greatest of (i) the economic value of the shares, (ii) 120% of the weighted average price of our common shares in the 60 trading days preceding the announcement of the tender offer and (iii) 120% of the highest price paid by the purchaser in the 12 months before achieving the 25% stake. |
Calculation of distributable amount
At each Annual shareholders’ meeting, the Board of Directors is required to recommend, based on the executive officers’ proposal, how to allocate our earnings for the preceding fiscal year. For purposes of Brazilian corporate law, a company’s net income after income taxes and social contribution taxes for such fiscal year, net of any accumulated losses from prior fiscal years and amounts allocated to employees’ and management’s participation in earnings represents its “net profits” for such fiscal year. In accordance with Brazilian corporate law, an amount equal to our net profits, as further reduced by amounts allocated to the legal reserve, to the fiscal incentive investment reserve, to the contingency reserve or to the unrealized income reserve established by us in compliance with applicable law (discussed below) and increased by reversals of reserves constituted in prior years, is available for distribution to shareholders in any given year. Such amount, the adjusted net profits, is referred to herein as the distributable amount. We may also establish discretionary reserves, such as reserves for investment projects.
Brazilian corporate law provides that all discretionary allocations of net profits, including discretionary reserves, the contingency reserve, the unrealized income reserve and the reserve for investment projects, are subject to approval by the shareholders voting at the annual meeting and can be transferred to capital or used for the payment of dividends in subsequent years. The fiscal incentive investment reserve and legal reserve are also subject to approval by the shareholders voting at the annual meeting and may be transferred to capital but are not available for the payment of dividends in subsequent years.
The sum of certain discretionary reserves may not exceed the amount of our paid-in capital. When such limit is reached, our shareholders may vote to use the excess to pay in capital, increase capital or distribute dividends.
Our calculation of net profits and allocations to reserves for any fiscal year are determined on the basis of the unconsolidated financial statements of our parent company, Vale S.A., in reais, prepared in accordance with Brazilian corporate law. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS using U.S. dollars as the reporting currency and, although our allocations to reserves and dividends will be reflected in these financial statements, investors will not be able to calculate such allocations or required dividend amounts from our consolidated financial statements in U.S. dollars.
Mandatory dividend
The Brazilian corporate law and our bylaws require us to distribute to our shareholders, in the form of dividends or interest on shareholders’ equity, an annual amount equal to not less than 25% of the distributable amount, referred to as the mandatory dividend, unless the Board of Directors advises our shareholders at our general shareholders’ meeting that payment of the mandatory dividend for the preceding year is not advisable in light of our financial condition. To date, our Board of Directors has never determined that payment of the mandatory dividend was not advisable. The Fiscal Council must review any such determination and report it to the shareholders. In addition to the mandatory dividend, our Board of Directors may recommend to the shareholders payment of dividends from other funds legally available. Therefore, any payment of interim dividends will be netted against the amount of the mandatory dividend for that fiscal year. The shareholders must also approve the recommendation of the Board of Directors with respect to any required distribution. The amount of the mandatory dividend is subject to the size of the legal reserve, the contingency reserve, and the unrealized income reserve. The amount of the mandatory dividend is not subject to the size of the discretionary tax incentive reserve. See Additional Information—Bylaws—Common Shares and Golden Shares—Calculation of Distributable Amount.
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Distributions classified as interest on equity
Brazilian companies are permitted to pay limited amounts to shareholders and treat such payments as an expense for Brazilian income tax purposes. Our bylaws provide for the distribution of interest on shareholders’ equity as an alternative form of payment to shareholders. The interest rate applied is limited to the Brazilian long-term interest rate, or TJLP, for the applicable period. The deduction of the amount of interest paid cannot exceed the greater of (1) 50% of net income (after the deduction of the provision of social contribution on net profits and before the deduction of the provision of the corporate income tax) before taking into account any such distribution for the period in respect of which the payment is made or (2) 50% of the sum of retained earnings and profit reserves. Any payment of interest on shareholders’ equity is subject to Brazilian withholding income tax. See Additional Information—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations. Under our bylaws, the amount paid to shareholders as interest on shareholders’ equity (net of any withholding tax) may be included as part of any mandatory and minimum dividend. Under Brazilian corporate law, we are obligated to distribute to shareholders an amount sufficient to ensure that the net amount received, after payment by us of applicable Brazilian withholding taxes in respect of the distribution of interest on shareholders’ equity, is at least equal to the mandatory dividend.
Form and transfer of shares
Our common shares and golden shares are in book-entry form registered in the name of each shareholder. The transfer of such shares is made under Brazilian corporate law, which provides that a transfer of shares is effected by our transfer agent, Banco Bradesco, upon presentation of valid share transfer instructions to us by a transferor or its representative. When common shares are acquired or sold on a Brazilian stock exchange, the transfer is effected on the records of our transfer agent by a representative of a brokerage firm or the stock exchange’s clearing system. Transfers of shares by a foreign investor are made in the same way and are executed by the investor’s local agent, who is also responsible for updating the information relating to the foreign investment furnished to the Central Bank of Brazil.
The B3 operates a central clearing system through Companhia Brasileira de Liquidação e Custódia (CBLC). A holder of our shares may participate in this system and all shares elected to be put into the system will be deposited in custody with CBLC (through a Brazilian institution that is duly authorized to operate by the Central Bank of Brazil and maintains a clearing account with CBLC). The fact that such shares are subject to custody with the relevant stock exchange will be reflected in our registry of shareholders. Each participating shareholder will, in turn, be registered in the register of our beneficial shareholders that is maintained by CBLC and will be treated in the same way as registered shareholders.
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Participative shareholders’ debentures
At the time of the first stage of our privatization in 1997, we issued Brazilian law governed debentures known in Brazil as “debêntures participativas” to our then-existing shareholders. The terms of the debentures were established to ensure that our pre-privatization shareholders, including the Brazilian government, would participate alongside us in potential future financial benefits that we derive from exploiting certain mineral resources that were not taken into account in determining the minimum purchase price of our shares in the privatization. In accordance with the debentures deed, holders have the right to receive semi-annual payments equal to an agreed percentage of our net revenues (revenues less value-added tax, transport fee and insurance expenses related to the trading of the products) from certain identified mineral resources that we owned at the time of the privatization, to the extent that we exceed defined thresholds of sales volume relating to certain mineral resources, and from the sale of mineral rights that we owned at that time. Our obligation to make payments to the holders will cease when all the relevant mineral resources are exhausted, sold or otherwise disposed of by us.
We made available for withdrawal by holders of participative shareholders’ debentures US$243 million in 2024, US$233 million in 2023 and US$371 million in 2022. See note 23 to our consolidated financial statements for a description of the terms of the debentures.
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Exchange controls and other limitations affecting security holders
Under Brazilian corporate law, there are no restrictions on ownership of our capital stock by individuals or legal entities domiciled outside Brazil. However, the right to convert dividend payments and proceeds from the sale of common shares into foreign currency and to remit such amounts outside Brazil is subject to restrictions under foreign investment legislation, which generally requires, among other things, that the relevant investment be registered with the Central Bank of Brazil. These restrictions on the remittance of foreign capital abroad could hinder or prevent the depositary bank and its agents for the common shares represented by ADSs from converting dividends, distributions, or the proceeds from any sale of common shares or rights, as the case may be, into U.S. dollars and remitting such amounts abroad. Delays in, or refusal to grant any required government approval for conversions of Brazilian currency payments and remittances abroad of amounts owed to holders of ADSs could adversely affect holders of ADRs.
Under the Conselho Monetário Nacional - CMN Resolution 4,373 of 2014 (Resolution 4,373), foreign investors, defined to include individuals, legal entities, mutual funds and other collective investment entities, domiciled or headquartered outside Brazil, may invest in almost all financial assets and engage in almost all transactions available in the Brazilian financial and capital markets, provided that they:
| · | appoint at least one representative in Brazil, with powers to perform actions relating to its investment, |
| · | complete the appropriate foreign investor registration form, |
| · | register as a foreign investor with the CVM, and register its foreign investment with the Central Bank of Brazil, and |
| · | appoint a custodian, duly licensed by the Central Bank of Brazil, if the Brazilian representative in item (i) is not a financial institution. |
Resolution 4,373 specifies the manner of custody and the permitted means for trading securities held by foreign investors under the resolution. The offshore transfer or assignment of securities or other financial assets held by foreign investors pursuant to Resolution 4,373 is prohibited, except for transfers resulting from a corporate reorganization, or occurring upon the death of an investor by operation of law or will.
Resolution 4,373 also provides for the issuance of depositary receipts in foreign markets in respect of shares of Brazilian issuers. It provides that the proceeds from the sale of ADSs by holders of ADRs outside Brazil are not subject to Brazilian foreign investment controls and holders of ADSs who are not residents of a low-tax jurisdiction (país com tributação favorecida), as defined by Brazilian law, will be entitled to favorable tax treatment.
An electronic registration has been issued to the custodian in the name of the depositary with respect to the ADSs. Pursuant to this electronic registration, the custodian and the depositary are able to convert dividends and other distributions with respect to the underlying shares into foreign currency and to remit the proceeds outside Brazil. If a holder exchanges ADSs for common shares, the holder must, within five business days, seek to obtain its own electronic registration with the Central Bank of Brazil under Law 4,131 of 1962 and Resolution 4,373. Thereafter, unless the holder has registered its investment with the Central Bank of Brazil, such holder may not convert into foreign currency and remit outside Brazil the proceeds from the disposition of, or distributions with respect to, such common shares.
Under Brazilian law, whenever there is a serious imbalance in Brazil’s balance of payments or reasons to foresee a serious imbalance, the Brazilian government may impose temporary restrictions on the remittance to foreign investors of the proceeds of their investments in Brazil, and on the conversion of Brazilian currency into foreign currencies. Such restrictions may hinder or prevent the custodian or holders who have exchanged ADSs for underlying common shares from converting distributions or the proceeds from any sale of such shares, as the case may be, into U.S. dollars and remitting such U.S. dollars abroad. In the event the custodian is prevented from converting and remitting amounts owed to foreign investors, the custodian will hold the reais it cannot convert for the account of the holders of ADRs who have not been paid. The depositary will not invest the reais and will not be liable for interest on those amounts. Any reais so held will be subject to devaluation risk against the U.S. dollar.
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Taxation
The following summary contains a description of the principal Brazilian and U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of common shares or ADSs. You should know that this summary does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a holder of common shares or ADSs.
Holders of common shares or ADSs should consult their own tax advisors to discuss the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of common shares or ADSs, including, in particular, the effect of any state, local or other national tax laws.
Although there is at present no treaty to avoid double taxation between Brazil and the United States, both countries’ tax authorities have been having discussions that may result in the execution of such a treaty. In this regard, the two countries signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement on March 20, 2007, which the Brazilian government approved in May 2013. We cannot predict whether or when such a treaty will enter into force or how, if entered into, such a treaty will affect the U.S. holders, as defined below, of common shares or ADSs.
BRAZILIAN TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion summarizes the principal Brazilian tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of common shares or ADSs by a holder not deemed to be domiciled in Brazil for purposes of Brazilian taxation (Non-Resident Holder). It is based on the tax laws of Brazil and regulations thereunder in effect on the date hereof, which are subject to change (possibly with retroactive effect). This discussion does not specifically address all of the Brazilian tax considerations applicable to any particular Non-Resident Holder. Therefore, Non-Resident Holders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the Brazilian tax consequences of an investment in common shares or ADSs.
Shareholder distributions
For Brazilian corporations, such as our, distributions to shareholders are classified as either dividend or interest on shareholders’ equity.
Dividends
Amounts distributed as dividends will generally not be subject to Brazilian withholding income tax if the distribution is paid only from profits for the corresponding year, as determined under Brazilian tax principles. Dividends paid from profits generated before January 1, 1996, may be subject to Brazilian withholding income tax at varying rates depending on the year the profits were generated. Dividends paid from sources other than profits as determined under Brazilian tax principles may be subject to withholding tax.
Interest on shareholders’ equity
Amounts distributed as interest on shareholders’ equity are generally subject to withholding income tax at the rate of 15%, except where:
| · | the beneficiary is exempt from tax in Brazil, in which case the distribution will not be subject to withholding income tax; |
| · | the beneficiary is located in a jurisdiction that does not impose income tax or where the maximum income tax rate is lower than 17% (a “Low Tax Jurisdiction”) or where internal legislation imposes restrictions on the disclosure of the shareholding structure or the ownership of the investment, as listed by the Brazilian federal tax authority in which case the applicable withholding income tax rate is 25%; or |
| · | the effective beneficiary is resident in Japan, in which case the applicable withholding income tax rate is 12.5%. |
Interest on shareholders’ equity is calculated according to the application of an interest rate on the sum of the following accounts: (i) paid-in share capital, (ii) excess capital reserve and capital reserves, (iii) profits reserves, except for tax incentives reserves, (iv) treasury stocks, and (v) accumulated losses or profits. The interest rate applied may not exceed the TJLP, the benchmark Brazilian long-term interest rate. In addition, the amount of distributions classified as interest on shareholders’ equity shall not exceed the larger of (1) 50% of net income (after the deduction of social contribution on net profits but before taking into account such payment of interest and the provision for corporate income tax) for the period in respect of which the payment is made and (2) 50% of the sum of retained earnings and profit reserves.
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Payments of interest on shareholders’ equity are deductible for the purposes of corporate income tax and social contribution on net profit, to the extent of the limits described above. The benefit of a distribution by way of interest on shareholders’ equity is a reduction in our corporate tax charge by an amount equivalent to 34% of such distribution.
Taxation of capital gains
Taxation of Non-Resident Holders on capital gains depends on the status of the holder as either:
| · | a holder that is not resident or domiciled in a Low Tax Jurisdiction, or in a jurisdiction where internal legislation imposes restrictions on the disclosure of shareholding structure or the ownership of the investment, and that has registered its investment in Brazil in accordance with Resolution 4,373 (a 4,373 Holder), or (ii) a holder of ADSs; or |
| · | any other Non-Resident Holder. |
Investors identified in items (i) or (ii) are subject to favorable tax treatment, as described below.
Capital gains realized by a Non-Resident Holder from the disposition of “assets located in Brazil” are subject to taxation in Brazil. Common shares qualify as assets located in Brazil, and the disposition of such assets by a Non-Resident Holder may be subject to income tax on the gains accrued, in accordance with the rules described below, regardless of whether the transaction is carried out with another non-Brazilian resident or with a Brazilian resident.
There is some uncertainty as to whether ADSs qualify as “assets located in Brazil” for this purpose. Arguably, the ADSs do not constitute assets located in Brazil and therefore the gains realized by any Non-Resident Holder on the disposition of ADSs should not be subject to income tax in Brazil. However, it is not certain that the Brazilian courts will uphold this interpretation of the definition of “assets located in Brazil” in connection with the taxation of gains realized by a Non-Resident Holder on the disposition of ADSs. Consequently, gains on a disposition of ADSs by a Non-Resident Holder (whether in a transaction carried out with another Non-Resident Holder or a person domiciled in Brazil) may be subject to income tax in Brazil in accordance with the rules applicable to a disposition of shares.
Although there are arguments to the contrary, the deposit of common shares in exchange for ADSs may be subject to Brazilian income tax if the acquisition cost of the shares being deposited is lower than the average price, determined as either:
| · | the average price per common share on the Brazilian stock exchange in which the greatest number of such shares were sold on the day of deposit; or |
| · | if no common shares were sold on that day, the average price on the Brazilian stock exchange in which the greatest number of common shares were sold in the 15 trading sessions immediately preceding such deposit. |
The positive difference between the average price of the common shares calculated as described above and their acquisition cost will be considered to be a capital gain subject to income tax in Brazil. In some circumstances, there are grounds to conclude that such taxation is not applicable with respect to any a 4,373 Holder, provided such holder is not located in a Low Tax Jurisdiction.
The withdrawal of common shares by holders in exchange for ADSs is not subject to Brazilian income tax, subject to compliance with applicable regulations regarding the registration of the investment with the Central Bank of Brazil.
For the purpose of Brazilian taxation, the income tax rules on gains related to disposition of common shares vary depending on:
| · | the residence of domicile of the Non-Resident Holder; |
| · | the method by which such Non-Resident Holder has registered his investment with the Central Bank of Brazil; and |
| · | how the disposition is carried out, as described below. |
The gain realized as a result of a transaction on a Brazilian stock exchange is the difference between: (i) the amount in Brazilian currency realized on the sale or disposition and (ii) the acquisition cost, without any adjustment for inflation, of the securities that are the subject of the transaction.
Under the applicable rules, any gain realized by a Non-Resident Holder on a sale or disposition of common shares carried out on the Brazilian stock exchange is:
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| · | exempt from income tax where the Non-Resident Holder (i) is a 4,373 Holder; and (ii) is not located in a Low Tax Jurisdiction; |
| · | subject to income tax at a rate of 15% where the Non-Resident Holder (i) is not a 4,373 Holder and (ii) is not resident or domiciled in a Low Tax Jurisdiction; or |
| · | subject to income tax at a rate of 25% where the Non-Resident Holder (i) is not a 4,373 Holder and (ii) is resident or domiciled in a Low Tax Jurisdiction. |
The above summary applies to different investment scenarios. The understanding of tax authorities may change from time to time, and you should consult your tax advisors with regard to the application of the rates to your specific case.
The sale or disposition of common shares carried out on the Brazilian stock exchange is subject to withholding tax at the rate of 0.005% on the sale value. This withholding tax can be offset against the eventual income tax due on the capital gain. A 4,373 Holder that is not resident or domiciled in a Low Tax Jurisdiction is not subject to this withholding tax.
Since January 1, 2017, the capital gains realized by Non-Residents Holders and individuals resident in Brazil are subject to income tax (i) at progressive rates ranging from 15% to 22.5%, where the Non-Resident Holder is not a 4,373 Holder and is not resident or domiciled in a Low Tax Jurisdiction or (ii) at a rate of 25% where the Non-Resident Holder is resident or domiciled in a Low Tax Jurisdiction.
With respect to transactions arranged by a broker that are conducted on the Brazilian non-organized over-the-counter market, a withholding income tax at a rate of 0.005% on the sale value is levied on the transaction and can be offset against the eventual income tax due on the capital gain.
In the case of a redemption of common shares or ADSs or a capital reduction by a Brazilian corporation, the positive difference between the amount received by any Non-Resident Holder and the acquisition cost of the common shares or ADSs being redeemed is treated as capital gain and is therefore generally subject to income tax at the progressive rate from 15% to 22.5%, while the 25% rate applies to residents in a Low Tax Jurisdiction.
Any exercise of pre-emptive rights relating to our common shares will not be subject to Brazilian taxation. Any gain realized by a Non-Resident Holder on the disposition of pre-emptive rights relating to common shares in Brazil will be subject to Brazilian income taxation in accordance with the same rules applicable to the sale or disposition of common shares.
Tax on foreign exchange and financial transactions
Foreign exchange transactions
Brazilian law imposes a tax on foreign exchange transactions, or an IOF/Exchange Tax, due on the conversion of reais into foreign currency and on the conversion of foreign currency into reais. Currently, for most foreign currency exchange transactions, the rate of IOF/Exchange Tax is 0.38%.
The outflow of resources from Brazil related to investments held by a Non-Resident Holder in the Brazilian financial and capital markets is currently subject to IOF/Exchange Tax at a zero percent rate. In any case, the Brazilian government may increase such rates at any time, up to 25%, with no retroactive effect.
Transactions involving securities
Brazilian law imposes a tax on transactions involving securities, or an IOF/Securities Tax, including those carried out on the Brazilian stock exchange. The rate of IOF/Securities Tax applicable to transactions involving publicly traded securities in Brazil is currently zero. The rate of IOF/Securities Tax applicable to a transfer of shares traded on the Brazilian stock exchange to back the issuance of depositary receipts has also been zero since December 24, 2013. However, the Brazilian Government may increase such rates at any time up to 1.5% of the transaction amount per day, but the tax cannot be applied retroactively.
Other Brazilian taxes
There are no Brazilian inheritance, gift or succession taxes applicable to the ownership, transfer or disposition of common shares or ADSs by a Non-Resident Holder, except for gift and inheritance taxes which are levied by some states of Brazil on gifts made or inheritances bestowed by a Non-Resident Holder to individuals or entities resident or domiciled within such states in Brazil or to another Non-Resident Holder. There are no Brazilian stamp, issue, registration, or similar taxes or duties payable by holders of common shares or ADS.
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U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
This summary does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, holding or disposition of the common shares or ADSs. This summary applies to U.S. holders, as defined below, who hold their common shares or ADSs as capital assets and does not apply to special classes of holders, such as:
| · | certain financial institutions; |
| · | insurance companies; |
| · | brokers or dealers in securities or foreign currencies; |
| · | tax-exempt organizations; |
| · | securities traders who elect to account for their investment in common shares or ADSs on a mark-to-market basis; |
| · | persons holding common shares or ADSs as part of hedge, straddle, conversion or other integrated financial transactions for tax purposes; |
| · | holders whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar; |
| · | partnerships or other holders treated as “pass-through entities” for U.S. federal income tax purposes (or partners therein); |
| · | former citizens or residents of the United States; or |
| · | persons owning, actually or constructively through attribution rules, 10% or more of our voting shares or the total value of all classes of shares. |
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date hereof, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury Regulations, all as in effect on the date hereof. These authorities are subject to differing interpretations and may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences discussed herein or that a court will not sustain such a challenge in the event of litigation. This summary does not address the Medicare tax on net investment income, the alternative minimum tax, U.S. federal estate and gift taxes, or any aspect of state, local or non-U.S. tax law.
YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISORS WITH REGARD TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION.
This discussion is also based, in part, on representations of the depositary and the assumption that each obligation in the deposit agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms.
For purposes of this discussion, you are a “U.S. holder” if you are a beneficial owner of common shares or ADSs that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| · | a citizen or resident alien individual of the United States; |
| · | a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof; or |
| · | otherwise, subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a net income basis with respect to common shares or ADSs. |
In general, if you are the beneficial owner of American depositary receipts evidencing ADSs, you will be treated as the beneficial owner of the common shares represented by those ADSs for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Deposits and withdrawals of common shares by you in exchange for ADSs will not result in the realization of gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Your tax basis in such common shares will be the same as your tax basis in such ADSs, and the holding period in such common shares will include the holding period in such ADSs.
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Taxation of dividends
The gross amount of a distribution paid on ADSs or common shares, including distributions paid in the form of payments of interest on shareholder’s equity for Brazilian tax purposes, out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) generally will be taxable to you as foreign source dividend income and generally will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporate shareholders under U.S. federal income tax law. The amount of any such distribution will include the amount of Brazilian withholding taxes, if any, withheld on the amount distributed. To the extent that a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such distribution will be treated as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of your basis in the ADSs or common shares, as the case may be, with respect to which such distribution is made, and thereafter as a capital gain.
We do not expect to maintain calculations of our earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles. You therefore should expect that distributions generally will be treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
You generally will be required to include dividends paid in reais in income in an amount equal to their U.S. dollar value calculated by reference to an exchange rate in effect on the date such distribution is received by the depositary, in the case of ADSs, or by you, in the case of common shares. If the depositary or you do not convert such reais into U.S. dollars on the date they are received, it is possible that you will recognize foreign currency loss or gain, which generally would be treated as ordinary loss or gain from sources within the United States, when the reais are converted into U.S. dollars. If you hold ADSs, you will be considered to receive a dividend when the dividend is received by the depositary.
The U.S. dollar amount of dividends received by certain non-corporate taxpayers, including individuals, will be subject to taxation at the preferential rates applicable to long-term capital gains if the dividends are “qualified dividends.” Subject to certain exceptions for short-term and hedged positions, dividends paid on the ADSs will be treated as qualified dividends if (i) the ADSs are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States and (ii) the Company was not, in the year prior to the year in which the dividend was paid, and is not, in the year in which the dividend is paid, a passive foreign investment company (PFIC). The ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and will qualify as readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States so long as they are so listed. Based on our audited consolidated financial statements and relevant market and shareholder data, we believe that it was not treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to its 2023 or 2024 taxable years. In addition, based on Vale’s audited consolidated financial statements and its current expectations regarding the value and nature of its assets, the sources and nature of its income, and relevant market and shareholder data, we do not anticipate becoming a PFIC for its 2025 taxable year.
Based on existing guidance, it is not entirely clear whether dividends received with respect to common shares will be treated as qualified dividends (and therefore whether such dividends will qualify for the preferential rates of taxation applicable to long-term capital gains), because the common shares are not themselves listed on a U.S. exchange. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding the availability of the reduced dividend tax rate in light of your own particular circumstances.
Subject to generally applicable limitations and conditions, you may be entitled to a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability, or a deduction in computing your U.S. federal taxable income, for Brazilian income taxes withheld by us at the appropriate rate applicable to the U.S. holder. These generally applicable limitations and conditions include requirements adopted by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in regulations promulgated in December 2021 and any Brazilian tax generally will need to satisfy these requirements in order to be eligible to be a creditable tax. In the case of a U.S. Holder that consistently elects to apply a modified version of these rules under recently issued temporary guidance and complies with specific requirements set forth in such guidance, the Brazilian tax on dividends will be treated as meeting the new requirements and therefore as a creditable tax. In the case of all other U.S. holders, the application of these requirements is uncertain and we have not determined whether these requirements have been met. If the Brazilian tax is not a creditable tax or the U.S. holder does not elect to claim a foreign tax credit for any foreign income taxes paid or accrued in the same taxable year, the U.S. Holder may be able to deduct the Brazilian tax in computing such U.S. Holder’s taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividend distributions will constitute income from sources without the United States and, for U.S. holders that elect to claim foreign tax credits, generally will constitute “passive category income” for foreign tax credit purposes. The availability and calculation of foreign tax credits and deductions for foreign taxes depend on their particular circumstances and involve the application of complex rules to those circumstances. The temporary guidance discussed above also indicates that the Treasury and the IRS are considering proposing amendments to the December 2021 regulations and that the temporary guidance can be relied upon until additional guidance is issued that withdraws or modifies the temporary guidance. You should consult your own tax advisors concerning the implications of these rules in light of your particular circumstances.
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Taxation of capital gains
Upon a sale or exchange of common shares or ADSs, you generally will recognize a capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes equal to the difference, if any, between the amount realized on the sale or exchange and your adjusted tax basis in the common shares or ADSs, in each case, as determined in U.S. dollars. If a Brazilian tax is withheld on the sale or disposition of common shares or ADSs, the amount realized by a U.S. holder will include the gross amount of the proceeds of such sale or disposition before deduction of the Brazilian tax. For more information, see —Brazilian Tax Considerations above. This gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if your holding period in the common shares or ADSs exceeds one year. The net amount of long-term capital gain recognized by individual U.S. holders generally is subject to taxation at preferential rates. Your ability to use capital losses to offset income is subject to limitations. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors about how to account for proceeds received on the sale or exchange of common shares that are not paid in U.S. dollars.
A U.S. holder generally will not be entitled to credit any Brazilian tax imposed on the sale or other disposition of the shares against such U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, unless you consistently elect to apply a modified version of the U.S. foreign tax credit rules that is permitted under recently issued temporary guidance and you comply with the specific requirements set forth in such guidance. Additionally, capital gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of the shares generally will be U.S. source gain or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Consequently, even if the withholding tax qualifies as a creditable tax, a U.S. Holder may not be able to credit the tax against its U.S. federal income tax liability unless such credit can be applied (subject to generally applicable conditions and limitations) against tax due on other income treated as derived from foreign sources. If the Brazilian tax is not a creditable tax, the tax would reduce the amount realized on the sale or other disposition of the shares even if you have elected to claim a foreign tax credit for other taxes in the same year. The temporary guidance discussed above also indicates that the Treasury and the IRS are considering proposing amendments to the December 2021 regulations and that the temporary guidance can be relied upon until additional guidance is issued that withdraws or modifies the temporary guidance. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the application of the foreign tax credit rules to your investment in, and disposition of, ADSs or common shares.
Foreign financial asset reporting
Certain U.S. holders that own “specified foreign financial assets” with an aggregate value in excess of US$50,000 on the last day of the taxable year or US$75,000 at any time during the taxable year are generally required to file an information statement along with their tax returns, currently on IRS Form 8938, with respect to such assets. “Specified foreign financial assets” include any financial accounts held at a non-U.S. financial institution, as well as securities issued by a non-U.S. issuer that are not held in accounts maintained by financial institutions. Higher reporting thresholds apply to certain individuals living abroad and to certain married individuals. Regulations extend this reporting requirement to certain entities that are treated as formed or availed of to hold direct or indirect interests in “specified foreign financial assets” based on certain objective criteria. The understatement of income attributable to “specified foreign financial assets” in excess of US$5,000 extends the statute of limitations with respect to the tax return to six years after the return was filed. U.S. holders who fail to report the required information could be subject to substantial penalties. You are encouraged to consult with your own tax advisors regarding the possible application of these rules, including the application of the rules to your particular circumstances.
Information reporting and backup withholding
Information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with distributions on the common shares or ADSs and the proceeds from their sale or other disposition. You may be subject to U.S. federal backup withholding tax on these payments if you fail to provide your taxpayer identification number or comply with certain certification procedures or otherwise establish an exemption from backup withholding. If you are required to make such a certification or to establish such an exemption, you generally must do so on IRS Form W-9.
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Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to you will be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
A holder that is a non-U.S. corporation or a non-resident alien individual may be required to comply with certification and identification procedures in order to establish its exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.
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Controls and procedures
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2024. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.
Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that as of December 31, 2024 our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate and that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our management has assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on the criteria established in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on such assessment and criteria, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024.
Audit of the Effectiveness of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes Ltda., an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
Our management identified no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.
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Corporate governance
Under NYSE rules, foreign private issuers are subject to more limited corporate governance requirements than U.S. domestic issuers. As a foreign private issuer, we must comply with four principal NYSE corporate governance rules: (1) we must satisfy the requirements of Exchange Act Rule 10A-3 relating to Audit Committees; (2) our chief executive officer must promptly notify the NYSE in writing after any executive officer becomes aware of any non-compliance with the applicable NYSE corporate governance rules; (3) we must provide the NYSE with annual and interim written affirmations as required under the NYSE corporate governance rules; and (4) we must provide a brief description of any significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those followed by U.S. companies under NYSE listing standards. In the table below we compare our practices and the practices of U.S. domestic issuers under NYSE corporate governance rules.
Since 2018, we also report our compliance with the Brazilian Corporate Governance Code of the Brazilian Corporate Governance Institute (Instituto Brasileiro de Governança Corporativa – IBGC), as required by Brazilian regulations. The code is based on the “comply or explain” principle, and we currently fully comply with 100% of the practices recommended by the IBGC.
| Section | NYSE corporate governance rule for U.S. domestic issuers | Our approach |
| 303A.01 | A listed company must have a majority of independent directors. | We fully comply with this requirement. Our bylaws provide for a Board of Directors consisting of 11 to 13 members and require that at least seven directors be independent. |
| 303A.03 | The non-management directors of a listed company must meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management. | We do not have any management directors. Our directors meet at regularly scheduled sessions without management. |
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| 303A.04 | A listed company must have a nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors, with a written charter that covers certain minimum specified duties. |
We have a Nomination and Governance Committee required to be composed of a majority of independent directors. According to its charter, the Nomination and Governance Committee shall be composed of three to five directors, including the Chairperson of our Board of Directors and a majority of independent members. For the current composition of the Nomination and Governance Committee, see Management and Employees—Management—Other Advisory Committees to the Board of Directors. According to its charter, such committee is responsible, among other matters, for: - recommending internal policies and rules regarding the nomination of members of the Board of Directors, Advisory Committees and our Chairperson, in compliance with the applicable legal requirements and best corporate governance practices; - assessing the evolution and continuous improvement of our corporate governance practices, also regarding the structure, duties, size and composition of the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committees, aiming at a balance of experiences, knowledge and diversity in the profile of its members; - reviewing our governance system on a yearly basis; - recommending the appropriate profile of applicants for member of the Board of Directors and Advisory Committees, and that best suits our needs, according to the criteria and guidelines set forth in the internal policies and norms on the topic; - assessing potential applicants for the position of Director and member of the Advisory Committees, according to the criteria and guidelines set forth in our internal policies and norms, for further analysis by the Board of Directors, and potential election by our general shareholders’ meeting; - assessing potential candidates to replace any individuals in a situation of impediment and vacancy in the positions of Director and member of the Advisory Committees according to our bylaws and internal policies; - assessing the independence of Directors, indicating and justifying any circumstances that may affect this condition; - recommending the succession plan of the Board of Directors, which shall be submitted for approval by the end of the term of office, so as to maintain the balance of experiences, the knowledge and diversity of profile of its members; - assessing the performance of the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committees; - recommending the selection, compensation, annual performance assessment, succession plan and removal of the General Corporate Governance Secretary; - recommending the strategy and guidelines for our corporate governance documents, including our corporate policies, bylaws, Code of Conduct and the internal regulations of the Advisory Committees and the Board of Directors, among others, without prejudice of the technical analyses of other advisory committees, according to their competences; - recommending the compensation model of the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committees, and the proposal for distribution of the global annual amount regarding the compensation of these bodies; - recommending the annual budget of the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committees, which shall include, among others, the resources for engagement of external experts to assist the Directors with the performance of their duties, and to implement continued education programs; - preparing and submitting to the Board of Directors the annual work plan of the committee; and - preparing and submitting to the Board of Directors, the report on the performance of the committee. |
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| 303A.05 | A listed company must have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors, with a written charter that covers certain minimum specified duties. |
We do not have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors. We have a People and Remuneration Committee required, by its charter, to be composed of a number of independent members at least equal to the number of non-independent members. The People and Remuneration Committee, which is an advisory committee to the Board of Directors, is composed only by members of the Board of Directors. For the current composition of the People and Remuneration Committee, see Management and Employees—Management—Other Advisory Committees to the Board of Directors. This committee is responsible for, among other attributions: |
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- assessing and recommending long-term strategies relating to people as proposed by the Executive Committee to the Board of Directors; - assessing and recommending the remuneration strategy for the Executive Committee and proposal for distribution of overall annual amount for management remuneration, including the remuneration of the Board of Directors and its Advisory Committees; - recommending the establishment of performance assessment goals for the Executive Committee and other Officers directly reporting to the CEO, and their monitoring; | ||
| 303A.06 | Listed companies must have an audit committee that complies with the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. | We have an Audit and Risks Committee that complies with Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. Our Audit and Risks Committee is currently composed of three independent directors. |
| 303A.07 | The audit committee must have at least three members, and these members must comply with the independence requirements of Section 303A.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual; the audit committee must have a written charter compliant with the requirements of Section 303A.07(b) of the NYSE Listed Company Manual; and listed companies must have an internal audit function. |
Our Audit and Risks Committee is currently composed of three independent directors. We also comply with the listing rules of the Novo Mercado segment of B3 S.A. – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão (Novo Mercado Rules) and Brazilian corporate laws and regulations. Under our bylaws and the Audit and Risks Committee’s charter, and pursuant to the Novo Mercado Rules, our Audit and Risks Committee shall have three to five members, and: (i) all members must be independent directors, (ii) at least one member must have demonstrated experience in corporate accounting matters, and such member shall be appointed as “Financial Expert” upon his/her nomination. The responsibilities of the Audit and Risks Committee are set forth in its charter. Under our bylaws, the charter must give the Audit and Risks Committee responsibility for the matters required under Novo Mercado listing rules, as well as responsibility for: - having means and establishing procedures to be used by the company to receive, process and handle accusations, complaints and information about (a) non-compliance with legal and normative provisions applicable to the company, in addition to internal regulations and codes, (b) accounting issues, (c) internal controls, and (d) audit matters; as well as ensuring specific procedures to guarantee confidentiality and to protect whistleblower anonymity and the rights of the investigated party; - providing its opinion and assistance to the Board of Directors in the hiring, compensation and removal of independent auditor services; - supervising the work of internal auditors, the area of internal controls and the area responsible for preparing the company’s consolidated financial statements; - supervising and evaluating the work of the external auditors, in order to evaluate their independence, the quality of services provided, and the suitability of services provided related to the needs of the company, and telling the company’s management at any point to retain compensation of the external auditors; and - monitoring and mediating disagreements between management and the independent auditors regarding the company’s consolidated financial statements and the application of accounting principles, monitoring difficulties found by the auditors during the audit process, among others. We have an internal audit function. |
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| 303A.08 | Shareholders must be given the opportunity to vote on all equity-compensation plans and material revisions thereto, with limited exemptions set forth in the NYSE rules. | Under Brazilian corporate law, shareholder pre-approval is required for the adoption of any equity compensation plans. |
| 303A.09 | A listed company must adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines that cover certain minimum specified subjects. | We have not published consolidated corporate governance guidelines. Notwithstanding, our bylaws, the internal rules of our Board of Directors and advisory committees and/or our policies address matters related to qualification standards of members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, director access to management and, as necessary and appropriate, independent advisors, Chief Executive Officer and management succession and annual performance of the Board. |
| 303A.10 | A listed company must adopt and disclose a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees, and promptly disclose any waivers of the code for directors or executive officers. | We have adopted a Code of Conduct, which applies to our directors, officers and employees, interns, suppliers, and to our subsidiaries in Brazil and abroad, as well as to any person acting on behalf of Vale or its subsidiaries. We report each year in our annual report on Form 20-F any waivers of the code of conduct granted for directors or executive officers. Our code of conduct has a scope that is similar, but not identical, to that required for a U.S. domestic company under the NYSE rules. |
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| 303A.12 |
a) Each listed company CEO must certify to the NYSE each year that he or she is not aware of any violation by the company of NYSE corporate governance listing standards. b) Each listed company CEO must promptly notify the NYSE in writing after any executive officer of the listed company becomes aware of any non-compliance with any applicable provisions of this Section 303A. c) Each listed company must submit an executed Written Affirmation annually to the NYSE. In addition, each listed company must submit an interim Written Affirmation as and when required by the interim Written Affirmation form specified by the NYSE. |
We are subject to (b) and (c) of these requirements, but not (a). |
| 303A.14 | The issuer must adopt and comply with a written Recovery Policy providing that the issuer will recover reasonably promptly the amount of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation in the event that the issuer is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the issuer with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period. | We have adopted a Clawback Policy that complies with the requirements of Section 303A.14 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. |
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Insider trading policy
We have adopted an insider trading policy and procedures governing the purchase, sale, and other dispositions of our securities by directors, senior management, and employees, that are reasonably designed to promote compliance with applicable insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and any listing standards applicable to us. A copy of our insider trading policy and procedures is filed as Exhibit 11 to this annual report.
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Cybersecurity
Risk Management and Strategy
As a global mining company, we face various cyber threats, including ransomware attacks, theft of restricted information and digital frauds. These threats can lead to financial losses, damage to our reputation, and harm to our employees and third parties. We manage these cyber risks as part of our overall risk management process.
Our overall enterprise risk management (ERM) process integrates assessing, identifying, and managing cybersecurity-related risks. If the ERM process identifies a heightened cybersecurity-related risk, we assign risk owners to develop and track risk mitigation plans. We use several tools to monitor risks, including key risk indicators (KRIs) and independent assessments of critical controls by specialized teams.
In case of a cyber incident, we follow our cyber incident response playbook, which outlines the steps for detection, mitigation, recovery, and notification, including procedures for informing relevant internal groups and the Board of Directors as needed.
Our Cybersecurity Risk Management practice is founded on internationally recognized cybersecurity frameworks like the NIST CSF (National Institute of Standards and Technology – Cybersecurity Framework), ISO 27001 and ISA62443. The practice includes the processes described below.
Identification of what we have, what we do and what is important:
| · | We understand the business context and the assets that support essential functions. |
| · | We regularly assess cyber risks internally and the potential impacts on the company and, every two years, undergo a risk assessment by an independent and specialized third party based on the NIST CSF. |
| · | We maintain an up-to-date inventory of technology assets, such as applications, data, servers, network components, third-party services and others. |
Protecting technology assets (both Information Technology and Operations Technology) to prevent or limit cyber incidents by:
| · | We apply an identity and access process with Multi-Factor Authentication. |
| · | We provide cybersecurity training and education for employees and contractors, focusing on cyber risk and good cyber behavior, such as identifying malicious emails and correctly classifying information to protect data confidentiality. |
| · | We provide communication channels for employees and contractors to report incidents, vulnerabilities and activities related to cyber security. |
| · | We adopt network segmentation with strategic placement of network firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and demilitarized zones for added security. |
Early detection of cyber incidents through:
| · | Our Security Operations Center, which operates 24/7/365, continuously monitors our digital environment by analyzing billions of telemetry events to detect system anomalies. |
| · | We adopt a modern End Point Detection and Response platform on our workstations and servers, combined with a managed and detection response service by the Security Operations Center. |
| · | We regularly conduct vulnerability assessments across various technological layers, independent third-party penetration tests and attack surface management practices. |
| · | We have a dedicated cybersecurity team that combines the best of in-house resources with the expertise of external partners specialized in the field. |
Responding effectively to cyber incidents to significantly contain their impact by:
| · | We maintain a robust cyber incident response plan by: |
| - | Keeping cyber incident response procedures up to date, as well as technology system recovery plans for business continuity. |
| - | Conducting cyber incident simulations for operational, tactical, and executive audiences to educate and better prepare for a real cyber incident. |
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| - | Integrating the cyber incident response plan with the organization’s corporate Crisis Management process and a corporate Cyber Crisis Committee formed by areas such as Legal, Privacy, Communications, Internal Controls, Investor Relations, and other business areas. |
| - | Managing the materiality of cyber incidents within the corporate cyber crisis committee, keeping our Executive Committee and our Board of Directors informed, and disclosing to the public when applicable. |
Recovering and restoring affected systems and their capabilities back in operation.
| · | We conduct regular tests of our recovery plans to ensure the restoration of technology assets in case of need. |
We also engage specialized third-party cybersecurity companies to evaluate the structure of the cyber program, test the effectiveness of our processes and to provide targeted training to our workforce. Our cybersecurity risk management processes extend to the oversight and identification of cybersecurity risks from our association with third-party service providers. Our risk management program includes risk assessments of third-parties that want to provide services to us through contractual commitment to comply with our baseline of security controls as well as their cyber rating performed with an independent security rating platform.
We also share and receive cyber and threat intelligence insights with our industrial base peers and are a member of the Metals and Mining Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC).
Our plans aim to enhance our cybersecurity program by constantly staying abreast of emerging threats and adapting to evolving technologies.
Over the past three years, our business strategy, results of operations and financial position have not been materially impacted by risks from current and past cybersecurity threats. However, we cannot assure that they will not be materially affected by future cybersecurity threats or incidents.
Governance
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors primarily oversees the management of cybersecurity threat risks. To fulfill this responsibility, the Board relies on the support of the Audit and Risks Committee. The Audit and Risks Committee is responsible for advising the Board of Directors regarding the risk management strategy, including the analysis of corporate policies on this topic and risk appetite guidelines, as well as Vale’s integrated risk map. The Audit and Risks Committee also assesses the effectiveness and adequacy of controls and risk management systems, and regularly receives reports on cyber risks from our Corporate Risk Department.
Management
Our Executive Committee is supported by five advisory committees, including the Executive Risk Committee which focuses on strategy, finance, and cyber risks. The main responsibilities of these advisory committees are to support our Executive Committee in monitoring risks, make preventive recommendations regarding potential risks presented at the committees’ meetings, and submit them for the approval of the Executive Committee.
Our Chief Information Security Officer leads our cybersecurity function, responsible for our overall information security strategy, policy, threat detection and response. In addition to providing comprehensive cyber risk update to our Audit and Risks Committee and our Executive Risks Committee, this update covers an independent assessment of our cybersecurity program based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, as well as, our cyber posture, as evaluated by an independent cybersecurity rating platform. The committees are briefed on cyber incidents considered to have a moderate or greater business impact, even if they are not material to us.
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Code of conduct
We have a Code of Conduct that applies to the members of our Board of Directors and our Executive Committee, including the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, our employees, interns and to our subsidiaries in Brazil and abroad, as well as and any person acting on behalf of Vale or its subsidiaries. Our suppliers and other third parties that collaborate with us must act in accordance with Vale's Principles of Conduct for Third Parties.
Our Code of Conduct gathers the fundamental principles that underpin our business, and is part of Vale’s Ethics & Compliance Program, which is monitored by the Audit and Risks Committee and the Conduct and Integrity Committee, and is under the responsibility of the Audit and Compliance Department. Our Code of Conduct is a principle-based document, which connects directly with our company’s purpose and values.
We have published the Code of Conduct on our website, at: https://www.vale.com/en/code-of-conduct. We have not granted any implicit or explicit waivers from any provision of our Code of Conduct since its adoption.
Whistleblower Channel
Any breaches of our policies and standards can be reported by anyone, including employees, contractors, suppliers, members of affected communities and other stakeholders, via our Whistleblower Channel, which is available in 8 languages. Our Whistleblower Channel is managed by our Audit and Compliance Department, an independent department that reports directly to the Board of Directors. Our Whistleblower Channel is structured to guarantee confidentiality and to protect whistleblower anonymity and the rights of the investigated party.
Our employees and contractors in Brazil and Canada also have access to our Respect Channel (Canal de Acolhimento), which is a channel operated by a specialized and independent team to listen, understand and guide anyone reporting harassment or discrimination. By calling this line, the person may decide whether or not to register an allegation, which is then investigated by our Whistleblower Channel team.
In 2024, our Whistleblower Channel received 10,281 reports and closed 9,986 cases, of which (i) 13% referred to queries and reports that were not investigated due to lack of information or pertinence to the scope of the Whistleblower Channel, (ii) 32% were complaints, which were answered by the Whistleblower Channel, but did not lead to an investigation, and (iii) 55% were allegations that led to investigations, which confirmed violations of Vale’s Code of Conduct in 54% of these cases.
All confirmed violations triggered correction plans, which are presented by managers and approved by the Whistleblower Channel. As a general rule, these plans contain measures to promote process improvements, training initiatives and feedback to employees. Depending on the seriousness of the allegations, employees involved may be subject to administrative measures, such as warnings, suspensions or terminations. Suppliers involved in serious violations of the Code of Conduct are also subject to punitive measures, such as fines or contract termination.
Investigations by our Whistleblower Channel in 2024 resulted in 3,978 corrective actions and disciplinary measures, including 298 terminations of employment.
Further information on the Whistleblower Channel is disclosed in our Ethics & Compliance annual report, available on our website, at https://www.vale.com/esg/ethics-and-compliance. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 20-F.
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Principal accountant fees and services
The following table summarizes the fees for professional services and other services rendered to us by our independent auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes Ltda. (PwC) in 2024 and 2023.
| Year ended December 31, | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| (US$ thousand) | ||
| Audit fees | 6,241 | 5,723 |
| Audit-related fees | 614 | 562 |
| Total fees | 6,855 | 6,285 |
“Audit fees” are the aggregate fees of PwC for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, the audit of the statutory financial statements of our subsidiaries, and reviews of interim financial statements and attestation services that are provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. They also include fees for services that only the independent auditor reasonably can provide, including the provision of comfort letters and consents in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and the review of documents filed with the SEC and other capital markets or local financial reporting regulatory bodies. “Audit-related fees” are fees charged by PwC for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit fees.”
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Information filed with securities regulators
We are subject to various information and disclosure requirements in those countries in which our securities are traded, and we file consolidated financial statements and other periodic reports with the CVM, B3 and the SEC.
Brazil. Vale’s Common Shares are listed on B3 in São Paulo, Brazil. As a result, we are subject to the information and disclosure requirements of Brazilian Corporate Law, as amended. We are also subject to the periodic disclosure requirements of CVM rules applicable to listed companies and to B3’s “Novo Mercado” Corporate Governance Requirements. Our CVM filings are available from the CVM at https://www.gov.br/cvm or from B3 at https://www.b3.com.br. In addition, they may be accessed at our website, https://vale.com/.
United States. As a result of our ADSs being listed on the New York Stock Exchange, we are subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and accordingly file reports and other information with the SEC. Reports and other information filed by us with the SEC available to the public from the SEC at https://www.sec.gov/. In addition, as with all of our security filings, they may be accessed at our website, https://vale.com. Such filings and other information on our website are not incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 20-F. You may also inspect Vale’s reports and other information at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, on which Vale’s ADSs are listed. For further information on obtaining copies of Vale’s public filings at the New York Stock Exchange, you should call (212) 656-5060.
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 198 |
Exhibits
The amount of long-term debt securities of Vale or its subsidiaries authorized under any individual outstanding agreement does not exceed 10% of our total assets on a consolidated basis. Vale hereby agrees to furnish the SEC, upon its request, a copy of any instruments defining the rights of holders of its long-term debt or of its subsidiaries for which consolidated or unconsolidated financial statements are required to be filed.
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 199 |
Glossary
| Alumina | Aluminum oxide. It is the main component of bauxite and extracted from bauxite ore in a chemical refining process. It is the principal raw material in the electro-chemical process from which aluminum is produced. |
| Aluminum | A white metal that is obtained in the electro-chemical process of reducing aluminum oxide. |
| B3 | B3 S.A.—Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão (formerly BM&FBOVESPA), a stock exchange located in São Paulo, Brazil. |
| Bauxite | A rock composed primarily of hydrated aluminum oxides. It is the principal ore of alumina, the raw material from which aluminum is made. |
| Beneficiation | A variety of processes whereby extracted ore from mining is reduced to particles that can be separated into ore-mineral and waste, the former suitable for further processing or direct use. |
| CFR | Cost and freight. Indicates that all costs related to the transportation of goods up to a named port of destination will be paid by the seller of the goods. |
| Coal | Coal is a black or brownish-black solid combustible substance formed by the decomposition of vegetable matter without access to air. The rank of coal, which includes anthracite, bituminous coal (both are called hard coal), sub-bituminous coal, and lignite, is based on fixed carbon, volatile matter, and heating value. |
| Cobalt | Cobalt is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal found in ores, and used in the preparation of magnetic, wear-resistant, and high-strength alloys (particularly for jet engines and turbines). Its compounds are also used in the production of inks, paints, catalysts and battery materials. |
| Coke | Coal that has been processed in a coke oven, for use as a reduction agent in blast furnaces and in foundries for the purposes of transforming iron ore into pig iron. |
| Coking coal | Hard coking coal is the highest value segment of the metallurgical coal market segments (see metallurgical coal) because of its high strength factors to form a strong coke. |
| Concentration | Physical, chemical or biological process to increase the grade of the metal or mineral of interest. |
| Copper | A reddish-brown metallic element. Copper is highly conductive, both thermally and electrically. It is highly malleable and ductile and is easily rolled into sheet and drawn into wire. |
| Copper anode | Copper anode is a metallic product of the converting stage of smelting process that is cast into blocks and generally contains 99% copper grade, which requires further processing to produce refined copper cathodes. |
| Copper cathode | Copper plate with purity higher than or equal to 99.9% that is produced by an electrolytic process. |
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| Table of Contents | ||
| GLOSSARY |
| Copper concentrate | Material produced by concentration of copper minerals contained in the copper ore. It is the raw material used in smelters to produce copper metal. |
| Cut-off grade | Cut-off grade is the grade (i.e., the concentration of metal or mineral in rock) that determines the destination of the material during mining. For purposes of establishing “prospects of economic extraction,” the cut-off grade is the grade that distinguishes material deemed to have no economic value (it will not be mined in underground mining or if mined in surface mining, its destination will be the waste dump) from material deemed to have economic value (its ultimate destination during mining will be a processing facility). Other terms used in similar fashion as cut-off grade include “net smelter return,” “pay limit,” and “break-even stripping ratio.” |
| CVM | The Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission). |
| DWT | Deadweight ton. The measurement unit of a vessel’s capacity for cargo, fuel oil, stores and crew, measured in metric tons of 1,000 kg. A vessel’s total deadweight is the total weight the vessel can carry when loaded to its maximum permitted load line. |
| FOB | Free on board. It indicates that the purchaser pays for shipping, insurance and all the other costs associated with transportation of the goods to their destination. |
| Gold | A precious metal sometimes found free in nature, but usually found in conjunction with silver, quartz, calcite, lead, tellurium, zinc or copper. It is the most malleable and ductile metal, a good conductor of heat and electricity and unaffected by air and most reagents. |
| Grade | The proportion of metal or mineral present in ore or any other host material. |
| Hematite Ore | Hematite is an iron oxide mineral, but also denotes the high-grade iron ore type within the iron deposits. |
| Inferred Mineral Resource | Is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological uncertainty associated with an inferred mineral resource is too high to apply relevant technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospects of economic extraction in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability. Because an inferred mineral resource has the lowest level of geological confidence of all mineral resources, which prevents the application of the modifying factors in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability, an inferred mineral resource may not be considered when assessing the economic viability of a mining project, and may not be converted to a mineral reserve. |
| Indicated Mineral Resource | Is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of adequate geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological certainty associated with an indicated mineral resource is sufficient to allow a qualified person to apply modifying factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Because an indicated mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than the level of confidence of a measured mineral resource, an indicated mineral resource may only be converted to a probable mineral reserve. |
| Iron ore pellets | Agglomerated ultra-fine iron ore particles of a size and quality suitable for particular iron making processes. Our iron ore pellets range in size from 8 mm to 18 mm. |
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| Table of Contents | ||
| GLOSSARY |
| Iron ore briquettes | Iron ore agglomerates, pillow shaped, produced by a proprietary process of cold agglomeration of iron ore together with binders and additives. |
| Itabirite ore | Itabirite is a banded iron formation and denotes the low-grade iron ore type within the iron deposits. |
| Limonite | An iron and aluminum oxides rich horizon formed by decomposition of pre-existing rocks within a surface weathering environment. |
| Lump ore | Iron ore or manganese ore with the coarsest particle size in the range of 6.35 mm to 50 mm in diameter, but varying slightly between different mines and ores. |
| Manganese ore | A hard brittle metallic element found primarily in the minerals pyrolusite, hausmannite and manganite. Manganese ore is essential to the production of virtually all steels and is important in the production of cast iron. |
| Measured Mineral Resource | Is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of conclusive geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological certainty associated with a measured mineral resource is sufficient to allow a qualified person to apply modifying factors, as defined in this section, in sufficient detail to support detailed mine planning and final evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Because a measured mineral resource has a higher level of confidence than the level of confidence of either an indicated mineral resource or an inferred mineral resource, a measured mineral resource may be converted to a proven mineral reserve or to a probable mineral reserve. |
| Metallurgical coal | Coal used in the production of steel, comprising multiple segments, including hard coking coal (see hard coking coal), semi-hard coking coal, semi-soft coking coal, all used to produce coke to feed a blast furnace; and PCI (pulverized coal injection) coal used for direct injection fuel source into the blast furnace (see PCI). A bituminous hard coal with a quality that allows the production of coke. Normally used in coke ovens for metallurgical purposes. |
| Mineral deposit(s) | A mineralized body that has been intersected by a sufficient number of closely spaced drill holes and/or underground/surface samples to support sufficient tonnage and grade of metal(s) or mineral(s) of interest to warrant further exploration-development work. |
| Mineral reserve | Is an estimate of tonnage and grade or quality of indicated and measured mineral resources that, in the opinion of the qualified person, can be the basis of an economically viable project. More specifically, it is the economically mineable part of a measured or indicated mineral resource, which includes diluting materials and allowances for losses that may occur when the material is mined or extracted. |
| Mineral resource | Is a concentration or occurrence of materials of economic interest in or on the Earth’s crust in such form, grade or quality, and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. A mineral resource is a reasonable estimate of mineralization, taking into account relevant factors such as cut-off grade, likely mining dimensions, location or continuity, that, with the assumed and justifiable technical and economic conditions, is likely to, in whole or in part, become economically extractable. It is not merely an inventory of all mineralization drilled or sampled. |
| Mt | Million metric tons. |
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| Table of Contents | ||
| GLOSSARY |
| Mtpy | Million metric tons per year. |
| Nickel | A silvery white metal that takes on a high polish. It is hard, malleable, ductile, somewhat ferromagnetic, and a fair conductor of heat and electricity. It belongs to the iron-cobalt group of metals and is chiefly valuable for the alloys it forms, such as stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys. |
| Nickel laterite | Deposits are formed by intensive weathering of olivine-rich ultramafic rocks such as dunite, peridotite and komatiite. |
| Nickel matte | An intermediate smelter product that must be further refined to obtain pure metal. |
| Nickel pig iron | A low-grade nickel product, made from lateritic ores, suitable primarily for use in stainless steel production. Nickel pig iron typically has a nickel grade of 1.5-6% produced from blast furnaces. Nickel pig iron can also contain chrome, manganese, and impurities such as phosphorus, sulfur and carbon. Low-grade ferro-nickel (FeNi) produced in China through electric furnaces is often also referred to as nickel pig iron. |
| Nickel sulfide | Formed through magmatic processes where nickel combines with sulfur to form a sulfide phase. Pentlandite is the most common nickel sulfide ore mineral mined and often occurs with chalcopyrite, a common copper sulfide mineral. |
| Open-pit mining | Method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open pit. Open-pit mines for extraction of ore are used when deposits of commercially useful minerals or rock are found near the surface; that is, where the overburden (surface material covering the valuable deposit) is relatively thin, or the material of interest is structurally unsuitable for underground mining. |
| Oxides | Compounds of oxygen with another element. For example, magnetite is an oxide mineral formed by the chemical union of iron with oxygen. |
| Palladium | A silver-white metal that is ductile and malleable, used primarily in automobile-emissions control devices, and electrical applications. |
| Particulate Matter (PM) | A complex mixture of solids with a small diameter, whose components have different physical and chemical characteristics. Particulate matter is generally classified according to particle diameter. |
| PCI | Pulverized coal injection. Type of coal with specific properties ideal for direct injection via the tuyeres of blast furnaces. This type of coal does not require any processing or coke making, and can be directly injected into the blast furnaces, replacing lump cokes to be charged from the top of the blast furnaces. |
| Pelletizing | Iron ore pelletizing is a process of agglomeration of ultra-fines produced in iron ore exploitation and concentration steps. The three basic stages of the process are: (i) ore preparation (to get the correct fineness); (ii) mixing and balling (additive mixing and ball formation); and (iii) firing (to get ceramic bonding and strength). |
| PGMs | Platinum group metals. Consist of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium and iridium. |
| Phosphate | A phosphorous compound, which occurs in natural ores and is used as a raw material for primary production of fertilizer nutrients, animal feeds and detergents. |
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| Table of Contents | ||
| GLOSSARY |
| Pig iron | Product of smelting iron ore usually with coke and limestone in a blast furnace. |
| Platinum | A dense, precious, grey-white transition metal that is ductile and malleable and occurs in some nickel and copper ores. Platinum is resistant to corrosion and is used primarily in jewelry, and automobile-emissions control devices. |
| Precious metals | Metals valued for their color, malleability, and rarity, with a high economic value driven not only by their practical industrial use, but also by their role as investments. The widely-traded precious metals are gold, silver, platinum and palladium. |
| Primary nickel | Nickel produced directly from mineral ores. |
| Probable mineral reserves | Is the economically minerable part of an indicated and, in some cases, a measured mineral resource. |
| Proven mineral reserves | Is the economically minerable part of a measured mineral resource and can only result from conversion of a measured resource. |
| Real, reais or R$ | The official currency of Brazil is the real (singular) (plural: reais). |
| ROM | Run-of-mine. Ore in its natural (unprocessed) state, as mined, without having been crushed. |
| Saprolite | Clay-rich horizon formed by decomposition of pre-existing rocks within a surface weathering environment. |
| Secondary or scrap nickel | Stainless steel or other nickel-containing scrap. |
| Seaborne market | Comprises the total ore trade between countries using ocean bulk vessels. |
| Silver | A ductile and malleable metal used in photography, coins and medal fabrication, and in industrial applications. |
| Sinter feed (also known as fines) | Iron ore fines with particles in the range of 0.15 mm to 6.35 mm in diameter. Suitable for sintering. |
| Sintering | The agglomeration of sinter feed, binder and other materials, into a coherent mass by heating without melting, to be used as metallic charge into a blast furnace. |
| Stainless steel | Alloy steel containing at least 10% chromium and with superior corrosion resistance. It may also contain other elements such as nickel, manganese, niobium, titanium, molybdenum, copper, in order to improve mechanical, thermal properties and service life. It is primarily classified as austenitic (200 and 300 series), ferritic (400 series), martensitic, duplex or precipitation hardening grades. |
| Tpy | Metric tons per year. |
| Troy ounce | One troy ounce equals 31.103 grams. |
| Underground mining | Mineral exploitation in which extraction is carried out beneath the earth’s surface. |
| U.S. dollars or US$ | The United States dollar. |
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Signatures
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20 F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
| VALE S.A. | ||
| By: |
/s/ Gustavo Duarte Pimenta | |
| Name: Gustavo Duarte Pimenta | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| By: |
/s/ Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci | |
| Name: Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci | ||
| Title: Executive Vice-President Finance and Investor Relations | ||
| Date: March 28, 2025 | ||
VALE ANNUAL REPORT FORM 20-F | 205 |
Contents
| 2 |
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The management of Vale S.A (Vale) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.
Vale’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, and that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Vale’s management has assessed the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on such assessment and criteria, Vale’s management has concluded that the company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2024.
The effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes Ltda., an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their unqualified report which appears herein.
February 19th, 2025.
/s/ Gustavo Duarte Pimenta
Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci
Chief Financial Officer and Investors Relations
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Vale S.A.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of financial position of Vale S.A. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related consolidated income statement, statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statements of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024 in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
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Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Provisions for de-characterization of dam structures
As described in Note 28(a) to the consolidated financial statements, the Company's provision for de-characterization of all its tailings dams built under the upstream method located in Brazil amounted to US$ 2,213 million as of December 31, 2024. Management applies significant judgment in developing the estimates for de-characterization of the dams structures including (i) volume of the waste to be removed based on historical data available and interpretation of the enacted laws and regulations; (ii) location availability for the tailings disposal; (iii) engineering methods and solutions; (iv) security levels; (v) productivity of the equipment used; (vi) advances in geological studies and new hydrological information; and (vii) discount rate update. In addition, as management has further disclosed, given the nature and uncertainties inherent in this type of provision, the amounts recognized and disclosed will be reassessed by the Company at each reporting period and may be adjusted significantly in future periods, as new facts and circumstances become known.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the provisions for de-characterization of the dam structures is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management, including the use of specialists, when developing the estimates of the total expected costs to carry out all de-characterization projects related to the dams, which in turn led to (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management's significant assumptions related to volume of the waste to be removed and engineering methods and solutions, and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.
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Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management's estimates of the provision for de-characterization of the dams structures. The work of management's specialists was used in performing the procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of the engineering solutions and significant assumptions used by management related to volume of the waste to be removed and engineering methods to execute this removal. As a basis for using this work, the specialists' qualifications were understood and the Company's relationship with these specialists was assessed. The procedures performed also included evaluation of the methods and assumptions used by specialists and procedures to assess whether these were consistent with internal and external references, as well as evidence available or obtained in other areas of the audit. Additionally, these procedures included evaluating whether the assumptions related to volume of the waste to be removed, and engineering methods and solutions were reasonable considering the information available according to the engineering phase of each project and the historic information gathered from the ongoing de-characterization projects of the Company.
Tax litigation and uncertain tax positions
As described in Note 29 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has recognized provisions for tax litigations (other than income taxes) in the amount of US$ 201 million as of December 31, 2024, and disclosed contingent liabilities related to tax litigation in the amount of US$ 5,995 million. The Company recognizes a provision for tax litigation (other than income taxes) in the consolidated financial statements for the resolution of pending litigation when the Company has a present obligation as a result of a past event and management determines that a loss is probable, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, with the support of Company's specialists. No provision for tax litigation is recognized in the consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes when, after assessing the information available, (i) management concludes that it is not probable that a loss has been incurred in any of the pending litigation; or (ii) management is unable to estimate the loss or range of loss for any of the pending matters. The Company discloses information on contingent liabilities when management concludes that the risk of loss is possible or it cannot reasonably estimate the amounts involved, but it is reasonably possible that a loss may be incurred.
Also, as described in Note 9(e) the Company disclosed the amount of US$ 6,535 million related to uncertain income tax position which tax treatments acceptability will depend on taxation authorities’ decision in the future. In the case of uncertain income tax positions, management determines whether it is probable or not that taxation authorities will accept the uncertain tax treatment. If management concludes it is not probable that taxation authorities will accept the uncertain income tax treatment, a provision for income tax is recognized. The provision recognized for uncertain income tax positions amounted to US$ 154 million as of December 31, 2024.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to tax litigation and uncertain income tax position are a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgments by management when assessing the likelihood of a loss, when determining whether a reasonable estimate of the loss or range of loss and possible outcomes for each tax litigation claim can be made and when assessing whether it is probable that a taxation authority will accept an uncertain income tax treatment, which in turn led to a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in evaluating management's assessment of the loss contingencies associated with litigation claims and acceptability of uncertain income tax positions; and (ii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.
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Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management's evaluation of tax litigation claims and uncertain income tax positions, including controls over determining whether a loss is probable and whether the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated, or whether it is probable the taxation authority will accept the uncertain income tax position, as well as financial statement disclosures. These procedures also included, among others, obtaining and evaluating the letters of audit inquiry with internal and external legal counsel, evaluating the reasonableness of management's assessment regarding whether unfavorable outcomes is reasonably possible or probable and reasonably estimable and evaluating the sufficiency of the Company's tax litigation contingencies and uncertain income tax positions disclosures. The work of Company's specialists was used in performing the procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of the estimates related to the tax litigation claims and uncertain income tax positions. As a basis for using this work, the specialists' qualifications and objectivity were evaluated, as well as the methods and assumptions used by them. The procedures also included an evaluation of the specialists' findings. In addition, professionals with specialized skills and knowledge were used to assist in the evaluation of the reasonableness of the estimate or range of loss and possible outcomes of the main tax litigation claims and uncertain tax positions.
Liabilities related to associates and joint ventures
As described in Note 27 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has recognized a provision related to the Samarco Mineração S.A. ("Samarco") dam failure in the amount of US$ 3,663 million as of December 31, 2024, including additions to the provision for the year ended December 31, 2024, in the amount of US$ 956 million. The Fundão tailings dam (the “Fundão Dam”) is owned by Samarco, a joint venture between Vale S.A. and BHP Billiton Brasil Ltda. ("BHPB"), where the failure was experienced in November 2015. The Company and BHPB have assumed responsibility in a proportion of fifty percent each for the obligations generated that cannot be financially fulfilled by Samarco itself, the primary responsible party. In October 2024, Vale, Samarco, and BHPB, together with the Federal Government of Brazil, the State Governments of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, the Federal and State Public Prosecutors’ and Public Defenders’ Offices and other Brazilian public entities, signed a definitive agreement regarding claims related to the failure of the Fundão Dam (“Definitive Agreement”). On December 31, 2024, the Company revised the estimates used to measure and recognize the provision related to the Fundão Dam failure, considering the updated terms of the Definitive Agreement. As a result, the updated amount of the provision recognized is based on the net present value of estimated cash outflows to be incurred and it requires the use of assumptions that can significantly change its value due to: (i) the scope and costs to complete the commitments assumed in the context of the Definitive Agreement; (ii) the extent to which Samarco will be able to directly fulfill the agreed future obligations; (iii) the resolution of existing and potential future legal claims; and (iv) the updates to the discount rates. In addition, as management has further disclosed, given the nature and uncertainties inherent in this type of provision, future expenditures may differ from the amounts currently provided for and changes to key assumptions could result in a material impact to the amount of the provision in future reporting periods.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the provisions related to the Samarco Fundão Dam failure is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management, including the use of legal advisors, when developing the estimates of the total expected cash outflows, which in turn led to (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management's significant assumptions, and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management's estimates of the provision related to the Samarco Fundão Dam failure. The procedures also included, among others, the assessment of the information contained in the Definitive Agreement, which resulted in the additional amount of provision recognized in the year ended December 31, 2024. In addition, the procedures included evaluating the reasonableness of the models, the data, the application of discount rate and other assumptions used to form the provision estimate, with the involvement of our internal experts with specialized skills and knowledge, which also included sensitivity analysis of the main assumptions used and the impacts of their possible changes on the calculated provision. The procedures also included evaluating the accounting treatment adopted by the Company to recognize the provision and its movements in the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as financial statements disclosures.
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| |
Impairment of goodwill and other long lived non-financial assets
As described in Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company's goodwill balance totaled US$ 3,038 million as of December 31, 2024. As described in Note 20, management tests impairment of goodwill at least on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of goodwill may be impaired. Management also evaluates impairment indicators for the other long- lived non-financial assets, such as intangible and property plant and equipment. An impairment loss is recognized when the recoverable amount of an asset or cash generating unit (CGU), determined at its fair value less costs to disposal (FVLCD), is above its carrying amount. Fair value is generally estimated by management using discounted cash flow models. Management's cash flow projections used to estimate the recoverable amount of assets or CGUs included significant judgments and assumptions relating to (i) long-term future metal prices; and (ii) discount rates. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized impairment losses of US$ 2,210 million, mainly related to nickel operations in Thompson and Newfoundland and Labrador, both located in Canada.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to impairment tests for goodwill and other long lived non-financial assets is a critical audit matter are due to the significant judgments applied by management when developing the fair value measurement of assets and CGUs. This led to a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management's cash flow projections and significant assumptions, related to long-term future metal prices and discount rates. In addition, the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skills and knowledge.
Addressing the matter, involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of the controls related to management's impairment assessment of goodwill and other long lived non-financial assets, including controls over the valuation of assets and CGUs. These procedures also considered, among others (i) testing management's process for developing the fair value estimates; (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the discounted cash flow models; (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used in the models; and (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used by management related to the long-term future metal prices and discount rates. Assessing these management's significant assumptions involved evaluating whether the assumptions used by management were reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of assets and CGUs; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) whether these assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. Professionals with specialized skills and knowledge were used to assist in the evaluation of the Company's discounted cash flow models, and the long-term future metal prices and the discount rate assumptions.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes Ltda.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
February 19, 2025
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.
| 8 |
Consolidated Income Statement
In millions of United States dollars, except earnings per share
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Continuing operations | ||||
| Net operating revenue | 5(b) | 38,056 | 41,784 | 43,839 |
| Cost of goods sold and services rendered | 6(a) | (24,265) | (24,089) | (24,028) |
| Gross profit | 13,791 | 17,695 | 19,811 | |
| Operating expenses | ||||
| Selling and administrative | 6(b) | (622) | (553) | (515) |
| Research and development | (790) | (723) | (660) | |
| Pre-operating and operational stoppage | 28 | (403) | (450) | (479) |
| (Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net | 18, 19 and 20 | 301 | (266) | 773 |
| Other operating revenues (expenses), net | 6(c) | (1,489) | (1,498) | (1,722) |
| Operating income | 10,788 | 14,205 | 17,208 | |
| Financial income | 7 | 422 | 432 | 520 |
| Financial expenses | 7 | (1,473) | (1,459) | (1,179) |
| Other financial items, net | 7 | (2,772) | (919) | 2,927 |
| Equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures | 16 and 27 | (269) | (1,108) | 305 |
| Income before income taxes | 6,696 | 11,151 | 19,781 | |
| Income taxes | 9(a) | (721) | (3,046) | (2,971) |
| Net income from continuing operations | 5,975 | 8,105 | 16,810 | |
| (Loss) net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests | (191) | 122 | 82 | |
| Net income from continuing operations attributable to Vale S.A.'s shareholders | 6,166 | 7,983 | 16,728 | |
| Discontinued operations | ||||
| Net income from discontinued operations attributable to Vale S.A.'s shareholders | 17(l) | 2,060 | ||
| Net income | 5,975 | 8,105 | 18,870 | |
| (Loss) net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (191) | 122 | 82 | |
| Net income attributable to Vale S.A.'s shareholders | 6,166 | 7,983 | 18,788 | |
| Basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations | 10 | |||
| Common share (US$) | ||||
| Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to Vale's shareholders | 10 | |||
| Common share (US$) | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| 9 |
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
In millions of United States dollars
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Net income | 5,975 | 8,105 | 18,870 | |
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | ||||
| Items that will not be reclassified to income statement | ||||
| Translation adjustments of the Parent Company | (9,172) | 2,966 | 2,259 | |
| Retirement benefit obligations | 102 | (68) | 269 | |
| Adjustments to fair value in equity interests measured at fair value through other comprehensive income | 13 | |||
| Total items that will not be reclassified to the income statement, net of tax | (9,070) | 2,911 | 2,528 | |
| Items that may be reclassified to income statement | ||||
| Translation adjustments of foreign operations | 2,237 | (522) | (1,306) | |
| Net investment hedge | 21(a.iv) | (500) | 139 | 81 |
| Cash flow hedge | 21(a.iv) | (19) | 19 | |
| Reclassification of cumulative translation adjustment to income statement (i) | 17(b) and 17(d) | (1,115) | (4,830) | |
| Total items that may be reclassified to the income statement, net of tax | 622 | (402) | (6,036) | |
| Comprehensive income (loss) | (2,473) | 10,614 | 15,362 | |
| Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (284) | 125 | 80 | |
| Comprehensive income attributable to Vale S.A.'s shareholders | (2,189) | 10,489 | 15,282 | |
| (i) | For the year ended December 31, 2024, mainly related to the effect of the reclassification of cumulative translation adjustments to the consolidated income statement, as a consequence of the divestiture and loss of control over of Vale Oman Distribution Center and PT Vale Indonesia Tbk in the amounts of US$112 and US$1,063, respectively (notes 17b and 17d). |
Items above are stated net of tax, when applicable, and the related taxes effects are disclosed in note 9.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| 10 |
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
In millions of United States dollars
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Cash flow from operations | 11(a) | 13,767 | 17,252 | 18,762 |
| Interest on loans and borrowings paid | 11(c) | (868) | (743) | (785) |
| Cash received (paid) on settlement of derivatives, net | 21 | 11 | 567 | (83) |
| Payments related to Brumadinho event | 26 | (909) | (1,330) | (1,093) |
| Payments related to de-characterization of dams | 28 | (533) | (458) | (349) |
| Interest on participative shareholders' debentures paid | 23 | (243) | (233) | (371) |
| Income taxes (including settlement programs) paid | (1,859) | (1,890) | (4,637) | |
| Net cash generated by operating activities from continuing operations | 9,366 | 13,165 | 11,444 | |
| Net cash generated by operating activities from discontinued operations | 17(l) | 41 | ||
| Net cash generated by operating activities | 9,366 | 13,165 | 11,485 | |
| Cash flow from investing activities: | ||||
| Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets | (6,447) | (5,920) | (5,446) | |
| Payments related to the Samarco dam failure | 27 | (808) | (553) | (338) |
| Advanced payment related to renegotiation of railway concession contracts | 15 | (656) | ||
| Cash received (paid) from disposal and acquisition of investments, net | 11(b) | 2,687 | (139) | 577 |
| Dividends received from associates and joint ventures | 81 | 204 | 219 | |
| Short-term investment | (85) | 127 | 260 | |
| Other investing activities, net | (140) | (38) | 145 | |
| Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations | (5,368) | (6,319) | (4,583) | |
| Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations | 17(l) | (103) | ||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (5,368) | (6,319) | (4,686) | |
| Cash flow from financing activities: | ||||
| Loans and borrowings from third parties | 11(c) | 4,855 | 1,950 | 1,275 |
| Payments of loans and borrowings to third parties | 11(c) | (2,605) | (658) | (2,300) |
| Payments of leasing | 25 | (202) | (233) | (224) |
| Dividends and interest on capital paid to Vale’s shareholders | 31(e) | (3,914) | (5,513) | (6,603) |
| Dividends and interest on capital paid to noncontrolling interest | (41) | (12) | ||
| Shares buyback program | 31(c) | (409) | (2,714) | (6,036) |
| Acquisition of additional stake in VOPC | 17(g) | (130) | ||
| Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations | (2,275) | (7,339) | (13,900) | |
| Net cash used in financing activities from discontinued operations | 17(l) | (11) | ||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (2,275) | (7,339) | (13,911) | |
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 1,723 | (493) | (7,112) | |
| Cash and cash equivalents in the beginning of the year | 3,609 | 4,736 | 11,721 | |
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (454) | 69 | 138 | |
| Effect of transfer PTVI to non-current assets held for sale | 17(d) | (703) | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents from subsidiaries acquired and sold, net | 75 | (11) | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year | 4,953 | 3,609 | 4,736 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| 11 |
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
In millions of United States dollars
| Notes | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Assets | |||
| Current assets | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 22 | 4,953 | 3,609 |
| Short-term investments | 22 | 53 | 51 |
| Accounts receivable | 12 | 2,358 | 4,197 |
| Other financial assets | 15 | 53 | 271 |
| Inventories | 13 | 4,605 | 4,684 |
| Recoverable taxes | 9(f) | 1,100 | 900 |
| Judicial deposits | 29(c) | 611 | |
| Other | 359 | 444 | |
| Current assets excluding assets held for sale | 13,481 | 14,767 | |
| Non-current assets held for sale | 17(d) | 3,933 | |
| Total current assets | 13,481 | 18,700 | |
| Non-current assets | |||
| Judicial deposits | 29(c) | 537 | 798 |
| Other financial assets | 15 | 82 | 593 |
| Recoverable taxes | 9(f) | 1,297 | 1,374 |
| Deferred income taxes | 9(b) | 8,244 | 9,565 |
| Other | 1,466 | 1,257 | |
| Total non-current assets excluding investments, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment | 11,626 | 13,587 | |
| Investments in associates and joint ventures | 16 | 4,547 | 1,872 |
| Intangibles | 18 | 10,514 | 11,631 |
| Property, plant, and equipment | 19 | 39,984 | 48,396 |
| Total non current assets | 66,671 | 75,486 | |
| Total assets | 80,152 | 94,186 |
| Liabilities | |||
| Current liabilities | |||
| Suppliers and contractors | 14 | 4,234 | 5,272 |
| Loans and borrowings | 24 | 1,020 | 824 |
| Leases | 25 | 147 | 197 |
| Other financial liabilities | 15 | 1,543 | 1,676 |
| Taxes payable | 9(f) | 574 | 1,314 |
| Settlement programs ("REFIS") | 9(d) | 353 | 428 |
| Liabilities related to Brumadinho | 26 | 714 | 1,057 |
| Liabilities related to associates and joint ventures | 27 | 1,844 | 837 |
| De-characterization of dams and asset retirement obligations | 28 | 833 | 1,035 |
| Provisions for litigation | 29 | 119 | 114 |
| Employee benefits | 30 | 1,012 | 964 |
| Dividends payable | 330 | ||
| Other | 367 | 376 | |
| Current liabilities excluding assets held for sale | 13,090 | 14,094 | |
| Liabilities associated with non-current assets held for sale | 17(d) | 561 | |
| Total current liabilities | 13,090 | 14,655 | |
| Non-current liabilities | |||
| Loans and borrowings | 24 | 13,772 | 11,647 |
| Leases | 25 | 566 | 1,255 |
| Participative shareholders' debentures | 23 | 2,217 | 2,874 |
| Other financial liabilities | 15 | 2,347 | 3,373 |
| Settlement programs ("REFIS") | 9(d) | 1,007 | 1,723 |
| Deferred income taxes | 9(b) | 445 | 870 |
| Liabilities related to Brumadinho | 26 | 1,256 | 2,003 |
| Liabilities related to associates and joint ventures | 27 | 1,819 | 3,590 |
| De-characterization of dams and asset retirement obligations | 28 | 4,930 | 6,694 |
| Provisions for litigation | 29 | 894 | 885 |
| Employee benefits | 30 | 1,118 | 1,381 |
| Streaming transactions | 8 | 1,882 | 1,962 |
| Other | 281 | 293 | |
| Total non current liabilities | 32,534 | 38,550 | |
| Total liabilities | 45,624 | 53,205 | |
| Equity | 31 | ||
| Equity attributable to Vale S.A.'s shareholders | 33,406 | 39,461 | |
| Equity attributable to noncontrolling interests | 1,122 | 1,520 | |
| Total equity | 34,528 | 40,981 | |
| Total liabilities and equity | 80,152 | 94,186 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| 12 |
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
In millions of United States dollars
| Notes | Share capital | Capital reserve | Profit reserves | Treasury shares | Other reserves | Cumulative translation adjustments | Retained earnings | Equity attributable to Vale S.A.’s shareholders | Equity attributable to noncontrolling interests | Consolidated equity | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2021 | 61,614 | 1,139 | 15,702 | (5,579) | (1,960) | (36,444) | 34,472 | 834 | 35,306 | ||
| Net income | 18,788 | 18,788 | 82 | 18,870 | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income | 756 | 269 | (4,531) | (3,506) | (2) | (3,508) | |||||
| Dividends and interest on capital of Vale S.A.'s shareholders | 31(d) | (3,500) | (4,386) | (7,886) | (7,886) | ||||||
| Dividends of noncontrolling interest | (7) | (7) | |||||||||
| Transaction with noncontrolling interests | 17 (l) | 584 | 584 | ||||||||
| Appropriation to undistributed retained earnings | 14,402 | (14,402) | |||||||||
| Shares buyback program | 31(c) | (6,036) | (6,036) | (6,036) | |||||||
| Share-based payment program | 30(b) | 16 | 16 | 16 | |||||||
| Treasury shares used and canceled | 31(b) | (6,616) | 6,635 | 19 | 19 | ||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | 61,614 | 1,139 | 20,744 | (4,980) | (1,675) | (40,975) | 35,867 | 1,491 | 37,358 | ||
| Net income | 7,983 | 7,983 | 122 | 8,105 | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income | 1,495 | (73) | 1,084 | 2,506 | 3 | 2,509 | |||||
| Dividends and interest on capital of Vale S.A.’s shareholders | 31(d) | (437) | (3,744) | (4,181) | (4,181) | ||||||
| Dividends of noncontrolling interest | (37) | (37) | |||||||||
| Transaction with noncontrolling interests | 17(g) | 3 | 3 | (59) | (56) | ||||||
| Appropriation to undistributed retained earnings | 4,239 | (4,239) | |||||||||
| Shares buyback program | 31(c) | (2,714) | (2,714) | (2,714) | |||||||
| Share-based payment program | 30(b) | 26 | (29) | (3) | (3) | ||||||
| Treasury shares used and canceled | 31(b) | (4,164) | 4,164 | ||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | 61,614 | 1,139 | 21,877 | (3,504) | (1,774) | (39,891) | 39,461 | 1,520 | 40,981 | ||
| Net income | 6,166 | 6,166 | (191) | 5,975 | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income | (5,007) | 144 | (3,492) | (8,355) | (93) | (8,448) | |||||
| Dividends and interest on capital of Vale S.A.'s shareholders | 31(d) | (2,364) | (1,996) | (4,360) | (4,360) | ||||||
| Transaction with noncontrolling interests (i) | 17(d) and 17(e) | 895 | 895 | (114) | 781 | ||||||
| Appropriation to undistributed retained earnings | 4,170 | (4,170) | |||||||||
| Shares buyback program | 31(c) | (409) | (409) | (409) | |||||||
| Share-based payment programs | 30(b) | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 | ||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | 61,614 | 1,139 | 18,676 | (3,911) | (729) | (43,383) | 33,406 | 1,122 | 34,528 | ||
| (i) | The effect on equity attributable to noncontrolling interests includes the derecognition of noncontrolling shareholders of PT Vale Indonesia Tbk in the amount of US$1,628 (note 17d) and the recognition of noncontrolling shareholders of Vale Base Metals Limited in the amount of US$1,514 (note 17e). |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| 13 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
1. Corporate information
Vale S.A. (the “Parent Company”) is a public company headquartered in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Vale’s share capital consists of common shares, traded on the stock exchange.
In Brazil, Vale's common shares are listed on B3 under the code VALE3. The Company also has American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), with each representing one common share, traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the code VALE. Additionally, the shares are traded on LATIBEX under the code XVALO, which is an unregulated electronic market established by the Madrid Stock Exchange for the trading of Latin American securities. The Company's shareholding structure is disclosed in note 31.
Vale, together with its subsidiaries (“Vale” or the “Company”), is one of the world's largest producers of iron ore and nickel. The Company also produces iron ore pellets and copper. Nickel and copper concentrates contain by-products such as platinum group metals (PGM), gold, silver, and cobalt. Most of the Company’s products are sold to international markets, through the Company's main trading Company, Vale International S.A. (“VISA”), a wholly owned subsidiary located in Switzerland.
The Company is engaged in greenfield mineral exploration in six countries, including Brazil, USA, Canada, Chile, Peru and Indonesia. It also operates extensive logistics systems in Brazil and other regions worldwide, including railways, maritime terminals, and ports integrated with mining operations. Additionally, the Company has distribution centers to support its iron ore shipments globally.
Vale also holds investments in energy businesses to meet energy consumption needs through renewable sources.
The Company's operations are organized into two operational segments: "Iron Solutions" and "Energy Transition Metals" (note 5).
Iron Solutions – Comprise iron ore extraction and iron ore pellets and briquettes production, as well as the North, South, and Southeast transportation corridors in Brazil, including railways, ports and terminals linked to mining operations.
| · | Iron ore: Currently, Vale operates three systems in Brazil for the production and distribution of iron ore. The Northern System (Carajás, State of Pará, Brazil) is fully integrated and comprises three mining complexes, a railway and a maritime terminal. The Southeast System (Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais, Brazil) is fully integrated, consisting of three mining complexes, a railway, a maritime terminal, and a port. The Southern System (Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais, Brazil) consists of two mining complexes and two maritime terminals. |
| · | Iron ore pellets and other ferrous products: Currently, Vale has a diversified portfolio of agglomerates, which includes iron ore pellets and briquettes. Vale operates eight pelletizing plants in Brazil and two in Oman. |
Energy Transition Metals – Includes the production of nickel, copper and its by-products.
| · | Nickel: The Company's primary nickel operations are conducted by Vale Canada Limited ("Vale Canada"), which owns mines and processing plants in Canada and Brazil and nickel refining facilities in the United Kingdom and Japan. Vale also holds investments in nickel operations in Indonesia. |
| · | Copper: In Brazil, Vale produces copper concentrates at Sossego and Salobo in Carajás, State of Pará. In Canada, Vale produces copper concentrates and copper cathodes associated with its nickel mining operations in Sudbury (located in Ontario), Voisey’s Bay (located in Newfoundland and Labrador), and Thompson (located in Manitoba). |
| · | Cobalt, PGM, and other precious metals: The ore extracted by Vale Canada in Sudbury yields cobalt, PGMs (Platinum Group Metals), silver, and gold as by-products, which are processed at refining facilities in Port Colborne, Ontario. In Canada, Vale also produces refined cobalt at its Long Harbour facilities in Newfoundland and Labrador. The copper operations in Sossego and Salobo in Brazil also yield silver and gold as by-products. |
| 14 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
2. Basis of preparation and presentation of the consolidated financial statements
The consolidated financial statements of the Company (“financial statements”) have been prepared and are presented in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS Accounting Standards”). All material information for the preparation of these financial statements, and only this information, are presented and correspond to those used by the Company's Management.
The financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis and adjusted to reflect: (i) the fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities (including derivative instruments), as well as pension plans assets and (ii) assets impairment, when applicable.
These financial statements were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on February 19, 2025.
a) New and amended standards
Amendments to IAS 7 - Statement of Cash Flows and IFRS 7 - Financial Instruments: Disclosures
In May 2023, the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) amended the standards IAS 7- Statement of Cash Flows and IFRS 7 - Financial Instruments: Disclosures, to establish new disclosure requirements on supplier finance arrangements. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2024, and, therefore, the Company started to apply these amendments from these financial statements, as shown in note 14.
Amendments to IAS 1 – Non-current liabilities with covenants
In October 2022, the IASB amended the standard IAS 1 – Presentation of Financial Statements, to improve the disclosure requirements related to long-term debt subject to compliance with covenants. The amendments are effective for January 1, 2024, and, therefore, the Company started to apply these amendments from these financial statements, as shown in note 24(c).
IFRIC Agenda decision on IFRS 8 Operating Segments
In July 2024, the IASB published a agenda decision on IFRS 8– Information by segment, clarifying the requirements on the disclosure of specific items of income and expenses by operating segment. As a result of this agenda decision, the Company added the disclosure of the cost of goods sold and services provided by operating segment in note 5 of these financial statements, including the disclosure of the comparative information.
IFRS 18 - Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements
In April 2024, the IASB issued IFRS 18 - Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements, which replaces IAS 1 –Presentation of Financial Statements. IFRS 18 introduces new requirements on presentation within the statement of income statement, requires disclosure of ‘management-defined performance measures’ and includes new requirements for aggregation and disaggregation of financial information of the primary financial statements and the notes. IFRS 18 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and the Company is currently assessing the potential impacts arising from the standard.
Amendments to IFRS 9 - Financial Instruments and IFRS 7 - Financial Instruments: Disclosure
In December 2024, the IASB amended IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments and IFRS 7 – Financial Instruments: Disclosure to clarify and provide additional guidance, including new disclosures requirements, related to certain power purchase agreements. These amendments will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and the Company does not expect material impacts on financial statements.
Other recently issued or amended accounting standards
Certain other new accounting standards, amendments and interpretations have been published recently, however, have not materially impacted these financial statements. The Company did not early adopt any standards and does not expect that other standards already issued and not yet mandatory will have a material impact in future reporting periods.
| 15 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
b) Principles of Consolidation
The Company's financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities and transactions of the Parent Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (“subsidiaries”). Intercompany balances and transactions, which include unrealized profits, are eliminated. A list of the most relevant companies, including associates and joint ventures, and the financial policies applied in preparing the consolidated financial projections are described in note 16.
c) Functional currency and presentation currency
The financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which each entity operates (“functional currency”), in the case of the Parent Company it is the Brazilian real (“R$”). For presentation purposes, these financial statements are presented in United States dollars (“US$”) as the Company believes that this is how international investors analyze the financial statements.
The income statement and cash flows statements of the Parent Company and its investees which have a functional currency other than US$ are translated into US$ at the average monthly exchange rate, the assets and liabilities are translated at the final rate and the other equity items are translated at the historical rate. All monetary exchange differences are recognized in comprehensive income as “Translation adjustments”.
When a foreign operation is totally or partially disposed, the monetary exchange differences that were recorded in the equity are recognized in the income statement for the year, see accounting policy in note 16 of these financial statements.
The main exchange rates used by the Company to translate its foreign operations are as follows:
| Closing rate | Average rate | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| US Dollar ("US$") | 6.1923 | 4.8413 | 5.2177 | 5.3920 | 4.9954 | 5.1655 | ||||||
| Canadian dollar ("CAD") | 4.3047 | 3.6522 | 3.8550 | 3.9342 | 3.7026 | 3.9705 | ||||||
| Euro ("EUR") | 6.4363 | 5.3516 | 5.5694 | 5.8340 | 5.4023 | 5.4420 | ||||||
d) Critical accounting estimates and judgments
The preparation of financial statements requires the use of critical accounting estimates and Management also needs to exercise judgement in applying the Company’s accounting policies.
The Company makes estimates about the future based on assumptions. Accounting estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on management's experience and knowledge, information available at the date of the financial statements and other factors, including expectations of future events that are considered reasonable under the circumstances. Accounting estimates, by definition, will seldom equal the actual results.
The areas involving significant estimates or judgements or complexity, and of items which are more likely to be materially adjusted due to estimates and assumptions are presented in the following notes:
| Note | Significant estimates and judgments |
| 9 | Deferred income taxes and uncertain tax positions |
| 15 | Liabilities related to the concession grant |
| 16 | Consolidation |
| 19 | Mineral reserves and mines useful life |
| 20 | Impairment of non-current assets |
| 21 | Fair values estimate |
| 26 | Liabilities related to Brumadinho |
| 27 | Liabilities related to associates and joint ventures |
| 28 | Provision for de-characterization of dam structures and asset retirement obligations |
| 29 | Litigation |
| 30 | Employee post-retirement obligation |
| 16 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
e) Material accounting policies
The material accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements have been included in the respective notes and are consistent in all years presented.
3. Significant events and transactions related to 2024 financial statements
| · | Remuneration to shareholders – During 2024, the Company approved dividends and interest on capital to its shareholders in the amount of US$4,360 (R$22,884 million). On February 19, 2025 (subsequent event), the Board of Directors approved remuneration to shareholders in the total amount of US$1,596 (R$9,143 million). Further details are presented in note 31(e) of these financial statements. |
| · | Impairment on assets related to nickel – The Company identified impairment triggers related to its nickel operations in Thompson and Newfoundland and Labrador, both located in Canada. Therefore, Vale carried out an impairment test on these assets and recognized impairment losses of US$1,945 in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2024, as “(Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net”. Further details are presented in note 20(a) of these financial statements. |
| · | Renegotiation of railway concession contracts – In December 2024, the general basis for the renegotiation of the concession contracts for the Carajás Railway and the Vitória a Minas railway were agreed between Vale, the Brazilian National Land Transportation Agency and the Brazilian Federal Government. The renegotiation will be performed under the terms of the concession contracts, which remain in force, aiming to promote their modernization and updating. As a result, Vale recorded an addition of US$256 (R$1,559 million) in the liability associated with the railway concessions and paid US$656 (R$4 billion) in advance. Further details are presented in note 15(a) of these financial statements. |
| · | Purchase of a minority stake in Anglo American Minério de Ferro Brasil S.A. (“Anglo American”) – In December 2024, the Company completed the purchase of a 15% stake in Anglo American, of which the acquisition cost is substantially composed by the contribution of Serra da Serpentina assets to Anglo American, whose value was estimated at US$750, in addition to a disbursement of US$30. As a result, Anglo American became an associate and Vale recognized a gain of US$626 in the income statement as “(Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net”. Further details are presented in note 17(a) of these financial statements. |
| · | Definitive Settlement related to the Samarco Mineração S.A. (“Samarco”) dam failure – In October 2024, Vale, Samarco and BHP Billiton Brasil Ltda., together with the Brazilian Federal Government, the State Governments of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, the Federal and State Public Prosecutors’ and Public Defenders’ Offices and other Brazilian public entities, signed a definitive agreement on claims related to the collapse of the Samarco dam, which was ratified in November 2024. As a result, Vale recognized an additional provision of US$956, recorded in the income statement as “Equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures”. Further details are presented in note 27 of these financial statements. |
| · | Debentures public offering – In October 2024, the Company issued debentures of US$1 billion (R$6 billion) with maturities in 10, 12, and 15 years. Further details are presented in note 11(d) of these financial statements. |
| · | Divestment in Vale Oman Distribution Center (“VODC”) – In September 2024, the Company completed the sale of 50% equity interest in VODC to AP Oryx Holdings LLC, for US$600. As a result, VODC became a joint venture, and Vale recognized a gain of US$1,222 in the income statement as “(Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net”. Further details are presented in note 17(b) of these financial statements. |
| · | Acquisition of Aliança Geração de Energia S.A. (“Aliança Energia”) – In August 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of the entire stake held by Cemig Geração e Transmissão S.A. in Aliança Energia, for US$493 (R$2,737 million). As a result, Vale holds 100% of the shareholding and consolidates Aliança Energia. Further details are presented in note 17(c) of these financial statements. |
| · | Bond issuance and repurchase – In June 2024, Vale issued bonds of US$1 billion, maturing in 2054 with a coupon of 6.40% per year. In July 2024, this amount was substantially used to redeem bonds maturing in 2026, 2036, and 2039, in the total amount of US$970. As a result of the repurchase, the Company paid a premium of US$50, which was recorded in the income statement as “Financial expenses”. Further details are presented in note 11(c) of these financial statements. |
| 17 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
| · | Divestment in PT Vale Indonesia (PTVI) – In June 2024, the Company, together with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. and PT Mineral Industri Indonesia (“MIND ID”), completed the divestment transaction of PTVI. As a result, Vale received US$155 and lost control over PTVI, which resulted in a gain of US$1,059 recorded in the income statement as “(Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net”. Further details are presented in note 17(d) of these financial statements. |
| · | Strategic partnership in the Energy Transition Metals business – In April 2024, the Company completed the transaction in which Manara Minerals acquired a 10% stake in Vale Base Metals Limited, which is the holding company for the Energy Transition Metals business, for US$2,455. As a result, Vale recognized a gain of US$ in equity as “Transactions with noncontrolling shareholders”. Further details are presented in note 17(e) of these financial statements. |
4. Climate-related financial information
Climate strategy
The Company has been integrating climate strategy into its business through a comprehensive approach, based on systematic planning and execution, prioritizing risk management and leveraging opportunities, as well as based on purpose to establish a social, economic and environmental legacy.
The announced investments and the Company's strategy with climate-related changes, initiatives were evaluated in the context of critical accounting estimates and judgments. Future changes in this strategy or in the global scenario may affect the Company's main estimates and may result in material impacts on the Company's results and balances of assets and liabilities in subsequent fiscal years.
| 18 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
The Company evaluated its decarbonization targets by analyzing the criteria for recognition of provision according to IAS 37 - Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets. There is no provision as of December 31, 2024 because the target does not represent a present obligation for the Company.
Impact of transition risks related to climate change on the Company's assets
In the development of the strategic plan, the Company qualitatively evaluates scenarios related to climate change and defines the base case to guide the positioning of its business, as well as test resilience against other exploratory scenarios. The Company's approach to climate change is shaped by an analysis of global megatrends through a scenario-building tool. These scenarios offer insights associated to global temperatures increasing into the future of mining, that influence commodity price forecasts, capital allocation, portfolio decisions, and business strategies.
In this context, the Company observes the persistence of the characteristic cycles of the mining industry over the coming decades, driven by an energy transition that occurs asynchronously and unevenly between different sectors and regions. Vale carried out an analysis of the resilience of its portfolio in the face of climate change scenarios, based on the scenarios of the International Energy Agency.
The potential financial impacts of climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy were considered in the evaluation of the Company's critical accounting estimates, including impairment indicators, such as possible reductions in demand for commodities due to changes in policies, regulatory environment (including carbon pricing mechanisms), legal, technological, market or reputational changes.
The Company did not identify any impairment of assets due to this topic. However, given the complexity of modeling, identifying additional risks and planning and executing actions in response to the identified risks, transition risks may result in material impacts on the Company's income and balance of assets and liabilities in subsequent fiscal years.
Impacts of physical risks related to climate change on the book values of assets
The Company's operations are also exposed to events resulting from climate change. Therefore, the Company is currently assessing the potential impacts of physical risks related to climate change in the models used in the asset impairment test, such as potential operational disruptions caused by increased frequency and/or severity of extreme and chronic weather events resulting from long-term changes in weather patterns.
The Company did not identify any impairment of assets in the financial statements of 2024 due to the physical risks considered in the valuation. However, due to the complexity of physical risk modeling, the continuous evolution of the ongoing nature of the Company's physical risk assessment process, the identification of additional risks may result in material impacts on the Company's income and balance of assets and liabilities in subsequent fiscal years.
Carbon pricing in Strategic Planning
Carbon pricing is one of the main strategic tools used by the Company for decision-making, allowing it to assess the global and geographically dispersed distribution of operating and customer markets. Incorporated into the cycle of scenario analysis and strategic planning, carbon pricing makes it possible to assess the financial impacts on business value over time. In the 2024 cycle, three main effects were analyzed: (i) the direct costs avoided through decarbonization, (ii) the net capital expenditures and operational expenses impacts associated with the Scope 1 and 2 reduction targets for 2030, and (iii) the potential increase in demand for agglomerated iron ore products, such as pellets and briquettes, driven by emission limit regulations and the search for lower-emission raw materials in the steel industry.
Carbon prices are integrated into the Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) as a shadow price, used for prioritization of investments and analysis of the net present value of projects. This approach ensures that the costs and risks associated with climate change are incorporated into the capital allocation and decarbonization strategy.
Decarbonization initiatives
The Company, in line with its strategy to decarbonization in its value chain, allocates resources to projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet climate goals. These efforts include technological upgrades, modification of production processes, as well as strategic partnerships.
Below are the main projects related to Vale's strategy to promote economic development in line with environmental preservation and sustainability, followed by financial effects.
| 19 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Production of Iron Ore Briquette: In 2023, the first briquette plant was inaugurated at the Tubarão Complex, in Vitória, Espírito Santo. Iron ore briquette is one of the strategies implemented by the Company to increase the exploration of high-quality ores and offer new products in line with the demands for decarbonization of the steel industry. Currently, Vale has two iron ore briquette plants in the Tubarão Complex. The two briquette plants come from the conversion of pelletizing plants. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had a balance of US$257 (2023: US$259) in property, plant and equipment associated with the briquette plants.
Gelado Project: In March 2023, the Company started operations of the Gelado Project in Carajás (PA), which will produce pellet feed (iron ore for pelletizing) from the reuse of iron ore tailings, which have been deposited at the site for approximately four decades. In addition to destinate sustainably disposing of the tailings, the project will use 100% electric dredges to extract the material, avoiding greenhouse gas emissions. The final product is sent to the pelletizing plant in São Luiz (MA) due to the high quality of the pellets manufactured on site, steel customers are able to reduce their carbon emissions – compared to using lower quality products. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had a balance of US$308 (2023: US$390) in fixed assets related to the Gelado Project.
Sustainable sand: In October 2022, the Company created the company Co-log logística de coprodutos S.A ("Agera") to develop and expand its Sustainable Sand business. Agera receives the sand produced from the treatment of tailings generated by Vale's iron ore operations and promotes its commercialization and distribution. The new company also invests in research and development of new solutions for the product. In the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized US$1 (2023: US$1 and 2022: US$0) in income statement as research and development expenses.
Purchase of electricity from renewable sources: The Company also has Power Purchase Agreements ("PPAs") with suppliers of electricity based on renewable sources, which enables the reduction of scope 2 emissions. These contracts have been entered into and continue to be held for their own use purposes and are therefore outside the scope of IFRS 9 - Financial Instruments. PPAs are treated as executory contracts, and expenditures are recorded as incurred.
Vale Ventures: The Company announced the creation of a Corporate Venture Capital operation ("Vale Ventures"), whose objective is to invest in sustainable mining initiatives. The Company's objective is to acquire minority stakes in startups focused on initiatives for decarbonization in the mining chain, zero-waste mining, energy transition metals and other technologies.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company has investments totaling US$52 (2023: US$43). These investments include minority stakes in transformational biology startup Allonnia LLC, Boston Electrometallurgical Company Electrified Thermal Solutions and Mantel Capture, Inc, as well as investments in venture capital funds Evok Fund II Limited Partnership and Cathay Innovation Global Fund III (“Cathay Innovation”).
Acquisition of carbon credits
One of the pillars to achieve the Vale decarbonization goals is the limited use of high-integrity carbon credits, following principles such as additionality, permanence, transparency, and contribution to sustainable development. The use of carbon credits will be a maximum of 20% of the absolute reduction in scope 3 emissions by 2035, equivalent to 17 MtCO₂e.
Vale and Algar Group Agreement: To encourage the voluntary carbon credit market, Vale and the Algar Group signed an agreement to purchase high-integrity forest carbon credits by 2030, equivalent to the protection of approximately 85 thousand hectares of forest. Each unit of carbon credit corresponds to one ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2) that is no longer emitted into the atmosphere in the case of this forest protection project.
Casa dos Ventos Partnership: Vale and Casa dos Ventos developed a carbon project called Folha Larga Sul de Energia Renováveis. The project consists of the implementation and operation of wind farms in the state of Bahia that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, avoiding the generation of electricity from fossil fuel sources.
For each carbon credit transaction, Vale identifies its business model for subsequent classification, recognition and measurement of its asset. Carbon credits are recorded in intangible assets and measured at cost according to IAS 38 – Intangible Assets. Carbon credits intended for resale are recorded in the inventory and measured at fair value less the costs of sale according to IAS 2 - Inventories. The Company also evaluates whether there are derivatives embedded in the contracts for the purchase and sale of carbon credits in accordance with IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments.
Carbon pricing mechanism
The Company has operations from Energy Transition Metals segment in Canada, which are exposed to greenhouse has emissions regulations. In the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded carbon tax expenses in the amount of US$11 (2023: US$2 and 2022: US$1).
| 20 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Climate-related executive compensation
Executives’ long-term remuneration targets are made up of performance conditions based on climate-related indicators, with 10% of the targets linked to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and 5% linked to Vale's performance in the Corporate Sustainability Assessment (“CSA”), used to select companies for the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (“DJSI”), note (30).
5. Information by business segment and geographic area
In 2024, consistently with the reports analyzed by the executive committee and Board of Directors, the Company changed its adjusted EBITDA definition to include the “EBITDA from associates and joint ventures”, which is a measure of their “equity results” (note 15) excluding (i) net finance costs; (ii) depreciation, depletion, and amortization; (iii) taxation and (iv) (impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net.
Therefore, the Company’s adjusted EBITDA is defined as operating income or loss, including the EBITDA from interests in associates and joint ventures; and excluding (i) depreciation, depletion, and amortization; and (ii) (impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net and other. The comparative information in these financial statements was revised to reflect this change in the adjusted EBITDA definition.
Additionally, as a result of the reorganization of assets and the governance established for the Energy Transition Metals segment, due to the sale of noncontrolling interest in this segment (note 17e), the “Other” segment was reorganized for a better allocation of direct effects on the Iron Ore Solutions and Energy Transition Metals businesses. These effects were allocated to each segment starting from the year ended December 31, 2024.
| Segment | Main activities |
| Iron Solutions | Comprise the extraction and production of iron ore, iron ore pellets, briquettes, other ferrous products, and its logistic related services. |
| Energy Transition Metals | Includes the extraction and production of nickel and its by-products (gold, silver, cobalt, precious metals and others), and copper, as well as its by-products (gold and silver). |
| Coal - discontinued operation (note 17l) | Comprise the extraction and production of metallurgical and thermal coal and its logistic related services. |
| Other | Includes corporate expenses not allocated to the operating segment, research and development of greenfield exploration projects, as well as expenses related to the Brumadinho event and decharacterization of dams and asset retirement obligations. |
a) Adjusted EBITDA
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 (revised) | 2022 (revised) | |
| Iron ore | 11,598 | 15,205 | 15,929 | |
| Iron ore pellets | 3,166 | 3,136 | 3,758 | |
| Other ferrous products and services | 321 | 473 | 410 | |
| Iron Solutions | 15,085 | 18,814 | 20,097 | |
| Nickel | 114 | 851 | 1,924 | |
| Copper | 1,521 | 1,100 | 569 | |
| Other energy transition metals | (182) | 12 | ||
| Energy Transition Metals | 1,453 | 1,963 | 2,493 | |
| Other (i) | (1,698) | (2,176) | (2,210) | |
| Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations | 14,840 | 18,601 | 20,380 | |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | (3,057) | (3,070) | (3,171) | |
| (Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net and other (ii) | 17 and 20 | (55) | (482) | 773 |
| EBITDA from associates and joint ventures | (940) | (844) | (774) | |
| Operating income | 10,788 | 14,205 | 17,208 | |
| Equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures | 16 | (269) | (1,108) | 305 |
| Financial results, net | 7 | (3,823) | (1,946) | 2,268 |
| Income before income taxes from continuing operations | 6,696 | 11,151 | 19,781 | |
| (i) | Includes US$145 related to expenses of Vale Base Metals Limited that were not allocated to the operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2024. |
| (ii) | Includes an adjustment of US$356 for the year ended December 31, 2024 (2023: US$216), to reflect the performance of streaming transactions at market prices. |
| 21 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations (coal) | 171 | |||
| (Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net | (589) | |||
| Operating loss | 17(l) | (418) | ||
| Financial results, net | 3,065 | |||
| Derecognition of noncontrolling interest | (585) | |||
| Net income from discontinued operations (coal) | 17(l) | 2,062 | ||
b) Net operating revenue by shipment destination
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | |||||||||
| Iron Solutions | Energy Transition Metals | Other | Net operating revenue | ||||||
| Iron ore | Iron ore pellets | Other ferrous products and services | Total | Nickel and other products | Copper | Total | |||
| China (i) | 21,061 | 2 | 21,063 | 693 | 454 | 1,147 | 22,210 | ||
| Japan | 2,356 | 279 | 1 | 2,636 | 583 | 583 | 3,219 | ||
| Asia, except Japan and China | 1,691 | 407 | 10 | 2,108 | 462 | 105 | 567 | 2,675 | |
| Brazil | 1,370 | 1,684 | 502 | 3,556 | 63 | 63 | 136 | 3,755 | |
| United States of America | 262 | 262 | 1,361 | 1,361 | 1,623 | ||||
| Americas, except United States and Brazil | 1 | 398 | 1 | 400 | 456 | 41 | 497 | 897 | |
| Germany | 244 | 55 | 2 | 301 | 458 | 592 | 1,050 | 1,351 | |
| Europe, except Germany | 1,037 | 374 | 1,411 | 1,082 | 1,184 | 2,266 | 3,677 | ||
| Middle East, Africa, and Oceania | 2,342 | 2,342 | 35 | 35 | 2,377 | ||||
| Net operating revenue | 27,760 | 5,803 | 516 | 34,079 | 5,193 | 2,376 | 7,569 | 136 | 41,784 |
| Year ended December 31, 2022 | |||||||||
| Iron Solutions | Energy Transition Metals | Other | Net operating revenue | ||||||
| Iron ore | Iron ore pellets | Other ferrous products and services | Total | Nickel and other products | Copper | Total | |||
| China (i) | 21,021 | 41 | 7 | 21,069 | 1,627 | 128 | 1,755 | 22,824 | |
| Japan | 2,557 | 208 | 2,765 | 765 | 5 | 770 | 3,535 | ||
| Asia, except Japan and China | 1,552 | 393 | 13 | 1,958 | 395 | 98 | 493 | 47 | 2,498 |
| Brazil | 1,305 | 1,997 | 447 | 3,749 | 60 | 60 | 328 | 4,137 | |
| United States of America | 218 | 218 | 1,425 | 1,425 | 1,643 | ||||
| Americas, except United States and Brazil | 472 | 5 | 477 | 597 | 597 | 125 | 1,199 | ||
| Germany | 357 | 16 | 373 | 597 | 551 | 1,148 | 1,521 | ||
| Europe, except Germany | 1,396 | 317 | 1,713 | 1,126 | 997 | 2,123 | 3,836 | ||
| Middle East, Africa, and Oceania | 2,594 | 2,594 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 2,646 | |||
| Net operating revenue | 28,188 | 6,256 | 472 | 34,916 | 6,619 | 1,779 | 8,398 | 525 | 43,839 |
| (i) | Includes operating revenue of China Mainland in the amount of US$18,556 (2023: US$21,577 and 2022: US$22,203) and Taiwan in the amount of US$819 (2023: US$633 and 2022: US$621). |
| 22 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
In 2024 and 2022, no customer individually represented 10% or more of the Company's revenue. In 2023, the revenue from a single customer from the Iron Solutions segment totaled US$4,239, individually representing 10% of the Company's total revenue.
c) Cost of goods sold and services rendered
| (i) | It includes costs of the Midwestern system (note 17i) and the discontinued operation of coal (note 17l). |
d) Assets by geographic area
Accounting policy
Revenue from sales - Revenue from sales is recognized when control of a good or service is transferred to a customer. Given the diverse shipping terms associated with Vale's sales, revenue may be recognized at various stages: (i) when the product is available at the loading port, (ii) upon loading onto the ship, (iii) at the port of discharge, or (iv) at the customer's warehouse.
A substantial portion of Vale's sales operates under Cost and Freight ("CFR") and Cost, Insurance, and Freight ("CIF") Incoterms. In these instances, where the Company provides shipping services after the transfer of control, such services are treated as a distinct performance obligation. A portion of the transaction price is allocated and recognized over time as the shipping services are rendered.
Typically, contract payment terms involve upfront payments or the utilization of letters of credit. These terms generally do not have a significant financing component. Occasionally, sale prices are provisionally set at the sale date, with subsequent adjustments based on market fluctuations or contractual terms until the final pricing date.
Revenue recognition is based on the estimated fair value of the total consideration receivable. The provisional pricing mechanism embedded in these sales arrangements is deemed to have the characteristics of a derivative. Consequently, the fair value of the final sale price adjustment is continuously reassessed, and any changes are recognized as operational revenue in the income statement.
| 23 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
6. Costs and expenses by nature
a) Cost of goods sold, and services rendered
b) Selling and administrative expenses
| Year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Personnel | 266 | 243 | 230 |
| Services | 161 | 154 | 142 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 56 | 47 | 41 |
| Advertisement | 21 | 26 | 22 |
| Other | 118 | 83 | 80 |
| Total | 622 | 553 | 515 |
c) Other operating revenues (expenses), net
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Expenses related to Brumadinho event | 26 | (483) | (930) | (1,079) |
| Reversal (increase) in provisions related to de-characterization of dam and asset decommissioning obligation | 28 | 172 | (229) | (128) |
| Provision for litigations | 29 | (303) | (229) | (153) |
| Profit sharing program | (189) | (147) | (131) | |
| Expenses related with socio-environmental commitments | (360) | (181) | (180) | |
| Other | (326) | 218 | (51) | |
| Total | (1,489) | (1,498) | (1,722) | |
| 24 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
7. Financial results
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Financial income | ||||
| Short-term investments | 328 | 309 | 440 | |
| Other | 94 | 123 | 80 | |
| Total financial income | 422 | 432 | 520 | |
| Financial expenses | ||||
| Loans and borrowings interest | 11(c) | (791) | (725) | (565) |
| Bond premium repurchase | 11(c) | (50) | (22) | (113) |
| Interest on supplier finance arrangements | 14 | (162) | (203) | (51) |
| Interest on REFIS | (91) | (148) | (152) | |
| Interest on lease liabilities | 25 | (49) | (62) | (64) |
| Other | (330) | (299) | (234) | |
| Total financial expenses | (1,473) | (1,459) | (1,179) | |
| Other financial items, net | ||||
| Foreign exchange and indexation gains (losses), net | (1,388) | (1,643) | (975) | |
| Participative shareholders' debentures | 23 | (175) | (179) | 659 |
| Financial guarantees | 33(b) | 481 | ||
| Derivative financial instruments, net | 21 | (1,209) | 903 | 1,154 |
| Reclassification of cumulative translation adjustments to the income statement | 16(a) and 17 | 1,608 | ||
| Total other financial expenses | (2,772) | (919) | 2,927 | |
| Total | (3,823) | (1,946) | 2,268 | |
Accounting policy
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rate effective on the date of the transaction. The foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the translation at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the year are recognized in the income statement as “financial income or expense”. The exceptions are transactions related to qualifying net investment hedges, cash flow hedge or items that are attributable to the net investment in a foreign operation, for which gains, and losses are recognized as a component of other comprehensive income.
The accounting policies related to the other items of the financial result are shown in the notes, “16. Investments in subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures”, “23. Participative shareholders’ debentures”, “24. Loans, borrowing, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments” and “25. Leases”.
8. Streaming transactions
a) Statement of Financial Position
| 25 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
b) Effects on the income statement
| Year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Cobalt streaming | 19 | 14 | 49 |
| Gold streaming | 122 | 134 | 37 |
| Fixed revenue - Contract liabilities realized | 141 | 148 | 86 |
| Cobalt streaming | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| Gold streaming | 102 | 93 | 74 |
| Variable revenue - Additional payments received | 106 | 96 | 85 |
Gold streaming
Vale have sold to Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (“Wheaton”) an aggregate of (i) 75% of the by-product gold contained in concentrate from our Salobo copper mine, in Brazil, for the life of mine, and (ii) 70% of the by-product gold from our Sudbury nickel mines, in Canada, for 20 years. Regarding these streaming transactions:
Vale received upfront payments of (i) US$1.9 billion in 2013, (ii) US$900 in 2015 and (iii) US$800 in 2016. Vale also receives ongoing payments of the lesser of 400 United States dollars per ounce and the prevailing market price, for each ounce of gold that the Company deliver under the agreement.
As per the Salobo gold by-product stream purchase agreement, Vale was entitled to receive an additional cash payment if the Company expanded its capacity to process Salobo copper ores to certain level before 2036. In March 2023, Vale agreed with Wheaton to amend this agreement to adjust the additional cash payment terms. These conditions are linked to the “Salobo III” project, which is the brownfield expansion of Salobo through the increase in copper processing capacity.
In November 2023, the first phase of the Salobo III expansion project was completed and Vale received US$370, which was recorded in the streaming liabilities. Additionally, Wheaton will be required to make annual payments between US$5.1 and US$8.5 from 2024 to 2034, as long as the Salobo complex continues to produce within certain copper grades.
Cobalt streaming
In June 2018, Vale sold to Wheaton and Cobalt 27 Capital Corp. (“Cobalt 27”) a combined 75% of the cobalt produced as a by-product at its Voisey’s Bay mine from January 1, 2021, with the amount of US$690. Vale also receives additional payments of 20%, in average, of cobalt prices upon delivery. In February 2021, the stream originally sold to Cobalt 27 was assigned to Anglo Pacific Group.
Accounting policy
The Company bifurcates both streaming transactions in two identifiable components: (i) the sale of the mineral rights and (ii) extraction services.
Sale of mineral rights - The amount allocated to this component is recognized as revenue in the income statement when the Company transfers ownership of the mineral rights to the counterparty. The cost related to the component sold is recognized in the income statement at the same moment.
Extraction services - The Company recognizes contract liabilities in the event it receives payments from customers before a sale meets criteria for revenue recognition. Proceeds received under the terms of the streaming transaction allocated to this component are accounted for as “streaming transactions” and included within liabilities.
Contract liability is initially recognized at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred, and is subsequently carried at amortized cost and updated using the effective interest rate method. Contract liability is released to the income statement based on the units of production, that is, revenue is calculated based on volume produced compared to the total proved and probable reserves of gold or cobalt, which are reviewed and remeasured annually.
| 26 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
9. Taxes
In December 2021, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) released the Pillar Two model rules to reform international corporate taxation. Multinational economic groups within the scope of these rules are required to calculate their effective tax rate in each country where they operate, the “GloBE effective tax rate”.
When the effective GloBE rate of any entity in the economic group, aggregated by jurisdiction where the group operates, is lower than the minimum rate defined at 15%, the multinational group must pay a supplementary amount of tax on profit, referring to the difference between its rate effective GloBE and the minimum tax rate.
From 2024, the Company is already subject to OECD Pillar Two model rules in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, Luxembourg and Canada. In Brazil, Law No. 15,079/24 and Normative Instruction RFB No. 2,245/24 were published in December 2024 to align Brazilian tax legislation with the OECD’s GloBE rules with effects from January 1, 2025.
However, the Company does not expect material impacts on the calculation of income tax or on the financial statements for the current and future periods, mainly due to the application of the simplifying rules (“Safe Harbor”) in the GloBE computation.
The Company applied the relief from the requirement to recognize and disclose deferred taxes arising from enacted or substantively enacted tax law that implements the Pillar Two model rule, according to IAS 12 – Income taxes.
a) Income tax reconciliation
The reconciliation of the taxes calculated according to the nominal tax rates and the amount of taxes recorded is shown below:
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Income before income taxes | 6,696 | 11,151 | 19,781 | |
| Income taxes at statutory rate (34%) | (2,277) | (3,791) | (6,726) | |
| Adjustments that affect the taxes basis: | ||||
| Tax incentives | 1,428 | 1,860 | 1,803 | |
| Provision related to Samarco | 27(c) | (361) | (404) | |
| Gain on divestment in VODC | 17(b) | 189 | ||
| Gain on acquisition of Aliança Energia | 17(c) | 104 | ||
| Gain on divestment in PTVI | 17(d) | 358 | ||
| Equity results | 16 | 103 | 88 | 84 |
| Addition of tax loss carryforward | 617 | 409 | 899 | |
| Unrecognized tax losses of the year | (127) | (115) | (197) | |
| Reclassification of cumulative adjustments to the income statement | 24 | 547 | ||
| Effects on tax computation of foreign operations | (406) | (102) | (37) | |
| Reversal of deferred income tax related to Renova Foundation | 27(e) | (1,078) | ||
| Other | (373) | 87 | 656 | |
| Income taxes | (721) | (3,046) | (2,971) | |
| Current tax | (2,008) | (1,375) | (2,020) | |
| Deferred tax | 1,287 | (1,671) | (951) | |
| Income taxes | (721) | (3,046) | (2,971) | |
| 27 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
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b) Deferred income tax assets and liabilities
Tax loss carryforward does not expire in the Brazilian jurisdiction and their compensation is limited to 30% of the taxable income for the year. The local profits of foreign subsidiaries are also taxed in Brazil and there is no restriction on their offset against tax losses generated previously by the foreign entity.
| Deferred tax assets | Deferred tax liabilities | |||
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Taxes losses carryforward | 5,516 | 5,704 | ||
| Temporary differences: | ||||
| Asset retirement obligations and other liabilities | 2,829 | 4,165 | (509) | (807) |
| Fair value of financial instruments | 932 | 735 | - | - |
| Employee post-retirement obligation | 368 | 478 | - | - |
| Provision for litigation | 327 | 306 | - | - |
| Fair value of property, plant and equipment and intangibles in business combination | - | - | (1,695) | (2,034) |
| Goodwill amortization | - | - | (462) | (575) |
| Other | 494 | 723 | - | - |
| 10,466 | 12,111 | (2,666) | (3,416) | |
| Financial position | ||||
| Assets | 8,244 | 9,565 | - | - |
| Liabilities | - | - | (445) | (870) |
The following table shows the changes in deferred tax assets and liability:
| Assets | Liabilities | Deferred taxes, net | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | 10,770 | 1,413 | 9,357 |
| Taxes losses carryforward | (609) | (609) | |
| Provision for asset retirement obligations and other liabilities | (1,123) | 86 | (1,209) |
| Fair value of financial instruments | (168) | (168) | |
| Fair value of intangibles and property, plant and equipment in business combination | (64) | 64 | |
| Other | 251 | 251 | |
| Effect in income statement | (1,649) | 22 | (1,671) |
| Employee post-retirement obligation | 34 | 34 | |
| Fair value of financial instruments | 32 | 32 | |
| Other comprehensive income | 66 | 66 | |
| Transfer between assets and liabilities | (371) | (371) | |
| Translation adjustment | 749 | 19 | 730 |
| Transfer to asset to held for sale | (213) | 213 | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | 9,565 | 870 | 8,695 |
| Taxes losses carryforward | 937 | 937 | |
| Provision for asset retirement obligations and other liabilities | (361) | 18 | (379) |
| Fair value of financial instruments | 393 | 393 | |
| Fair value of intangibles and property, plant and equipment in business combination | (397) | 397 | |
| Other | (61) | (61) | |
| Effect in income statement | 908 | (379) | 1,287 |
| Employee post-retirement obligation | (20) | 26 | (46) |
| Fair value of financial instruments | (1) | (1) | |
| Other comprehensive income | (21) | 26 | (47) |
| Transfer between assets and liabilities | (250) | (250) | |
| Translation adjustment | (1,953) | (130) | (1,823) |
| Incorporations, acquisitions and divestments (i) | (5) | 308 | (313) |
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | 8,244 | 445 | 7,799 |
| (i) | Includes mainly the amount of US$312 related with the deferred income tax liability assumed due to the acquisition of Aliança Geração de Energia S.A. (note 17c). |
| 28 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
c) Tax incentives
In Brazil, the Company has tax incentives to partially reduce the income tax generated by the operations conducted in the North region that includes iron ore and copper. The incentive is calculated based on the taxable income of the incentive activity (tax operating income) and considers the allocation of tax operating income into different incentives applicable to different tranches of production during specified periods for each product, usually 10 years. In addition to these incentives, the income tax payable can be reduced by investing in the acquisition of new machinery and equipment, subject to subsequent approval by the Superintendence for the Development of the Amazon (“SUDAM”).
As determined by the Brazilian law, the tax savings obtained due to these incentives must be recorded in the retained earnings reserve in equity and cannot be distributed as dividends to shareholders.
The Company’s tax incentives are expected to expire substantially in 2033. The effects on the income statement are presented as “tax incentives” in item (a) of this note.
| d) | Income taxes - Settlement programs (“REFIS”) |
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Current liabilities | 353 | 428 |
| Non-current liabilities | 1,007 | 1,723 |
| REFIS liabilities | 1,360 | 2,151 |
| SELIC rate | 12.25% | 11.75% |
The balance mainly relates to the settlement program of claims regarding the collection of income tax and social contribution on equity gains of foreign subsidiaries and affiliates from 2003 to 2012. This amount bears SELIC interest rate (Special System for Settlement and Custody) and will be paid in monthly installments until October 2028 and the impact of the SELIC over the liability is recorded under the Company’s financial results (note 7).
e) Uncertain tax positions (“UTP”)
The Company is engaged in administrative and judicial discussions with tax authorities in Brazil in relation to certain tax positions adopted by the Company for calculating income tax and social contribution on net income. The final determination is uncertain and depends on factors not controlled by the Company, such as changes in case law and changes in tax laws and regulations. The tax positions adopted by Vale are supported by legal advisors and the Company is subject to the assessment of income tax by local tax authorities in a range up to 10 years depending on jurisdiction where the Company operates.
The amount under discussion with the tax authorities is US$6,535 as of December 31, 2024 (2023: US$5,408), which includes the reduction of tax losses in the amount of US$596 as of December 31, 2024 (2023: US$754), if the tax authority does not accept the tax treatment adopted by the Company in relation to these matters.
| (i) | Includes the assessments received, related to the tax effects arising from the reduction of the tax losses and negative basis of the CSLL presented below, without fines and interest, whether or not materialized. |
| (ii) | Includes the principal, without fines and interest. |
| (iii) | Based on the assessment of its internal and external legal advisors, the Company believes that the tax treatment adopted for these matters will be accepted in decisions of the higher courts on last instance. |
| 29 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Transfer pricing calculation over the exportation of ores to a foreign subsidiary - The Company was assessed for the IRPJ and CSLL, for the years of 2015 and 2020 as the tax agent has disregarded the intermediation costs and other adjustments used in the calculation of the transfer pricing over the exportation of iron ore, pellets, manganese, and copper to its foreign controlled company. The Company is challenging these assessments at the administrative level and a decision is pending.
The Company maintains the method of calculating the transfer pricing, as it considers it to be the most appropriate tax treatment for interpreting the rules in force and applicable to the subject and is discussing the charges at the administrative level.
The total amount in dispute is US$2,979 as of December 31, 2024 (2023: US$1,630), excluding the corresponding tax impact without fines and interests of US$408 as of December 31, 2024 (2023: US$514), totaling US$3,387 (2023: US$2,144). The amount involved for the period, which are not in dispute, is US$1,608 as of December 31, 2024 (2023: US$3,010).
Expenses of interest on equity capital (“JCP”) - Vale received assessments for the collection of IRPJ, CSLL and fines, on the grounds that the deduction of JCP was improper, referring to the base years of 2017 and 2018, due to failure to comply with the accrual basis and absence of individualized accounting credit per shareholder. The amount under discussion is US$1,149 as of December 31, 2024 (2023: US$1,367), excluding the corresponding tax impact without fines and interests of US$113 as of December 31, 2024 (2023: US$144), totaling US$1,262 (2023: US$1,511). The Company presented administrative defenses for these assessments and is awaiting a decision.
Offset of the income tax paid abroad - Vale received a tax assessment for the collection of US$427 (2023: US$512) due to the disregard of taxes paid abroad that were offset by the IRPJ debt in 2016. Tax authorities allege the Company has failed to comply with the applicable rules relating to the offset, in Brazil, of income taxes paid abroad. The Company had filed an administrative appeal, and a decision is pending.
Goodwill amortization - The Company received tax assessments for the collection of IRPJ and CSLL for the periods between 2013 and 2019, due to the disregard of the deduction of goodwill amortization expenses recorded in the acquisition of controlled companies, after its merger by the Company.
The Company is discussing the charges at the administrative level and the amount under discussion is US$692 as of December 31, 2024 (2023: US$540), excluding the corresponding tax impact without fines and interests of US$51 as of December 31, 2024 (2023: US$66), totaling US$743 (2023: US$606). The amount involved for the period, which are not in dispute, is US$62 (2023: US$190).
Payments to Renova Foundation - The Company deducted payments made to Renova Foundation arising from the obligation entered into the Transaction and Conduct Adjustment Agreement (“TTAC”). Vale understands that the deduction of such expenses is adequate, since its liability is objective, arising from the obligation arising from the TTAC and its status as a shareholder of Samarco and as a sponsor of Renova Foundation.
The mentioned payments were deducted until April 2023 when Vale entered into a binding agreement jointly with BHPB, Samarco, and certain creditors of Samarco, establishing the parameters for the restructuring of Samarco's debt. This restructuring was implemented through a consensual reorganization plan, which was approved by the Judicial Recovery Court in September 2023. According to the agreement, contributions made by Vale to the Renova Foundation from May 2023 onward will be converted into capital contributions to Samarco and, therefore, will no longer be deductible. Further details on Samarco's judicial recovery are provided in note 27 of these financial statements.
The Company received tax assessment notices for the periods 2016,2018 and 2019, for the collection of IRPJ and CSLL on the grounds that expenses incurred with Renova Foundation were unduly deducted for allegedly not being considered necessary. The total amount assessed is US$280 for the year ended December 31, 2024 (2023: US$140), excluding the corresponding tax impact without fines and interests of US$21 as of December 31, 2024 (2023: US$27), totaling US$301 (2023: US$167). The amount involved for the period, which are not in dispute, is US$351 (2023: US$536).
| 30 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Deduction of CSLL from the taxable income - In 2004, a definitive decision of the Superior Court of Justice (“STJ”) granted to the Company the right to deduct the Social Contribution on Net Income (“CSLL”) from the taxable base of the corporate income tax (“IRPJ”). The Federal Government filed a rescission action (“ação rescisória”) in 2006, seeking to reverse the 2004 decision. In 2019, the Federal Court of Appeals (“TRF”) upheld the rescission action and, although the decision was not final, the Company decided not to deduct the CSLL from the taxable income since then.
Meanwhile, the Federal Supreme Court (“STF”) is judging two extraordinary appeals with impact to all taxpayers. These appeals are discussing how long a court decision related to a tax matter would remain valid if the STF had subsequently issued a contrary decision. Due to the developments of this matter in the STF and based on the updated assessment of its legal advisors, the Company concluded that the tax treatment previously adopted will probably not be accepted by the tax authority and, therefore, it recognized a liability as “Tax payable” of US$154 for the year ended December 31, 2024 (2023: US$183).
f) Recoverable and payable taxes
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||
| Current assets | Non-current assets | Current liabilities | Current assets | Non-current assets | Current liabilities | |
| Value-added tax ("ICMS") | 260 | 3 | 34 | 232 | 5 | 25 |
| Brazilian federal contributions ("PIS" and "COFINS") | 266 | 975 | 12 | 355 | 1,010 | 615 |
| Income taxes | 564 | 319 | 317 | 302 | 358 | 429 |
| Financial compensation for the exploration of mineral resources ("CFEM") | - | - | 63 | - | - | 93 |
| Other | 10 | 148 | 11 | 1 | 152 | |
| Total | 1,100 | 1,297 | 574 | 900 | 1,374 | 1,314 |
Accounting policy
For the Vale S.A.’s subsidiaries that operate in jurisdictions where the tax rate is lower than the tax rate applicable in Brazil, the Brazilian corporate tax law requires Vale S.A. to pay in Brazil the income tax related with the referred rate differential. Therefore, the income tax charge is computed in the consolidated financial statements using the tax rate enacted at the end of the reporting period in Brazil.
Management regularly assesses positions taken in tax returns concerning situations where applicable tax regulations are subject to interpretation. Provisions are established, as needed, based on expected amounts payable to tax authorities. Liabilities related to uncertain tax positions are recorded only when it is deemed, with a more-likely-than-not probability, that these positions will withstand challenges, if any, from taxing authorities, based on input from internal and external legal advisors.
Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the carrying amount and the tax basis of assets and liabilities, as well as tax losses carryforwards. However, deferred tax liabilities arising from the initial recognition of goodwill are not recognized. Additionally, deferred income tax is not accounted for if it arises from the initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects neither accounting profit nor taxable profit (tax loss) and does not give rise to equal taxable and deductible temporary differences. Offset of deferred tax assets and liabilities occurs when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities, and when the deferred tax balances pertain to the same taxation authority.
Deferred tax assets resulting from tax losses and temporary differences are not recognized when it is not probable that future taxable profit will be available against which these differences and/or tax losses can be utilized. The Company evaluates annually the recoverability of these deferred tax assets through the revision of the future taxable profit estimates.
Current and deferred tax is recognized in profit or loss unless it relates to items recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In such cases, the tax is also recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.
| 31 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
Deferred income tax - Significant judgements, estimates and assumptions are required to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that are recognized based on the likely timing and future taxable profits. Deferred tax assets arising from tax losses carryforward and temporary differences are recognized considering assumptions and projected cash flows. Deferred tax assets may be affected by factors including, but not limited to: (i) internal assumptions on the projected taxable income, which are based on production and sales planning, commodity prices, operational costs and planned capital costs; (ii) macroeconomic environment; and (iii) trade and tax scenarios.
Uncertain tax positions - The Company applies significant judgement to assess the probability that the adopted treatment will be accepted by the taxation authorities, which could impact the consolidated financial statements. The Company operates in multiple jurisdictions where uncertainties arise in the application of complex tax regulations. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to reviews of income tax filings and other tax payments, and disputes can arise with the taxing authorities over the interpretation of the applicable laws and regulations.
The basic and diluted earnings per share are presented below:
11. Cash flows reconciliation
a) Cash flow from operating activities
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Cash flow from operating activities: | ||||
| Income before income taxes | 6,696 | 11,151 | 19,781 | |
| Adjusted for: | ||||
| Equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures | 16 | 269 | 1,108 | (305) |
| (Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net | 20 | (301) | 266 | (773) |
| Provisions related to Brumadinho | 26 | 116 | 461 | 400 |
| Provision for de-characterization of dams | 28 | (206) | 153 | 72 |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 3,057 | 3,070 | 3,171 | |
| Financial results, net | 7 | 3,823 | 1,946 | (2,268) |
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||
| Accounts receivable | 12 | 1,668 | 197 | (325) |
| Inventories | 13 | (549) | (214) | 45 |
| Suppliers and contractors | 14 | (360) | 637 | 495 |
| Other assets and liabilities, net | (446) | (1,523) | (1,531) | |
| Cash flow from operations | 13,767 | 17,252 | 18,762 | |
| 32 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
b) Cash flow from investing activities
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Cash paid for the purchase of Anglo American Brasil shares | 17(a) | (30) | ||
| Proceeds from partial disposal of VODC shares | 17(b) | 600 | ||
| Cash paid for the acquisition of Aliança Energia shares | 17(c) | (493) | ||
| Proceeds from the partial disposal of PTVI shares | 17(d) | 155 | ||
| Proceeds from the partial disposal of VBML shares | 17(e) | 2,455 | ||
| Disbursement related to MRN sale | 17(f) | (72) | ||
| Proceeds from the divestment of Companhia Siderúrgica do Pecém | 17(h) | 1,082 | ||
| Cash contribution to Companhia Siderúrgica do Pecém | 17(h) | (1,149) | ||
| Proceeds from the sale of Midwestern System | 17(i) | 140 | ||
| Proceeds from the sale of California Steel Industries | 17(j) | 437 | ||
| Cash received (paid) from disposal and acquisition of investments, net | 2,687 | (139) | 577 | |
c) Reconciliation of debt to cash flows arising from financing activities
| (i) | Includes bond premium repurchase. |
| (ii) | Classified as operating activities in the statement of cash flows. |
Funding
| · | In January 2025 (subsequent event), the Company contracted a loan of US$270 with commercial banks indexed to Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2029. |
| · | In December 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$50 with DBS Bank indexed to SOFR plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2026. |
| · | In December 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$250 with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation indexed to SOFR plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2028. |
| · | In November 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$300 with BBM Bank indexed to SOFR plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2029. |
| · | In October 2024, the Company issued debentures of US$1 billion (R$6 billion) indexed to IPCA plus 6.38% to 6.43% per year, paid semi-annually, and maturing in 2034, 2036 and 2039. The proceeds were received in November 2024 and will be used in infrastructure projects related with the railway concessions. |
| 33 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
| · | In October 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$300 with Bank of Nova Scotia indexed to SOFR plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2027. |
| · | In September 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$187 with China Construction Bank indexed to SOFR plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2029. |
| · | In September 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$300 with Bank of China indexed to SOFR plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2029. |
| · | In July 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$475 with The Bank of Nova Scotia indexed to SOFR plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2027. |
| · | In June 2024, the Company issued bonds of US$1 billion with a coupon of 6.40% per year, payable semi-annually, and maturing in 2054. |
| · | In April 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$90 with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (“CIBC”) indexed to SOFR plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2024. |
| · | In March 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$360 with the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (“JBIC”) indexed to SOFR plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2035. |
| · | In March 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$60 with the CIBC indexed to SOFR plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2024. |
| · | In February 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$166 with Banco Santander indexed to SOFR plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2025. |
| · | In February 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$34 with Credit Agricole Bank indexed to SOFR plus spread adjustments and maturing in 2025. |
| · | From January to February 2024, the Company contracted a loan of US$250 with Banco Bradesco with a fixed rate maturing in 2025. |
| · | In September 2023, the Company contracted a loan of US$150 with Citibank, indexed to SOFR with spread adjustments and maturing in 2028. |
| · | In June 2023, Vale issued notes of US$1,500 with a coupon of 6.125% per year, payable semi-annually, and maturing in 2033. |
| · | In March 2023, the Company contracted a loan of US$300 with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited, Panama Branch (“ICBC”) indexed to SOFR with spread adjustments and maturing in 2028. |
Payments
| · | In November 2024, the Company settled the loan contracted with HSBC Bank, in the amount of US$250. |
| · | In August 2024, the Company settled the loan contracted with Credit Agricole Bank, in the amount of US$34. |
| · | In July 2024, Vale redeemed notes with maturity date in 2026, and repurchased notes with maturity date in 2036 and 2039, in the total amount of US$970 and paid a premium of US$50, recorded as “Bond premium repurchase” in the financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024. |
| · | In July 2024, the Company settled the loan contracted with CIBC, in the amount of US$90. |
| · | In July 2024, the Company settled the loan contracted with The Bank of Nova Scotia, in the amount of US$475. |
| 34 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
| · | In January 2024, the Company paid principal and interest of debentures, in the amount of US$46. |
| · | In June 2023, Vale repurchased notes with maturity date in 2026, 2036 and 2039, in the total amount of US$500 and paid a premium of US$22, recorded as “financial expenses” in the income statement for the year period ended December 31, 2023. |
| · | In January 2023, the Company paid principal and interest of debentures, in the amount of US$24. |
d) Non-cash transactions
| Year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Non-cash transactions: | |||
| Additions to PP&E with capitalized loans and borrowing costs | 36 | 19 | 47 |
12. Accounts receivable
| Notes | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Receivables from contracts with customers | |||
| Third parties | |||
| Iron Solutions | 1,540 | 3,406 | |
| Energy Transition Metals | 788 | 743 | |
| Other | 19 | 3 | |
| Related parties | 32 | 63 | 89 |
| Accounts receivable | 2,410 | 4,241 | |
| Expected credit loss | (52) | (44) | |
| Accounts receivable, net | 2,358 | 4,197 |
Provisionally priced commodities sales – The Company is mainly exposed to iron ore and copper price risk. The Company's primary exposure lies in iron ore and copper price risk. The determination of the final sales price for these commodities is based on the pricing period outlined in the sales contracts, typically occurring after the revenue recognition date. Consequently, the Company initially recognizes revenue using a provisional invoice. Subsequently, the receivables associated with provisionally priced products are measured at fair value through profit or loss (note 22). Any fluctuations in the value of these receivables are reflected in the Company's net operating revenue.
The sensitivity of the Company’s risk related to the final settlement of provisionally priced accounts receivables is detailed below:
| December 31, 2024 | ||||
| Thousand metric tons | Provisional price (US$/ton) | Variation |
Effect on Revenue (US$ million) | |
| Iron ore | 19,621 | 101 | +/- 10% | +/- 198 |
| Copper | 69 | 8,479 | +/- 10% | +/- 58 |
Accounting policy
Accounts receivable represent the aggregate amount receivable from the sale of products and services by the Company. Initially recognized at fair value, they are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method, except for the component of provisionally priced commodities sales that are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss.
The Company applies the IFRS 9 - Financial Instruments simplified approach for measuring expected credit losses. This approach utilizes a lifetime expected loss allowance for the accounts receivable measured at amortized cost. A provision matrix, established by the Company, forms the basis for this measurement. The matrix incorporates historical credit loss experience, adjusted for forward-looking factors specific to the economic environment, and considers any financial guarantees associated with these accounts receivables.
| 35 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
13. Inventories
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Finished products | ||
| Iron Solutions | 2,493 | 2,457 |
| Energy Transition Metals | 571 | 640 |
| Total finished products | 3,064 | 3,097 |
| Work in progress | 691 | 567 |
| Consumable inventory | 988 | 1,159 |
| Net realizable value provision (i) | (138) | (139) |
| Total of inventories | 4,605 | 4,684 |
(i) In 2024, the effect of provision for net realizable value was US$35 (2023: US$54 and 2022: US$44).
The cost of goods sold is presented in note 6(a).
Accounting policy
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Inventory production cost comprises variable and fixed costs, direct and indirect costs of production and are assigned to individual items of inventory based on weighted average costs method. At the end of the reporting period, net realizable value of inventories are assessed and a provision for losses on obsolete or slow-moving inventory may be recognized. The write-downs and reversals are recognized as “Cost of goods sold, and services rendered”.
14. Suppliers and contractors
| Notes | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Third parties | 4,004 | 5,114 | |
| Related parties | 32(b) | 230 | 158 |
| Total | 4,234 | 5,272 |
The financial liabilities presented as Suppliers and contractors in the Company's statement of financial position represent the outstanding balance of invoices with suppliers for purchases of goods and services, being the average due date usually approximately 60 days. The Company's liquidity risk management process is described in note 21.
The Company enters into supplier finance arrangements (“Arrangements”) as part of the working capital strategy used in the Company's usual operating cycle, being the payment term extension limited to a short-term period. The Company is also party in agreements structured so that certain suppliers can advance their receivables with Vale due to purchases of materials and services, without any type of change in value or payment terms for the Company. These supplier finance arrangements continue to be presented as suppliers in the Company's statement of financial position, as the terms and conditions of the original liabilities were not substantially modified.
| December 31, 2024 | |
| Carrying amount of accounts payable included in the Arrangements of which suppliers have already received payment | 1,343 |
| Carrying amount of accounts payable included in the Arrangements of which suppliers have not yet received payment | 6 |
| Total carrying amount relating to Arrangements with suppliers and contractors | 1,349 |
Financial charges related to the increase in payment terms are recognized in the financial results as interest on supplier finance arrangements (note 7). The financial charges and foreign exchange gains/losses recognized in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2024 due to the Arrangements totaled, respectively, US$162 and US$6. There were no other non-cash movements for the year end.
| 36 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Accounting policy
The Company classifies financial liabilities arising from supplier finance arrangements within Supplier and contractors in the statement of financial position if they have nature and function similar to the commercial accounts payable.
This is the case when the supplier finance arrangement is part of the working capital used in the usual operational cycle of the Company and the terms of the liabilities included in the supplier finance arrangements are not substantially different from the terms of the commercial accounts payable not included in the supplier finance arrangements, i.e., the original financial liability is not substantially modified.
The cash flows associated with liabilities included in supplier finance arrangements that are classified as Suppliers and contractors in the statement of financial position are presented as operating activities in the statement of cash flows.
15. Other financial assets and liabilities
| Current | Non-Current | ||||
| Notes | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Other financial assets | |||||
| Restricted cash | - | - | 13 | 4 | |
| Derivative financial instruments | 21 | 53 | 271 | 15 | 544 |
| Investments in equity securities | - | - | 54 | 45 | |
| 53 | 271 | 82 | 593 | ||
| Other financial liabilities | |||||
| Derivative financial instruments | 21 | 197 | 36 | 428 | 95 |
| Other financial liabilities - Related parties | 32(b) | 291 | 290 | - | - |
| Liabilities related to the concession grant | 15(a) | 467 | 591 | 1,887 | 3,278 |
| Other financial liabilities | 588 | 759 | 32 | - | |
| 1,543 | 1,676 | 2,347 | 3,373 | ||
a) Liabilities related to the concession grant
In December 2020, the Company entered into an agreement with the Federal Government to continue operating its concessions of the Estrada de Ferro Carajás (“EFC”) and Estrada de Ferro Vitória a Minas (“EFVM”) for thirty years more, extending the maturity date from 2027 to 2057.
Vale, the Brazilian National Land Transportation Agency (“ANTT”) and the Brazilian Federal Government, through the Ministry of Transportation (together: “Parties”), had been discussing the general conditions for concession contracts and on December 30,2024, the general basis for the renegotiation were agreed among the Parties and will comply with usual formalities and will be submitted for the authorities’ evaluation and approval.
The renegotiation will be performed under the terms of the concession contracts, which remain in force, aiming to promote their modernization and updating. Under the renegotiation’s general basis, Vale has committed to a maximum global contribution of approximately US$1,809 (R$11,031 million), for the EFC and EFVM’s asset base review, the optimization of contractual obligations and investments replanning. Additionally, Vale paid US$656 (R$4 billion) in advance on December 30, 2024.
| 37 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Changes in Liabilities related to the concession grant
(a.i) Renegotiation of concession contracts
As a result of the agreed conditions, the Company recognized an addition of US$256 (R$1,559 million) in provision, which reflects the revised estimates regarding the amount of future disbursements required to fulfill the contractual obligations of the railway concessions. Additionally, the liability was reduced by US$656 (R$4 billion) due to the advanced payment made by Vale.
(a.ii) Payment obligation
The Company will make payments for the concession grants in quarterly installments through the concession period. This obligation is updated annually by the readjustment index for monetary exchange (IRT), which was 4.76% for the year 2024 (2023: 4.82%), resulting in an addition to the provision of US$25 for the year ended December 31,2024.
The concession contract renewal requires the review and physical inspection of the railway assets by the ANTT. In addition, the ANTT may require, at their discretion, further investments on the concession network. Furthermore, there is a requirement for the Company to complete a minimum percentage of certain investments by 2027. In these circumstances, discussions on the economic and financial rebalancing of the contracts will be required and depending on the result of the physical inventory review and if new investments are demanded, the carrying amount of grant payable may have a material impact in the future.
(a.iii) Infrastructure investment
Midwestern Integration Railroad ("FICO") - Construction of 363 km of FICO, between the municipalities of Mara Rosa, in Goiás, and Água Boa, in Mato Grosso. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has a provision in the amount of US$656 (2023: US$1,584).
Infrastructure program - Comprises over 450 separate projects designed to improve safety and reduce trespass where the railways pass through urban areas, as well as technological and cultural development projects. The program will benefit 25 and 33 municipalities intercepted by EFC and EFVM, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has a provision in the amount of US$580 (2023: US$1,154).
| 38 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Accounting policy
Concessions – Railway concessions liabilities consist of the future payments discounted at present value associated with the fixed payments for the concession and the obligations related with investments in infrastructure.
Grant payments are discounted using the regulatory weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”), which is the interest rate explicit in the concession agreement as determined by the ANTT, and payments related to other investment obligations are discounted at an incremental rate to reflect the time value of money, that is, a risk-free interest rate applicable to the economic environment in which the Company operates and with terms and conditions equivalent to the obligations assumed.
The amounts payable in relation to the concession granted accounted for as intangible in accordance with the accounting policy, disclosed in note 18.
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
The liabilities related to the concession grant may be affected by factors including, but not limited to: (i) amounts expected to be disbursed for constructing railways and infrastructure; (ii) cost of acquiring equipment to be made available for the granting authority; (iii) other miscellaneous obligations that complement the early extension of the railway concessions agreement; and (iv) updates in the discount rate.
Thus, the amounts actually incurred by the Company may differ from the amounts currently provisioned, due to the confirmation of the assumptions used and which depend on several factors, some of which are not under the Company's control. These changes could result in a material impact on the amount of the provision in future periods. At each presentation date of its financial statements, the Company will reassess the main assumptions used in the preparation of projected cash flows and will adjust the provision, when applicable.
| 39 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
16. Investments in associates and joint ventures
| Associates and joint ventures | % ownership | December 31, 2023 | Additions and capitalizations | Equity results in income statement | Dividends declared | Translation adjustment (i) | Fair value remeasurement (i) | Other | December 31, 2024 |
| Iron Solutions | |||||||||
| Anglo American Minério de Ferro Brasil S.A. (iv) | 15.00 | 670 | 3 | (11) | 1 | 663 | |||
| Baovale Mineração S.A. | 50.00 | 28 | - | 2 | (3) | (6) | - | (1) | 20 |
| Companhia Coreano-Brasileira de Pelotização | 50.00 | 73 | - | 27 | (6) | (19) | - | - | 75 |
| Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização | 50.89 | 49 | - | 14 | (10) | (11) | - | - | 42 |
| Companhia Ítalo-Brasileira de Pelotização | 50.90 | 63 | - | 16 | (7) | (17) | - | 6 | 61 |
| Companhia Nipo-Brasileira de Pelotização | 51.00 | 150 | - | 41 | (26) | (36) | - | - | 129 |
| MRS Logística S.A. | 49.01 | 640 | - | 135 | (27) | (157) | - | - | 591 |
| VLI S.A. | 29.60 | 346 | - | 81 | - | (86) | - | - | 341 |
| Samarco Mineração S.A. (note 27) | 50.00 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Vale Oman Distribution Center | 50.00 | - | - | 16 | - | - | 600 | - | 616 |
| 1,349 | 670 | 335 | (79) | (343) | 600 | 6 | 2,538 | ||
| Energy Transition Metals | |||||||||
| PT Vale Indonesia Tbk | 33.88 | - | - | ) | - | - | 1,910 | 4 | 1,885 |
| - | - | (29) | - | - | 1,910 | 4 | 1,885 | ||
| Others | |||||||||
| Aliança Geração de Energia S.A. (ii) | - | 356 | - | 4 | - | (62) | - | (298) | - |
| Aliança Norte Energia Participações S.A. | 51.00 | 106 | - | (10) | - | (22) | - | - | 74 |
| Other | 61 | - | 2 | (1) | (13) | - | 1 | 50 | |
| 523 | - | (4) | (1) | (97) | - | (297) | 124 | ||
| Equity results in associates and joint ventures | 1,872 | 670 | 302 | (80) | (440) | 2,510 | (287) | 4,547 | |
| Other results in associates and joint ventures (iii) | - | - | (571) | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures | - | - | (269) | - | - | - | - | - |
| (i) | It refers to the remeasurement at fair value of the remaining stake held by Vale on PT Vale Indonesia Tbk and Vale Oman Distribution Center, after the closing of the divestment transactions (notes 17b and 17d). |
| (ii) | The effect presented in “Other” column refers to derecognition of the investment due to the acquisition of control over Aliança Geração de Energia S.A., that became a subsidiary. Further details are disclosed in note 17(c) of these financial statements. |
| (iii) | It refers mainly to the expense with the additional provision for Samarco in the amount of US$956 (note 27), net of the gain of US$305 due to the acquisition of Aliança Geração de Energia S.A. (note 17c). |
| (iv) | The effect presented in “additions and capitalizations” column refers to the purchase of 15% stake in Anglo American Minério de Ferro Brasil S.A. (note 17a). |
| 40 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Capital reduction in a foreign subsidiary – In August 2022, the Company approved a capital reduction in the amount of US$1,500 of Vale International SA (“VISA”), a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary, leading to a reduction in the absolute value of the investment held by the Parent Company, which resulted in a gain of US$1,543 due to the reclassification of the cumulative translation adjustments following our accounting policy for such nature of transaction, presented as “Other financial items, net” (note 7). The remaining balance of cumulative translation adjustments of VISA represents US$4,990 as of December 31, 2024 (2023: US$4,906).
a) Summarized financial information
The summarized financial information about relevant associates and joint ventures for the Company are as follow. The stand-alone financial statements of those entities may differ from the financial information reported herein, which is prepared considering Vale’s accounting policies and using the most recent financial information available adjusted for the effects of significant transactions or events that occur between the date of the financial information and the date of the Company’s financial statements. The summarized financial information about Samarco is presented in note 27.
| Year ended December 31, 2024 | |||||||
| Aliança Norte Energia Participações | Anglo American Minério de Ferro do Brasil S.A. | Pelletizing plants (i) | MRS Logística | PT Vale Indonesia Tbk | Vale Oman Distribution Center | VLI S.A. | |
| Current assets | - | 683 | 369 | 868 | 1,183 | 88 | 786 |
| Non-current assets | 146 | 8,375 | 374 | 2,461 | 4,792 | 1,779 | 2,757 |
| Total assets | 146 | 9,058 | 743 | 3,329 | 5,975 | 1,867 | 3,543 |
| Current liabilities | - | 1,033 | 138 | 547 | 264 | 40 | 799 |
| Non-current liabilities | 1 | 2,081 | - | 1,576 | 147 | 596 | 1,592 |
| Total liabilities | 1 | 3,114 | 138 | 2,123 | 411 | 636 | 2,391 |
| Equity | 145 | 5,944 | 605 | 1,206 | 5,564 | 1,231 | 1,152 |
| Net revenue | - | 2,085 | 307 | 1,303 | 472 | 67 | 1,705 |
| Net income (loss) | (20) | 401 | 194 | 263 | (85) | 31 | 275 |
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | |||||
| Aliança Geração de Energia | Aliança Norte Energia Participações | Pelletizing plants (i) | MRS Logística | VLI S.A. | |
| Current assets | 120 | - | 374 | 954 | 935 |
| Non-current assets | 1,064 | 210 | 420 | 2,779 | 3,309 |
| Total assets | 1,184 | 210 | 794 | 3,733 | 4,244 |
| Current liabilities | 171 | - | 133 | 704 | 933 |
| Non-current liabilities | 365 | 2 | 1 | 1,709 | 2,143 |
| Total liabilities | 536 | 2 | 134 | 2,413 | 3,076 |
| Equity | 648 | 208 | 660 | 1,320 | 1,168 |
| Net revenue | 230 | - | 194 | 1,291 | 1,682 |
| Net income (loss) | 88 | (15) | 172 | 243 | (366) |
| (i) | Aggregated entities: Companhia Coreano-Brasileira de Pelotização, Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização, Companhia Ítalo-Brasileira de Pelotização, and Companhia Nipo-Brasileira de Pelotização. |
| 41 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
b) Subsidiaries
The significant consolidated entities in each business segment are as follows:
|
|
Location | Main activity/Business | % Ownership | % Voting capital | % Noncontrolling interest |
| Direct and indirect subsidiaries | |||||
| Aliança Geração de Energia S.A. | Brazil | Energy | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Companhia Portuária da Baía de Sepetiba | Brazil | Iron ore | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Minerações Brasileiras Reunidas S.A. (“MBR”) | Brazil | Iron ore | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Salobo Metais S.A. | Brazil | Copper | 90.0% | 90.0% | 10.0% |
| Vale Base Metals Limited | United Kindgdom | Holding | 90.0% | 90.0% | 10.0% |
| Vale Holdings B.V. | Netherlands | Holding and research | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Vale Canada Limited | Canada | Nickel | 90.0% | 90.0% | 10.0% |
| Vale International S.A. | Switzerland | Trading and holding | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Vale Malaysia Minerals Sdn. Bhd. | Malaysia | Iron ore | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Vale Oman Pelletizing Company LLC | Oman | Pelletizing plant | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
c) Noncontrolling interest
Summarized financial information
The summarized financial information, prior to the eliminations of the intercompany balances and transactions, about subsidiaries with material noncontrolling interest are as follow. The stand-alone financial statements of those entities may differ from the financial information reported herein, which is prepared considering Vale’s accounting policies.
| December 31, 2024 | |||
| Vale Base Metals Limited | Other | Total | |
| Current assets | 18 | - | - |
| Non-current assets | 13,141 | - | - |
| Related parties – Shareholders | 249 | - | - |
| Total assets | 13,408 | - | - |
| Current liabilities | - | - | - |
| Non-current liabilities | - | - | - |
| Related parties – Shareholders | 1,159 | - | - |
| Total liabilities | 1,159 | - | - |
| Equity | 12,249 | - | - |
| Equity (negative reserves) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 1,225 | (103) | 1,122 |
| Net income | (692) | - | - |
| Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (195) | 4 | (191) |
| Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests | |||
| December 31, 2023 | |||
| PTVI | Other | Total | |
| Current assets | 885 | - | - |
| Non-current assets | 2,977 | - | - |
| Related parties – Shareholders | 83 | - | - |
| Total assets | 3,945 | - | - |
| Current liabilities | 221 | - | - |
| Non-current liabilities | 239 | - | - |
| Total liabilities | 460 | - | - |
| Equity | 3,484 | - | - |
| Equity (negative reserves) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 1,599 | (79) | 1,520 |
| Net income | 207 | - | - |
| Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 144 | (22) | 122 |
| Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests | 33 | 8 | 41 |
| 42 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
| December 31, 2022 | ||||
| PTVI | Vale Oman Pelletizing | Other | Total | |
| Current assets | 853 | 84 | - | - |
| Non-current assets | 2,147 | 581 | - | - |
| Related parties – Shareholders | 113 | 81 | - | - |
| Total assets | 3,113 | 746 | - | - |
| Current liabilities | 183 | 96 | - | - |
| Non-current liabilities | 249 | 149 | - | - |
| Related parties – Shareholders | - | 297 | - | - |
| Total liabilities | 432 | 542 | - | - |
| Equity (negative reserves) | 2,681 | 204 | - | - |
| Equity (negative reserves) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 1,492 | 61 | (62) | 1,491 |
| Net income | 181 | 29 | - | - |
| Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 101 | 9 | (28) | 82 |
| Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests | - | 12 | - | 12 |
Accounting policy
Subsidiaries – The Company consolidates all entities over which it exercises control, defined as having both (i) exposure or rights to variable returns from its involvement and (ii) the ability to direct significant activities of the investee. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the acquisition date until the Company ceases to have control.
Transactions with noncontrolling interests – Investments held by other investors in Vale's subsidiaries are treated as noncontrolling interests (“NCI”). Transactions with NCI are treated as transactions with the Company's shareholders. For purchases or disposals of NCI, the difference between the consideration paid and the book value of the acquired portion of the subsidiary's net assets is directly recorded in equity under "Acquisitions and disposals of non-controlling interests."
Loss of control – When the Company ceases to have control, any interest retained in the entity is remeasured at its fair value, with the change in the carrying amount recognized in profit or loss. Amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified to the income statement.
Investments in associates and joint arrangements – Associates are entities over which the Company holds significant influence (typically 20% to 50% equity interest). If the equity interest in an associate decrease while retaining significant influence, a proportionate portion of the amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income is reclassified to profit or loss as appropriate. Dilution gains and losses on associates are recognized in the income statement.
Joint arrangements are all entities over which the Company shares control with one or more parties. The classification of joint arrangement investments as joint operations or joint ventures depends on the contractual rights and obligations of each investor.
Joint operations are recorded in the financial statements to represent the Company’s contractual rights and obligations. Accordingly, assets, liabilities, income and expenses related to the joint operation are individually recorded in the financial statements.
Interests in joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method, recognized initially at cost. The Company's investment in joint ventures includes identified goodwill from the acquisition, net of any impairment loss. The Company's interest in joint venture profits or losses is recognized in the income statement, and participation in changes in reserves is reflected in the Company's reserves. If the Company's interest in the losses of an associate or joint venture equals or exceeds the carrying amount of the investment, including any other receivables, additional losses are not recognized unless obligations or payments have been made on behalf of the joint venture.
In addition, the financial information used for associates and joint ventures to account for their impact in these financial statements may diverge from the stand-alone financial statements of those entities due to adjustments to Vale's accounting policy and variations in reporting periods.
| 43 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Cumulative translation adjustments - According to IAS 21, exchange differences arising from transactions and balances of foreign operations are recognized in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity until the full or partial disposal of the operation. A "partial disposal" of an investment can be construed as (i) a reduction in the percentage of equity interest or (ii) a decrease in the absolute value of the investment through the reduction of the investee's capital, even if the investor's ownership percentage remains unchanged. Consequently, there exists an accounting policy choice concerning the definition of a partial disposal.
In alignment with its accounting policy, the Company has chosen to treat a capital reduction in an investment in a foreign operation under the absolute value approach as described in (ii) above. Consequently, the exchange differences initially recorded in equity are reclassified to the income statement in the same proportion as the reduction in the net investment held in the foreign operation.
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
In certain scenarios, judgment is necessary to determine whether, after considering all relevant factors, the Company exercises control, joint control, or significant influence over an entity. Significant influence includes situations involving collective control.
The Company holds the majority of the voting capital in four joint arrangements (Aliança Norte Energia Participações S.A., Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização, Companhia Ítalo-Brasileira de Pelotização, and Companhia Nipo-Brasileira de Pelotização). However, due to shareholders’ agreements, management has concluded that the Company lacks a sufficiently dominant voting interest to direct the activities of these entities. Consequently, these entities are accounted for using the equity method due to shareholder agreements where relevant decisions are shared with other parties.
17. Acquisitions and divestitures
Effects on the income statement
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
| Reference | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Anglo American Minério de Ferro Brasil S.A. | 17(a) | 626 | ||
| Vale Oman Distribution Center | 17(b) | 1,222 | ||
| Aliança Geração Energia S.A. | 17(c) | 305 | ||
| PT Vale Indonesia Tbk | 17(d) | 1,059 | ||
| Mineração Rio do Norte | 17(f) | (87) | ||
| Companhia Siderúrgica do Pecém (i) | 17(h) | 31 | (135) | |
| Midwestern System | 17(i) | 1,158 | ||
| California Steel Industries | 17(j) | 292 | ||
| Manganese | 17(k) | (10) | ||
| Other | 19 | |||
| 3,212 | (56) | 1,324 | ||
| Discontinued operations (Coal) | 17(l) | 2,483 | ||
| 3,212 | (56) | 3,807 | ||
| (i) | Includes impairment of the investment in the amount of US$111 and a provision for accounts receivable with CSP in the amount of US$24. |
a) Purchase of equity interest in Anglo American Minério de Ferro Brasil S.A. (“Anglo American Brasil”) – In February 2024, the Company entered into a binding agreement with Anglo American plc for the purchase of 15% interest in Anglo American Brasil, the company that currently owns the Minas-Rio complex (“Minas-Rio”), in Brazil. The transaction was concluded in December 2024, and under the terms agreed, Vale contributed with Serra da Serpentina iron ore resources in the amount of US$750 and paid US$30 in cash. Additionally, depending on future iron ore prices over the next four years, there may be an adjustment to the transaction price and the fair value adjustments of this mechanism will be recognized in the Company's income statement, if any.
| 44 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
As a result of the transaction, Vale recognized a gain of US$626 in the income statement as “(Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net” due to the difference between the fair value and the carrying amount of the iron ore resources of Serra da Serpentina, which were contributed to Anglo American Brasil as part of the consideration transferred for the equity interest acquired.
The Company will also receive its pro-rata share of Minas-Rio's production, in addition to holding an option to purchase an additional 15% shareholding in Anglo American Brasil. The exercise price of the option will be the fair value, calculated at the time of exercise.
Upon completion of the transaction, Anglo American Brasil has become an associate of Vale, and the investment is accounted for equity method due to the significant influence exercised by Vale in the investee.
b) Divestment on Vale Oman Distribution Center (“VODC”) – VODC operates a maritime terminal with access to the Port of Sohar in Oman, featuring a deep-water jetty and an integrated iron ore blending and distribution center with a nominal capacity of 40 Mtpy.
In August 2024, the Company established a joint venture with AP Oryx Holdings LLC (“Apollo”) through a binding agreement to sell 50% equity interest in VODC for US$600 million. The transaction was completed in September 2024, reducing Vale’s stake in VODC from 100% to 50% and changing its status from a subsidiary to a joint venture.
With this transaction, Vale shared control over VODC with Apollo and, from then on, will no longer consolidate VODC, which will be accounted for as a joint venture using the equity method.
As a result of the transaction, the Company recognized a gain of US$1,222 in the income statement as “(Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net ”. This gain is due to (i) the result of the sale of the equity interest in the amount of US$555, (ii) the result of the remeasurement to fair value of the remaining interest in the amount of US$555, and (iii) the reclassification to income statement of the cumulative translation adjustments in the amount of US$112. The effects of this transaction are summarized below:
| September 26th, 2024 | |
| Sale of the 50% equity interest | |
| Cash received | 600 |
| Derecognition of VODC's net assets | (45) |
| Gain on sale of equity interest | 555 |
| Remeasurement of the 50% interest retained | |
| Fair value of 50% interest retained | 600 |
| Derecognition of VODC’s net assets | (45) |
| Gain on remeasurement of equity interest | 555 |
| Other effects of the deconsolidation | |
| Gain on the reclassification of cumulative translation adjustments | 112 |
| Gain on the transaction recorded in the income statement | 1,222 |
c) Acquisition of Aliança Geração de Energia S.A. (“Aliança Energia”) – Aliança Energia operates power generation assets in Brazil, with a portfolio of seven hydroelectric plants in the state of Minas Gerais and three operational wind farms in the states of Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará. The company was established in 2015 by Vale and Cemig Geração e Transmissão S.A. (“Cemig GT”) as a jointly controlled entity.
On March 2024, the Company entered into an agreement with Cemig GT to acquire its 45% stake in Aliança Energia. The decision was taken in the context of the divestment plan announced to the market by Cemig GT in 2020, and Vale chose to exercise its preferential right of acquisition.
On August 2024, the transaction was completed for the amount of US$493 (R$2,737 million), and Vale became the sole owner of Aliança Energia. As a result, the Company recorded a gain of US$305 in the income statement as “Results from investments and other results in associates and joint ventures,” due to the remeasurement to fair value of the previously held equity interest and began to consolidate Aliança Energia in its financial statements.
| 45 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
The fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as a result of the acquisition are presented below:
As disclosed below, the deferred tax liability recognized on the difference between the fair value and the book value of the net assets acquired results in goodwill, which is not deductible for tax purposes.
| Note | August 13, 2024 | |
| Consideration transferred for acquisition of the 45% equity interest held by Cemig GT | 493 | |
| Fair value of the 55% stake previously held by Vale | 603 | |
| Total [A] | 1,096 | |
| Fair value of net assets acquired | 1,096 | |
| (-) Deferred tax liability on the difference between the fair value and the book value of net assets | (257) | |
| Total net assets [B] | 839 | |
| Goodwill [A-B] | 18 | 257 |
d) Divestment on PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (“PTVI”) – PTVI has a contract of work with the government of Indonesia to operate its mining licenses (“Contract of Work”), expiring in December 2025. To extend the period of the mining licenses beyond 2025, PTVI must meet certain requirements under the Contract of Work, including the commitment to meet a threshold of Indonesian participants in its shareholding structure.
In November 2023, the Company signed a Heads of Agreement with PT Mineral Industri Indonesia (“MIND ID”) and Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (“SMM”) regarding the divestment obligation in PTVI. Therefore, since the year ended December 31, 2023, PTVI assets and liabilities were classified as held for sale.
In June 2024, the transaction was concluded, and the Company reduced its interests in PTVI in approximately 10.5%. This divestment was carried out through (i) the issuance of PTVI’s new shares, thereby diluting Vale in 2.1%, and (ii) by the direct sale of 8.4% of Vale’s shares to MIND ID. As a result of the transaction, MIND ID became PTVI's largest shareholder, holding approximately 34.0% of the issued shares, with the Company and SMM holding approximately 33.9% and 11.5%, respectively. The completion of the transaction fulfills the divestment obligations of the Contract of Work and satisfies a key condition for PTVI to extend its mining license until 2035, with potential extension beyond this period subject to certain requirements.
With the transaction, Vale received US$155 for its shares and lost control over PTVI and so, the Company will no longer consolidate PTVI, which will be accounted for as an associate under the equity method due to the significant influence it will retain over PTVI.
| 46 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
As result, the Company recognized a gain of US$1,059 in the income statement year ended December 31, 2024, as "(Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net ". This gain is due to the reclassification of cumulative translation adjustments of US$1,063 and the gain on remeasurement of the interest retained at fair value of the US$657, net of the loss on the reduction in PTVI stake in the amount of US$661. The effects of this transaction are summarized below:
| August 13th, 2024 | |
| Cash consideration received | 155 |
| Fair value of 33.9% interest retained (i) | 1,910 |
| Effects of the deconsolidation: | |
| Derecognition of net assets of PTVI | (3,697) |
| Gain on derecognition of noncontrolling shareholders | 1,628 |
| Gain on the reclassification of cumulative translation adjustments | 1,063 |
| Gain on the transaction recorded in the income statement | 1,059 |
(i) The fair value of the 33.9% retained interest was estimated based on a third-party valuation report. The valuation considered the discounted cash flow method. The key assumptions considered were (i) discount rate of 7.75% with incremental risk premium of around 1.00% on certain assets, (ii) asset life through to 2065, and (iii) range of expected nickel prices from US$/t 17,501 to US$/t 21,000.
Balance sheet of PTVI classified as held for sale
| December 31, 2023 | |
| Assets | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 703 |
| Accounts receivable | 20 |
| Inventories | 80 |
| Taxes | 117 |
| Investments | 13 |
| Property, plant and equipment | 2,792 |
| Intangible | 69 |
| Other assets | 139 |
| Total assets | 3,933 |
| Liabilities | |
| Suppliers and contractors | 172 |
| Deferred income taxes | 213 |
| Other liabilities | 176 |
| Total liabilities | 561 |
| Net assets held for sale | 3,372 |
e) Strategic partnership in the Energy Transition Metals business – In July 2023, the Company signed a binding agreement with Manara Minerals, a joint venture between Ma’aden and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, under which Manara Minerals would make an equity investment in Vale Base Metals Limited (“VBM”), the holding entity for Vale’s Energy Transition Metals Business that was a wholly owned subsidiary. At the same time, Vale and Engine No. 1 entered into another binding agreement for an equity investment in VBM.
In April 2024, the Company concluded the transaction with Manara Minerals to sell 10% of the business for US$2,455, which was fully contributed to VBM thereby diluting Vale to a 90% equity interest, retaining control over VBM. As a result, Vale recognized a gain from the sale in the amount of US$895, of which US$ was attributable to noncontrolling interests recorded in the equity as "Transactions with noncontrolling interests".
Additionally, in April 2024, Vale and Engine No. 1 agreed to not proceed with the transaction, which was discontinued, without any penalties to both parties.
f) Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. (“MRN”) – In November 2023, Vale concluded the sale of its 40% interest in MRN, which has been impaired in full since 2021, to Ananke Alumina S.A. (“Ananke”), an associate of Norsk Hydro ASA. At closing of the transaction, Vale paid US$72 to the buyer, resulting in a loss of US$87 recorded in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2023, as “Equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures”.
| 47 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
g) Vale Oman Pelletizing Company LLC (“VOPC”) – In February 2023, OQ Group exercised their option to sell its 30% noncontrolling interest held in VOPC, a subsidiary consolidated by the Company. As a result, in April 2023, the Company completed the transaction and acquired the minority interest previously held by the OQ Group for US$130, resulting in a gain of US$3, recorded in equity as “Transactions with of noncontrolling interests”, since it resulted from a transaction between shareholders. Upon closing, Vale owns 100% of VOPC's share capital.
h) Companhia Siderúrgica do Pecém (“CSP”) – In July 2022, the Company and the other shareholders of CSP signed a binding agreement with ArcelorMittal Brasil S.A. (“ArcelorMittal”) for the sale of CSP. Following the terms of the agreement, the Company has impaired its investment in full, with an impact of US$111 and recorded a provision for accounts receivable with CSP in the amount of US$24, both recorded in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2022.
In March 2023, the Company completed the sale of its interest in CSP to ArcelorMittal, for US$1,082, which was fully used to prepay most of the outstanding net debt of US$1,149. The remaining balance was settled by the shareholders and so Vale disbursed US$67 upon completion of the transaction. The Company also derecognized its financial liability related to the guarantee granted to CSP, leading to a gain of US$31 recorded as “Equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures” for the year ended December 31, 2023.
i) Midwestern System – In April 2022, the Company entered into an agreement with J&F Mineração (“J&F”) for the sale of Vale’s iron ore, manganese and logistics assets in the Centro-Oeste System, through equity interests in Mineração Corumbaense Reunida S.A., Mineração Mato Grosso S.A., International Iron Company, Inc. and Transbarge Navegación S.A.
The carrying amount of those assets were fully impaired in past years and the Company had a liability related to take-or-pay logistics contracts that were deemed onerous contracts under the Company’s business model for the Midwestern System.
However, these offers received during the sale process of the assets represented an objective evidence of impairment reversal and the remeasurement of the existing provision, which led to a gain of US$1,121 recorded as “(Impairment), reversal of impairment and gains (losses) on disposals of non-current assets, net”, of which US$214 relates to the property, plant and equipment and US$916 is due to the onerous contract liability, partially offset by losses in working capital adjustments at the closing of the transaction in the amount of US$9.
In July 2022, the Company completed the transaction and received US$140. Following the disposal, the Company recorded a gain of US$37 related to the reclassification of the cumulative translation adjustments from the equity to the income statement, recorded in “Other financial items, net”.
j) California Steel Industries (“CSI”) - In December 2021, the Company entered into a binding agreement with Nucor Corporation (“Nucor”) for the sale of its 50% interest in CSI for US$437. In February 2022, the Company concluded the sale and recorded a gain of US$292 for the year ended December 31, 2022, as “Equity results and other results in associates and joint ventures”, of which US$142 relates to a gain from the sale and US$150 is due the reclassification of the cumulative translation adjustments from the shareholders’ equity to the income statement.
k) Manganese
Operations in Minas Gerais - In January 2022, the Company completed the sale of its ferroalloy operations in Barbacena and Ouro Preto and its manganese mining operations at Morro da Mina, in the state of Minas Gerais, to VDL Group (“VDL”) for a total consideration of US$40. As the Company had already adjusted the net assets to the fair value less cost of disposal, the closing did not result in an additional impact on the income statement for 2022.
Operations in Bahia - In 2020, the Company decided to shut down the Simões Filho operation, located in the State of Bahia, the plant was part of Vale Manganês business and produced manganese ferroalloy. In 2022, the Company signed a binding agreement with Minas Ligas for a partial sale of the assets of this plant for US$11, which resulted in an impairment loss of US$10 for the year ended December 31, 2022.
| 48 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
l) Discontinued operations (Coal)
Binding agreement with Vulcan Resources (“Vulcan”)
In December 2021, the Company entered into a binding agreement with Vulcan Resources (formerly Vulcan Minerals) for the sale of these assets. Under the sale agreement Vulcan has committed to pay the gross amount of US$270, in addition of a 10-year royalty agreement subject to certain mine production and coal price conditions and so, due to the nature and uncertainties related to the measurement of these royalties, gains will be recognized as incurred. In April 2022, the transaction was completed, and the Company recorded a net income from discontinued operations of US$2,060 for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is mainly driven by the reclassification of the cumulative translation adjustments of US$3,072, from the equity to the income statement, which was partially offset by the derecognition of noncontrolling interest of US$585 due to the deconsolidation of the coal assets. Additionally, until the closing of the transaction, the Company recorded losses of US$589 due to the impairment of assets acquired in the period and working capital adjustments.
Net income and cash flows from discontinued operations
| Year ended December 31, 2022 | |
| Net income from discontinued operations | |
| Net operating revenue | 448 |
| Cost of goods sold and services rendered | (264) |
| Operating expenses | (13) |
| Impairment and results on disposals of non-current assets, net | (589) |
| Operating loss | (418) |
| Cumulative translation adjustments | 3,072 |
| Derecognition of noncontrolling interest | (585) |
| Financial results, net | (7) |
| Net income before income taxes | 2,062 |
| Income taxes | (2) |
| Net income from discontinued operations | 2,060 |
| Net income attributable to Vale's shareholders | 2,060 |
| Year ended December 31, 2022 | |
| Cash flow from discontinued operations | |
| Operating activities | |
| Net income before income taxes | 2,062 |
| Adjustments: | |
| Impairment and results on disposals of non-current assets, net | 589 |
| Derecognition of noncontrolling interest | 585 |
| Financial results, net | (3,065) |
| Decrease in assets and liabilities | (130) |
| Net cash generated by operating activities | 41 |
| Investing activities | |
| Additions to property, plant and equipment | (38) |
| Disposal of coal, net of cash | (65) |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (103) |
| Financing activities | |
| Payments | (11) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | (11) |
| Net cash used in discontinued operations | (73) |
| 49 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Accounting policy
Business combinations - The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for all business combinations, irrespective of whether equity instruments or other assets are acquired. The consideration transferred for acquiring a subsidiary comprises (i) the fair values of the assets transferred; (ii) assumed liabilities of the acquired business; (iii) equity interests issued to the Company; (iv) the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement; and (v) the fair value of any pre-existing equity interest in the subsidiary.
Identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are, with limited exceptions, initially measured at their fair values on the acquisition date. The Company recognizes any noncontrolling interest in the acquired entity on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, either at fair value or at the noncontrolling interest’s proportionate share of the acquired entity’s net identifiable assets.
Discontinued operations - The designation as a discontinued operation occurs either upon disposal or when the operation meets the criteria for classification as held for sale if this condition is met earlier. A discontinued operation refers to a component of a Company's business that encompasses cash flows and operations distinguishable from the remainder of the Company, representing a significant separate line of business or geographical area of operations.
The results of discontinued operations are presented in a single amount in the income statement, including the post-tax results of these operations, net of any impairment loss. Cash flows related to operating, investing, and financing activities of discontinued operations are disclosed in a separate note.
Upon classifying an operation as discontinued, the income statements for prior periods are restated as if the operation had been discontinued since the beginning of the comparative period.
Any noncontrolling interest associated with a group disposal held for sale is presented in equity and is not reclassified in the statement of financial position.
18. Intangibles
| Notes | Goodwill | Concessions | Software | Research and development project | Total | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | 3,189 | 6,434 | 87 | 528 | 10,238 | |
| Additions | - | 1,013 | 53 | 6 | 1,072 | |
| Disposals | - | (14) | - | - | (14) | |
| Amortization | - | (251) | (41) | - | (292) | |
| Transfers to held for sale (PTVI) | (68) | - | (1) | - | (69) | |
| Translation adjustment | 142 | 507 | 6 | 41 | 696 | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | 3,263 | 7,689 | 104 | 575 | 11,631 | |
| Cost | 3,263 | 9,394 | 634 | 575 | 13,866 | |
| Accumulated amortization | - | (1,705) | (530) | - | (2,235) | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | 3,263 | 7,689 | 104 | 575 | 11,631 | |
| Additions | - | 465 | 54 | - | 519 | |
| Disposals | - | (10) | - | (5) | (15) | |
| Amortization | - | (270) | (54) | - | (324) | |
| Acquisition of Aliança Energia | 17(c) | 257 | 824 | - | 4 | 1,085 |
| Translation adjustment | (482) | (1,756) | (20) | (124) | (2,382) | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | 3,038 | 6,942 | 84 | 450 | 10,514 | |
| Cost | 3,038 | 8,528 | 579 | 450 | 12,595 | |
| Accumulated amortization | - | (1,586) | (495) | - | (2,081) | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | 3,038 | 6,942 | 84 | 450 | 10,514 |
a) Concessions – Includes the operating concession contracts of EFC and EFVM (note 15a) and the energy concession contracts for the hydroelectric plants and wind farms of Aliança Geração de Energia S.A. (note 17c).
b) Goodwill – Includes the goodwill derived from acquisition of iron ore and nickel businesses and the goodwill from the incorporation of Valepar into Vale in 2017 which was recognized on the acquisition of Vale controlling interest by Valepar, based on the expected future returns of the ferrous segment. The Company has not recognized the deferred taxes over the goodwill, since there are no differences between the tax basis and accounting basis. Annually, the Company assesses the impairment of this asset, or more frequently when an indication of impairment is identified (note 20).
| 50 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
c) Research and development project - Refers to in-process research and development projects and patents identified in the business combination of New Steel Global N.V. acquired in 2019. The intangible assets of research and development are not subject to amortization until the operational phase is reached. Thus, the Company annually assesses the impairment of this asset, or more frequently when an indication of impairment is identified (note 20).
Accounting policy
Intangibles are carried at acquisition cost, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges.
The estimated useful lives are as follows:
| Useful life | ||
| Railway concessions | 5 to 33 years | |
| Research and development project | 19 years | |
| Software | 5 years |
19. Property, plant, and equipment
| Notes | Building and land | Facilities | Equipment | Mineral properties | Railway equipment | Right of use assets | Other | Constructions in progress | Total | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | 8,913 | 8,042 | 4,984 | 7,112 | 2,475 | 1,455 | 2,632 | 9,325 | 44,938 | |
| Additions (i) | - | - | - | - | - | 74 | - | 6,368 | 6,442 | |
| Disposals | (35) | (11) | (15) | (7) | (13) | - | (8) | (131) | (220) | |
| Assets retirement obligation | 28(b) | - | - | - | 324 | - | - | - | - | 324 |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | (462) | (517) | (736) | (446) | (168) | (190) | (323) | - | (2,842) | |
| Transfer to asset held for sale - PTVI | 17(d) | (670) | - | (759) | (791) | (41) | (8) | (2) | (521) | (2,792) |
| Translation adjustment | 578 | 574 | 214 | 286 | 187 | 28 | 138 | 541 | 2,546 | |
| Transfers | 1,795 | 1,151 | 762 | 447 | 172 | - | 47 | (4,374) | - | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | 10,119 | 9,239 | 4,450 | 6,925 | 2,612 | 1,359 | 2,484 | 11,208 | 48,396 | |
| Cost | 17,381 | 14,858 | 10,326 | 15,663 | 4,435 | 2,208 | 5,391 | 11,208 | 81,470 | |
| Accumulated depreciation | (7,262) | (5,619) | (5,876) | (8,738) | (1,823) | (849) | (2,907) | - | (33,074) | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | 10,119 | 9,239 | 4,450 | 6,925 | 2,612 | 1,359 | 2,484 | 11,208 | 48,396 | |
| Additions (i) | - | - | - | - | - | 83 | - | 5,839 | 5,922 | |
| Disposals and impairments (ii) | (28) | (382) | (88) | (1,636) | (8) | - | (3) | (466) | (2,611) | |
| Assets retirement obligation | 28(b) | - | - | - | (12) | - | - | - | - | (12) |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | (438) | (547) | (691) | (474) | (153) | (187) | (323) | - | (2,813) | |
| Acquisition of Aliança Energia | 27 | 87 | 329 | 2 | - | 4 | 51 | 73 | 573 | |
| Deconsolidation of VODC | - | (9) | (98) | (9) | - | (525) | - | (16) | (657) | |
| Translation adjustment | (1,991) | (1,945) | (736) | (964) | (565) | (74) | (409) | (2,130) | (8,814) | |
| Transfers | 966 | 1,642 | 872 | 715 | 202 | - | 392 | (4,789) | - | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | 8,655 | 8,085 | 4,038 | 4,547 | 2,088 | 660 | 2,192 | 9,719 | 39,984 | |
| Cost | 15,266 | 13,539 | 9,681 | 12,715 | 3,643 | 1,412 | 4,801 | 9,719 | 70,776 | |
| Accumulated depreciation | (6,611) | (5,454) | (5,643) | (8,168) | (1,555) | (752) | (2,609) | - | (30,792) | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | 8,655 | 8,085 | 4,038 | 4,547 | 2,088 | 660 | 2,192 | 9,719 | 39,984 |
| (i) | Includes capitalized interest. |
| (ii) | Includes impairment losses recognized in nickel operations in Thompson and Newfoundland and Labrador in the amounts of US$1,405 and US$540, respectively (note 20a). In addition, there were other impairment losses in the amount of US$265 and other disposals in the amount of US$401. |
For more details regarding right of use and lease liability see note 25.
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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Accounting policy
Property, plant, and equipment are recorded at the cost of acquisition or construction, net of accumulated depreciation and impairment charges.
Mineral properties developed internally are determined by (i) direct and indirect costs attributed to build the mining facilities, (ii) financial charges incurred during the construction period, (iii) depreciation of other fixed assets used during construction, (iv) estimated decommissioning and site restoration expenses, and (v) other capitalized expenditures during the development phase (phase when the project demonstrates its economic benefit to the Company, and the Company has ability and intention to complete the project).
The depletion of mineral properties is determined based on the ratio between production and total proven and probable mineral reserves.
Property, plant and equipment, other than mineral properties are depreciated using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives, from the date on which the assets become available for their intended use and are capitalized, except for land which is not depreciated.
The estimated useful lives are as follows:
| Useful life | ||
| Buildings | 3 to 50 years | |
| Facilities | 3 to 50 years | |
| Equipment | 3 to 40 years | |
| Wagons | 30 to 45 years | |
| Railway equipment | 5 to 37 years | |
| Vessels | 20 to 25 years | |
| Other | 2 to 50 years |
The residual values and useful lives of assets are reviewed at the end of each reporting period and adjusted if necessary.
Expenditures and stripping costs
(i) Exploration and evaluation expenditures - Expenditures on mining research are accounted for as operating expenses until the effective proof of economic feasibility and commercial viability of a given field can be demonstrated. From then on, the expenditures incurred are capitalized as mineral properties.
(ii) Expenditures on feasibility studies, new technologies and others research - The Company also conducts feasibility studies for many businesses which it operates including researching new technologies to optimize the mining process. After these costs are proven to generate future benefits to the Company, the expenditures incurred are capitalized.
(iii) Maintenance costs - Significant industrial maintenance costs, including spare parts, assembly services, and others, are recorded in property, plant and equipment and depreciated through the next programmed maintenance overhaul.
(iv) Stripping Costs – After the effective proof of economic feasibility and commercial viability of the field, the cost associated with the removal of overburden and other waste materials (“stripping costs”) incurred during the development of mines, before production takes place, are capitalized as part of the depreciable cost of the mineral properties. These costs are subsequently amortized over the useful life of the mine.
Post-production stripping costs are included in the cost of inventory, except when a new project is developed to permit access to a significant ore deposit. In such cases, the cost is capitalized as a non-current asset and is amortized during the extraction of the ore deposits, over the useful life of the ore deposits.
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
Mineral reserves - The estimates of proven and probable reserves are regularly evaluated and updated. These reserves are determined using generally accepted geological estimates. The calculation of reserves requires the Company to make assumptions about expected future conditions that are uncertain, including future ore prices, exchange rates, inflation rates, mining technology, availability of permits and production costs. Changes in assumptions could have a significant impact on the proven and probable reserves of the Company.
The estimated volume of mineral reserves is used as basis for the calculation of depletion of the mineral properties, and also for the estimated useful life which is a major factor to quantify the provision for asset retirement obligation, environmental recovery of mines and impairment of long-lived asset. Any changes to the estimates of the volume of mine reserves and the useful lives of assets may have a significant impact on the depreciation, depletion and amortization charges and assessments of impairment.
| 52 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
20. (Impairment), reversal of impairment and gain (losses) on disposal of non-current assets
The Company tested for impairment the cash-generating units (“CGU”) for which a triggering event was identified and also for the goodwill. The recoverable amount of each CGU under the Company’s impairment test was assessed using the fair value less costs of disposal model (“FVLCD”), through discounted cash flow techniques, which is classified as “level 3” in the fair value hierarchy, taking into consideration offers and purchase agreements, when applicable.
The cash flows were projected in real terms and discounted using a post-tax discount rate expressed in real terms, representing an estimate of the rate a market participant would apply, considering the time value of money and the specific risk of the asset. The Company used the weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”) of the mining segment as a starting point for determining the discount rates, with appropriate adjustments for the risk profile of the countries in which the individual CGU operate.
Climate change
As described in note 4, the potential financial impacts of climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy were considered in the assessment of the Company’s critical accounting estimates, including indicators of impairment, such as: (i) Decreases in the demand for the Company’s commodities, due to policy, regulatory (including carbon pricing mechanisms), legal, technological, market or societal responses to climate change; (ii) physical impacts related to risks resulting from increased frequency or severity of extreme weather events, and those related to chronic risks resulting from longer-term changes in climate patterns; and (iii) investments related to decarbonization.
a) Impairment test on assets related to nickel operations
In the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company identified impairment triggers related to its nickel operations in Thompson and Newfoundland and Labrador, both located in Canada. For both impairment tests, the main assumptions are detailed below:
| 2024 | |
| Measurement of recoverable value | FVLCD |
| Discount rate | 5.0%-6.0% |
| Period of cash flow projections | 2035-2049 |
| Range of nickel forecasted prices | US$/t 16,662 – 21,000 |
Nickel Operation in Thompson, Canada
Nickel concentrate is shipped from Thompson to be processed into finished and sealable material at another Vale Canada asset, and then sold and delivered to customers. Therefore, the assets associated with the Thompson operation are part of the CGU that processes the nickel concentrate from Thompson. In January 2025 (subsequent event), the Company has launched a strategic review to explore and evaluate a range of alternatives, including the potential sale, for its mining and exploration assets related with the nickel operation in Thompson.
Vale reviewed the business plan for this operation according to the new strategy and measured the recoverable amount, which resulted in an impairment loss of US$1,405 recognized in the income statement for the year ended December “reversal (impairment) and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net”. The carrying amount of this CGU after the impairment loss is US$4,196 as of December 31, 2024.
Nickel Operation in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Since 2015, the Company has been developing the Voisey’s Bay mine expansion project in the Vale Newfoundland and Labrador operation, a subsidiary of the Company that is considered a CGU. This project represented a significant shift from open-pit-only to two underground mining operations at Voisey's Bay site.
In December 2024, the expansion project was concluded, which was the beginning of its ramp-up phase. The Company identified operational challenges related to the production and processing ore extracted from the underground mines, resulting in the revision of production costs and sustaining investments for this CGU.
| 53 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Due to the increase in operating and investment costs associated solely with this CGU, Vale considered it as a triggering event for impairment testing. The test resulted in an impairment loss of US$540 recognized in the income statement as “reversal (impairment) and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net”. The carrying amount of this CGU after the impairment loss is US$2,405 as of December 31, 2024.
b) Impairment testing for the goodwill and other intangibles
Goodwill allocated to nickel operations
Goodwill allocated to iron ore and pellet operations
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Carrying amount | 1,152 | 1,473 |
| Impairment testing results | The recoverable amount of the operating segments is higher than the carrying amount, and therefore, there is no impairment to be recognized. | The recoverable amount of the operating segments is higher than the carrying amount, and therefore, there is no impairment to be recognized. |
| Measurement of recoverable value | FVLCD | FVLCD |
| Discount rate | 7.2% | 7.0% |
| Period of cash flow projections | 2054 | 2053 |
| Range of iron ore forecasted prices | US$/t 78 – 95 | US$/t 75 - 98 |
| Sensitivity of key assumptions | A 25% reduction in the long-term prices of all commodities or a 57% reduction in reserves would, alone, result in an estimated recoverable amount equal to the carrying value. | A 34% reduction in the long-term prices of all commodities or a 61% reduction in reserves would, alone, result in an estimated recoverable amount equal to the carrying value. |
| 54 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Other intangibles - Research and development project (note 18)
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Carrying amount | 445 | 568 |
| Impairment testing results | The recoverable amount of the CGU is higher than the carrying amount, and therefore, there is no impairment to be recognised. | The recoverable amount of the CGU is higher than the carrying amount, and therefore, there is no impairment to be recognised. |
| Measurement of recoverable value | FVLCD | FVLCD |
| Discount rate | 7.2% | 7.0% |
| Useful life | 16 years of useful life | 16 years of useful life |
| Range of iron ore forecast prices | US$/t 78– 95 | US$/t 80 - 98 |
| Sensitivity of key assumptions | A 12.3% reduction in the prices of all commodities or a 54.8% reduction in processing and beneficiating iron ore volumes would, alone, result in an estimated recoverable amount equal to the carrying value of this CGU. | A 7,5% reduction in the prices of all commodities or a 67% reduction in processing and beneficiating iron ore volumes would, alone, result in an estimated recoverable amount equal to the carrying value of this CGU. |
c) Gains (losses) recorded on the purchase and sale of non-current assets
In the past few years, the Company has invested and divested on assets, as detailed in note 17 to these financial statements. These transactions resulted in material impacts on Vale's results, which were recorded under "Impairment reversal (impairment and disposals) of non-current assets, net", as summarized below:
| · | Purchase of equity interest in Anglo American Minério de Ferro Brasil S.A. (note 17a) – In December 2024, the Company concluded the purchase of 15% interest in Anglo American Minério de Ferro Brasil S.A., the company that currently owns the Minas-Rio complex, in Brazil. As part of the consideration transferred for the equity interest acquired, Vale contributed with Serra da Serpentina iron ore resources in the amount of US$750 and recognized a gain of US$626 in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2024 as “reversal (impairment) and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net” due to the difference between the fair value and the carrying amount of the iron ore resources of Serra da Serpentina. This gain was recognized to the extent of the other investor’s interest in the investee. |
| · | Divestment on Vale Oman Distribution Center (note 17b) – In September 2024, the Company concluded the sale of 50% equity interest in Vale Oman Distribution Center for US$600 million, reducing Vale’s stake from 100% to 50% and changing its status from a subsidiary to a joint venture. As a result of the transaction, the Company recognized a gain of US$1,222 in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2024 as “Other operating expenses, net”. This gain is due to (i) the result of the sale of the equity interest in the amount of US$555, (ii) the result of the remeasurement to fair value of the remaining interest in the amount of US$555, and (iii) the reclassification to income statement of the cumulative translation adjustments in the amount of US$112. |
| · | Divestment on PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (note 17d) – In June 2024, the Company reduced its interests in PTVI in approximately 10.5%, changing its status from a subsidiary to an associate. As result, the Company recognized a gain of US$1,059 in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2024, as " reversal (impairment) and gains (losses) on disposal of non-current assets, net". This gain is due to the reclassification of cumulative translation adjustments of US$1,063 and the gain on remeasurement of the interest retained at fair value of the US$657, net of the loss on the reduction in PTVI stake in the amount of US$661. |
| · | Midwestern system (note 17i) – As a result of the agreement for the sale of these assets to J&F, the Company recorded a gain in the amount of US$1,121 in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2022 due to the reversal of the impairment of property, plant and equipment, of which US$214 relates to the property, plant and equipment, and US$916 is due to the onerous contract, partially offset by losses of US$9 due to working capital adjustments at the closing of the transaction. |
| · | Manganese (note 17k) –The Company has entered into agreements to sell its manganese assets, resulting in an impairment loss of US$10 recorded in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2022. |
| 55 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Accounting policy
Impairment of non-financial assets - Non-financial assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount might not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset´s carrying value exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs of disposal (“FVLCD”) and value in use (“VIU”).
FVLCD is generally determined as the present value of the estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the continued use of the asset from a market participant’s perspective, including any expansion prospects. The VIU model is determined as the present value of the estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the asset's continued use in its present form. Value in use is determined by applying assumptions specific to the Company’s continued use and cannot take into account future development. These assumptions are different from those used in calculating fair value, and consequently, the VIU calculation is likely to give a different result to an FVLCD calculation.
Assets with an indefinite useful life and are not subject to amortization are tested annually for impairment.
To assess impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable CGU. Goodwill is allocated to CGU or CGU groups that are expected to benefit from the business combinations in which the goodwill arose and are identified in accordance with the operating segment.
Non-current assets (excluding goodwill) in which the Company recognized impairment in the past are reviewed whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the impairment may no longer be applicable. In such cases, an impairment reversal will be recognized.
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
Significant judgements, estimates and assumptions are required to determine whether an impairment trigger occurred and prepare the Company’s cash flows. Management uses the budgets approved as a starting point, and key assumptions are, but are not limited to: (i) mineral reserves and mineral resources measured by internal experts; (ii) costs and investments based on the best estimate of projects as supported by past performance; (iii) sale prices consistent with projections available in reports published by industry considering the market price when appropriate; (iv) the useful life of each cash-generating unit (ratio between production and mineral reserves); and (v) discount rates that reflect specific risks relating to the relevant assets in each cash-generating unit.
These assumptions are susceptible to risks and uncertainties and may change the Company’s projection and therefore, may affect the recoverable value of assets.
21. Financial and capital risk management
The Company is exposed to several financial and capital risk factors that may impact its performance and equity position. The evaluation of the exposure to financial and capital risks is performed periodically to support decision making process regarding the risk management strategy.
The Company's policy aims at establishing a capital structure that will ensure the continuity of our business in the long term. Within this perspective, the Company has been able to maintain regular dividends payments and interest on capital (“JCP”), to maintain a debt profile suitable for its activities, with an amortization well distributed over the years, thus avoiding a concentration in one specific period.
The Board of Directors establishes and supervises the management of financial risks with the support of the Capital Allocation and Project Advisory Committee that ensures that Company's financial activities are governed by appropriate policies and procedures and that financial risks are identified, measured and managed in accordance with the Company's policies and objectives.
The Company has developed its strategy through an integrated view of the risks to which it is exposed, considering not only the risk, generated by variables traded in the financial market (market risk) and the liquidity risk, but also the risk arising from obligations assumed by third parties to the Company (credit risk), among others.
| 56 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
The Company uses derivative financial instruments to protect its exposure to these market risks arising from operating, financing, and investment activities, so that Vale does not engage in derivative operations that result in nominal amount exceeding its total exposure. The financial instruments portfolio is reassessed periodically, allowing the monitoring of financial results and their impact on cash flow. The Company applies hedge accounting to its net investment in foreign operation and nickel revenue program.
| Risks | Origin of the exposure | Management | ||
| Market Risk - Exchange Rate | Financial instruments and other financial liabilities that are not denominated in US$ | Derivatives transactions, such as swap and forward operations | ||
| Market risk - Interest rate | Loans and financing indexed to different interest rates including, but not limited to, SOFR and CDI | Derivatives transactions, such as swap operations | ||
| Market risk - Product and input prices | Volatility of commodity and input prices | Derivatives transactions, such as forward operations and option contracts | ||
| Credit Risk | Receivables, derivative transactions, guarantees, advances to suppliers and financial investments | Portfolio diversification and policies for monitoring counterparty solvency and liquidity indicators | ||
| Liquidity risk | Contractual or assumed obligations | Availability of revolving credit lines |
Method and techniques for valuation of derivatives
The derivative financial instruments were evaluated using the curves and market prices that impact each instrument on the valuation dates applying pricing techniques widely used by the market.
Swaps are priced by discounting their cash flows by the corresponding rates and currencies, while forward and futures contracts use the forward curves of their respective underlying assets. For options, the Company uses the Black & Scholes model and in the case of Asian options the Turnbull & Wakeman model. In all cases, we consider the credit risk of both the Company and the counterparty for the final calculation of fair value. When pricing information is not available from a listed market source, alternative market mechanisms or comparable recent transactions, fair value is estimated based on the Company's outlook.
Effects of derivatives on the statement of financial position
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
| Assets | Liabilities | Assets | Liabilities | |
| Foreign exchange and interest rate risk | 52 | 601 | 763 | 99 |
| Commodities price risk | 16 | 23 | 52 | 30 |
| Embedded derivatives | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| Total | 68 | 625 | 815 | 131 |
Net exposure
| Reference | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Foreign exchange and interest rate risk | 21(a.i) | (549) | 664 |
| Commodities price risk | 21(a.ii) | (7) | 22 |
| Embedded derivatives | 21(a.ii) | (1) | (2) |
| Total | (557) | 684 |
Effects of derivatives on the income statement
| Gain (loss) recognized in the income statement | |||
| Year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Foreign exchange and interest rate risk | (1,187) | 900 | 1,130 |
| Commodities price risk | (23) | 43 | |
| Embedded derivatives | 1 | 3 | (19) |
| Total | (1,209) | 903 | 1,154 |
| 57 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Effects of derivatives on the cash flows
| Financial settlement inflows (outflows) | |||
| Year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Foreign exchange and interest rate risk | 5 | 476 | 160 |
| Commodities price risk | 6 | 6 | 19 |
| Derivatives designated as cash flow hedge accounting | 85 | (262) | |
| Total | 11 | 567 | (83) |
a) Market risk
a.i) Market risk - Foreign exchange and interest rates
The Company’s cash flow is exposed to the volatility of several currencies against the U.S. dollar. While most of our product prices are indexed to U.S. dollars, most of our costs, expenses and investments are indexed to currencies other than the U.S. dollar, principally the Brazilian real and the Canadian dollar.
The Company can enter into derivative transactions to protect its cash flow against the market risks that arises from its debt obligations and other commitments – mainly currency volatility.
To reduce cash flow volatility, swap and forward operations were implemented to convert the cash flow of commitments, debts and financial obligations in Reais into US$ with exchange rate locks and fixed and floating rate swaps indexed mainly to the interbank deposit certificate ("CDI"), the TJLP and the national consumer price index ("IPCA"). In these swap operations, the Company pays fixed rates in US$ and receives remuneration in R$ fixed or linked to the interest rates of the hedged liabilities.
The Company is also exposed to floating interest rate risks on certain loans and financing. U.S. dollar floating-rate debt consists primarily of loans, including export prepayments, loans with commercial banks, and multilateral organizations. To reduce cash flow volatility, swaps transactions were implemented to convert SOFR-indexed interest rates into fixed-rate loan and financing contracts. In these operations, the Company receives floating rates indexed to SOFR and pays remuneration linked to fixed rates in US$.
| Notional | Fair value | Fair value by year | |||||
| Flow | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027+ |
| Foreign Exchange and Interest Rate Derivatives | US$11,490 | US$6,574 | (549) | 664 | (147) | (137) | (265) |
The sensitivity analysis of these derivative financial instruments is presented as follows:
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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
a.ii) Protection program for product prices and input costs
The Company is also exposed to market risks associated with the price volatility of commodities and inputs, especially freight and fuel costs. In line with its risk management policy, risk mitigation strategies involving commodities are used to reduce cash flow volatility. These mitigation strategies incorporate derivative instruments, predominantly forward, futures and options.
The sensitivity analysis of these derivative financial instruments is presented as follows:
| Instrument | Instrument's main risk events | Fair value |
Scenario I (∆ of 25%) |
Scenario II (∆ of 50%) |
| Brent crude oil (bbl) | Decrease in fuel oil price | 11 | (71) | (421) |
| Forward Freight Agreement (days) | Decrease in freight price | (10) | (25) | (40) |
| Hedge for fixed-price nickel sales (tons) | Decrease in nickel price | (7) | (26) | (45) |
Brent Crude Oil - To reduce the impact of fluctuations in fuel oil prices on the hiring and availability of maritime freight and, consequently, to reduce the Company’s cash flow volatility, hedging operations were implemented through buying call options and selling put options on Brent Crude Oil for different portions of the exposure. The derivative transactions were traded over-the-counter.
Freight derivative - To reduce the impact of maritime freight price volatility on the Company’s cash flow, freight hedging transactions were implemented, through Forward Freight Agreements (FFAs). The FFAs are contracts traded over the counter and can be cleared through a Clearing House, in this case subject to margin requirements.
Fixed price sales protection - The Company started an operational program to protect nickel sales, converting fixed price commercial contracts with customers to floating price, therefore maintaining the Company’s exposure to price fluctuations. The transactions usually carried out in this program are nickel purchases for future settlement.
Hedge program for products acquisition for resale - The Company started a hedge program with nickel forward transactions with the objective of reducing the risk of price mismatch between the period of purchase and sale of products to third parties. The transactions entered into in 2024 were fully settled within the fiscal year.
a.iii) Embedded derivatives in contracts
| Notional | Fair value | Fair value by year | |||||
| Flow | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027+ |
| Embedded derivative (pellet price) in natural gas purchase (volume/month) | |||||||
| Call options | 746,667 | 746,667 | (1) | (2) | (1) | - | - |
| 59 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
The sensitivity analysis of these derivative financial instruments is presented as follows:
Embedded derivative (pellet price) in natural gas purchase agreement - The Company has a natural gas purchase agreement in which the amount charged to Vale changes based on the pricing level of the pellets sold by the Company to the market.
a.iv) Hedge accounting
| Gain (loss) recognized in the other comprehensive income | |||
| Year ended December 31, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Net investments hedge | (500) | 139 | 81 |
| Cash flow hedge | (19) | 19 | |
Net investment hedge - The Company uses hedge accounting for foreign exchange risk arising from Vale S.A.’s net investments in Vale International S.A. and Vale Holding BV. With the hedge program, the Company's debt with third parties denominated in United States dollars and euros serves as a hedge instrument for investments in these subsidiaries. In March 2021, the Company redeemed all its euro bonds. As a result, the amount of debt designated as a hedge instrument for this investment is US$2,711 as of December 2023. As a result of the hedge program, the impact of the exchange rate variation on the debt denominated in dollars and euros is now partially recorded in other comprehensive income, as “Translation adjustments”.
Cash flow hedge (Nickel) - To reduce the cash flow volatility due to nickel price fluctuations, the Company implemented the Nickel Revenue Hedge Program. In this program, hedging operations were executed, through option contracts, to protect a portion of the projected volume of sales at floating, highly probable realization prices, guaranteeing prices above the average unit cost of nickel production for the protected volumes. In 2023, the program was settled, and no new operations were carried out in 2024. The contracts are traded on the London Metal Exchange or over-the-counter market.
b) Credit risk management
The Company is exposed to credit risk that arises from trade receivables, derivative transactions, guarantees, down payment for suppliers and cash investments. The credit risk management process provides a framework for assessing and managing counterparties’ credit risk and for maintaining our portfolio risk at an acceptable level.
For the commercial credit exposure, which arises from sales to final customers, the risk management area, in accordance with the current delegation level, approves or requests the approval of credit risk limits for each counterparty.
Vale attributes an internal credit risk rating for each counterparty using its own quantitative methodology for credit risk analysis, which is based on market prices, external credit ratings and financial information of the counterparty, as well as qualitative information regarding the counterparty’s strategic position and history of commercial relations.
Based on the counterparty’s credit risk, risk mitigation strategies may be used to manage the Company’s credit risk. The main credit risk mitigation strategies include non-recourse sale of receivables, insurance instruments, letters of credit, corporate and bank guarantees, mortgages, among others.
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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
b.i) Accounts receivable portfolio
Vale has a diversified accounts receivable portfolio from a geographical standpoint, with Asia, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Brazil as the regions with more significant exposures. According to each region, different guarantees can be used to enhance the credit quality of the receivables. Historically, the expected credit loss on the Company’s accounts receivable portfolio is immaterial (note 12).
b.ii) Financial instruments, except for accounts receivable
To manage the credit exposure arising from cash investments and derivative instruments, credit limits are approved to each counterparty with whom the Company has credit exposure. Furthermore, the Company controls the portfolio diversification and monitors different indicators of solvency and liquidity of the different counterparties that were approved for trading. The carrying amount of the financial assets that represent the exposure to credit risk is presented below:
| Notes | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 24 | 4,953 | 3,609 | |
| Short-term investments | 24 | 53 | 51 | |
| Restricted cash | 13 | 4 | ||
| Judicial deposits | 29 | 611 | ||
| Derivative financial instruments | 68 | 815 | ||
| Investments in equity securities | 15 | 54 | 45 | |
| Total | 5,141 | 5,135 |
b.iii) Financial counterparties’ ratings
The transactions of derivative instruments, cash and cash equivalents, as well as short-term investments are held with financial institutions whose exposure limits are periodically reviewed and approved by the delegated authority. The financial institutions credit risk is performed through a methodology that considers, among other information, ratings provided by international rating agencies.
The table below presents the ratings in foreign currency as published by Moody’s regarding the main financial institutions used by the Company to contract derivative instruments, cash and cash equivalents transaction.
| (i) | A substantial part of the balances is held with financial institutions in Brazil which are deemed investment grade in local currency. |
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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
c) Liquidity risk management
The liquidity risk arises from the possibility that Vale might not perform its obligations on due dates, as well as face difficulties to meet its cash requirements due to market liquidity constraints.
The available revolving credit facilities are intended to assist short term liquidity management and to enable more efficiency in cash management and were provided by a syndicate of several global commercial banks. The Company has two revolving credit facilities, in the amount of US$5,000, for which US$3,000 have maturity date in 2029 and US$2,000 in 2026. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, these lines were not drawn.
The Company also is part of supplier finance arrangements to manage its working capital and does not consider these arrangements gives rise to excessive concentrations of liquidity risk. For further details, see note 14 of these financial statements.
Accounting policy
The Company uses financial instruments to hedge its exposure to certain market risks arising from operational, financing and investing activities. Derivatives are included within financial assets or liabilities at fair value through profit or loss unless they are designated as effective hedging instruments (hedge accounting).
At the beginning of the hedge operations, the Company documents the type of hedge, the relation between the hedging instrument and hedged items, its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking hedge operations. The Company also documents, both at hedge inception and on an ongoing basis that the hedge is expected to continue to be highly effective. The Company has elected to adopt the new general hedge accounting model in IFRS 9 and designates certain derivatives as either:
Cash flow hedge - The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges is recognized in equity within "Unrealized fair value gain (losses)". The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in the income statement. When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumulative gain or loss existing in equity at that time remains in equity and is recognized in profit or loss when the transaction is recognized in the income statement.
Net investment hedge - Hedges of net investments in foreign operations are accounted for similarly to cash flow hedges. Any gain or loss on the hedging instrument relating to the effective portion of the hedge is recognized in equity within "Cumulative translation adjustments". The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in the income statement. Gains and losses accumulated in equity are included in the statement of income when the foreign operation is partially or fully disposed of or sold.
Derivatives at fair value through profit or loss - Certain derivative instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting. Changes in the fair value of any of these derivative instruments are recognized immediately in the income statement.
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
The fair values of financial instruments that are not traded in active markets are determined using valuation techniques. Vale uses its own judgment to choose between the various methods. Assumptions are based on the market conditions, at the end of the year. An analysis of the impact if actual results are different from management's estimates is present under “Sensitivity analysis of derivative financial instruments”.
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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
22. Financial assets and liabilities
a) Classification
The Company classifies its financial instruments in accordance with the purpose for which they were acquired, and determines the classification and initial recognition according to the following categories:
b) Hierarchy of fair value
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||
| Notes | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |
| Financial assets | |||||||||
| Short-term investments | 24 | 53 | - | - | 53 | 51 | - | - | 51 |
| Derivative financial instruments | 21 | - | 68 | - | 68 | - | 815 | - | 815 |
| Accounts receivable | 12 | - | 1,984 | - | 1,984 | - | 3,835 | - | 3,835 |
| Investments in equity securities | 15 | - | 54 | - | 54 | - | 45 | - | 45 |
| 53 | 2,106 | - | 2,159 | 51 | 4,695 | - | 4,746 | ||
| Financial liabilities | |||||||||
| Derivative financial instruments | 21 | - | 625 | - | 625 | - | 131 | - | 131 |
| Participative shareholders' debentures | 23 | - | 2,217 | - | 2,217 | - | 2,874 | - | 2,874 |
| - | 2,842 | - | 2,842 | - | 3,005 | - | 3,005 | ||
| 63 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
There were no transfers between levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy during the period presented.
c) Fair value of loans and borrowings
Loans and borrowings are recorded at their contractual values. To determine the market values of these financial instruments traded in public markets, the closing market quotations on the balance sheet dates were used. The Company considers that for the other financial liabilities measured at amortized cost, their book values are close to their fair values and therefore information on their fair values is not being presented.
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
| Carrying amount | Fair value | Carrying amount | Fair value | |
| Quoted in the secondary market: | ||||
| Bonds | 7,267 | 7,245 | 7,253 | 7,404 |
| Debentures | 1,272 | 1,275 | 221 | 213 |
| Debt contracts in Brazil in: | ||||
| R$, indexed to TJLP, TR, IPCA, IGP-M and CDI | 185 | 185 | 250 | 250 |
| Basket of currencies and bonds in US$ indexed to SOFR | 152 | 155 | 153 | 168 |
| Debt contracts in the international market in: | ||||
| US$, with variable and fixed interest | 5,844 | 5,922 | 4,504 | 4,950 |
| Other currencies, with variable interest | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Other currencies, with fixed interest | 63 | 64 | 81 | 85 |
| 14,792 | 14,854 | 12,471 | 13,079 | |
Accounting policy
Classification and measurement - The Company classifies financial instruments based on its business model for managing the assets and the contractual cash flow characteristics of those assets. The business model test determines the classification based on the business purpose for holding the asset and whether the contractual cash flows represent only payments of principal and interest.
Financial instruments are measured at fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”) unless certain conditions are met that permit measurement at fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVOCI”) or amortized cost. Gains and losses recorded in other comprehensive income for debt instruments are recognized in profit or loss only on disposal.
Investments in equity instruments are measured at FVTPL unless they are eligible to be measured at FVOCI, whose gains and losses are never recycled to profit or loss.
All financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred and are subsequently carried at amortized cost and updated using the effective interest rate method. Excepts for Participative shareholders’ debentures and Derivative financial instruments that are measured at FVTPL.
Fair value hierarchy - The Company classifies financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy as:
Level 1: The fair value of financial instruments traded in active markets (e.g. derivatives and publicly traded shares) is based on quoted market prices at the end of the financial statements period.
Level 2: The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market (e.g. over the counter derivatives) is determined using valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable market data. If all significant data required for the fair value of an instrument are observable, the instrument is included in level 2.
Level 3: If one or more of the significant data are not based on observable market data, the instrument is included in level 3. The fair value of derivatives classified as level 3 is estimated using discounted cash flows and option valuation models with unobservable inputs of discount rates, stock prices and commodity prices.
| 64 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
23. Participative shareholders’ debentures
At the time of its privatization in 1997, the Company issued a total of 388,559,056 debentures to then-existing shareholders, including the Brazilian Government. The debentures’ terms were set to ensure that pre-privatization shareholders would participate in potential future benefits that might be obtained from exploration of mineral resources. This obligation related to the debentures will cease when all the relevant mineral resources are exhausted, sold or otherwise disposed of by the Company.
Holders of participative shareholders’ debentures have the right to receive semi-annual payments equal to an agreed percentage of revenues less value-added tax, transport fee and insurance expenses related to the trading of the products, derived from these mineral resources.
The effects on the income statement and on the statement of financial position are shown below:
| Year ended December 31, | |||||||||
| Average price (R$) | Financial results | Liabilities | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Participative shareholders’ debentures | 35.33 | 35.80 | 36.59 | (175) | (179) | 659 | 2,217 | 2,874 | 2,725 |
The Company made available for withdrawal as remuneration the following amounts, as disclosed on the “Shareholders’ debentures report” available on the Company’s website, which were not incorporated by reference:
| Schedule of shareholders’ debentures | ||||
| Availability date | Remuneration amount | |||
| Remuneration for the first half of 2024 | October 1, 2024 | 94 | ||
| Remuneration for the second half of 2023 | April 1, 2024 | 149 | ||
| Year ended December 31, 2024 | 243 | |||
| Remuneration for the first half of 2023 | October 2, 2023 | 106 | ||
| Remuneration for the second half of 2022 | April 3, 2023 | 127 | ||
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | 233 | |||
| Remuneration for the first half of 2022 | October 3, 2022 | 137 | ||
| Remuneration for the second half of 2021 | April 1, 2022 | 234 | ||
| Year ended December 31, 2022 | 371 | |||
Accounting policy
| 65 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
24. Loans, borrowings, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments
a) Net debt
The Company monitors the net debt with the objective of ensuring the continuity of its business in the long term.
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
| Loans and borrowings | 14,792 | 12,471 | ||
| Leases (note 25) | 713 | 1,452 | ||
| Gross debt | 15,505 | 13,923 | ||
| (-) Cash and cash equivalents | 4,953 | 3,609 | ||
| (-) Short-term investments (i) | 53 | 51 | ||
| (-) Net Cash PTVI (note 17) | 703 | |||
| Net debt | 10,499 | 9,560 |
| (i) | Substantially comprises investments in an exclusive investment fund, which portfolio is made by committed transactions and Selic Treasury Notes (“LFTs”), which are floating-rate securities issued by the Brazilian government. |
b) Cash and cash equivalents
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| R$ | 1,709 | 953 |
| US$ | 3,048 | 2,516 |
| Other currencies | 196 | 140 |
| Total | 4,953 | 3,609 |
| c) | Loans and borrowings |
| i) | Outstanding balance of loans and borrowings by type and currency |
| Current liabilities | Non-current liabilities | ||||
| Average interest rate (i) | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Quoted in the secondary market: | |||||
| US$ Bonds (ii) | 6.04% | 7,187 | 7,157 | ||
| R$ Debentures (iii) | 7.28% | 68 | 96 | 1,191 | 119 |
| Debt contracts in Brazil in (iv): | |||||
| R$, indexed to TJLP, TR, IPCA, IGP-M and CDI | 8.19% | 41 | 49 | 143 | 200 |
| Basket of currencies and bonds in US$ indexed to SOFR | 9.92% | - | - | 150 | 150 |
| Debt contracts in the international market in: | |||||
| US$, with variable and fixed interest | 5.35% | 716 | 500 | 5,042 | 3,945 |
| Other currencies, with variable interest | 3.94% | - | - | 9 | 9 |
| Other currencies, with fixed interest | 4.47% | 11 | 12 | 50 | 67 |
| Accrued charges | 184 | 167 | - | - | |
| Total | 1,020 | 824 | 13,772 | 11,647 | |
| (i) | In order to determine the average interest rate for debt contracts with floating rates, the Company used the rate applicable as of December 31, 2024. |
| (ii) | In June 2024, the Company issued bonds of US$1 billion with a coupon of 6.40% per year, payable semi-annually, and maturing in 2054. |
| (iii) | In October 2024, the Company issued debentures of US$1 billion (R$6 billion) in Brazil with a coupon indexed to an inflation rate (IPCA) plus a spread from 6.38% to 6.43% per year, payable semi-annually, and maturing in 2034, 2036 and 2039. The proceeds were received in November 2024 and will be used in infrastructure projects related with the railway concessions. |
| (iv) | The Company entered into derivatives to mitigate the exposure to cash flow variations of all floating rate debt contracts in Brazil, resulting in an average cost of 3.32 per year in US$. |
The reconciliation of loans and financing with cash flows resulting from financing activities is presented in Note 11(C).
| 66 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
ii) Future flows of principal and interest of loans and borrowings payments
| Principal |
Estimated future interest payments (i) | |
| 2025 | 836 | 867 |
| 2026 | 146 | 815 |
| 2027 | 1,694 | 755 |
| 2028 | 850 | 704 |
| Between 2029 and 2031 | 3,722 | 1,203 |
| 2032 onwards | 7,360 | 3,828 |
| Total | 14,608 | 8,172 |
| (i) | Based on interest rate curves and foreign exchange rates applicable as of December 31, 2024 and considering that the payments of principal will be made on their contracted payments dates. The amount includes the estimated interest not yet accrued and the interest already recognized in the annual financial statements. |
For the year ended in 2024, 4% of total interest incurred in Loans and borrowings was capitalized (2023: 2%) (note 7). Loan and Borrowing costs that are not capitalized are recognized in the income statement of the year in which they are incurred.
Covenants
As of December 31, 2024, under the terms of certain financial liabilities which has a total carrying amount of US$2,696 (2023: US$2,469), the Company is required to comply with the following financial covenants at the end of each annual reporting period:
| · | Leverage: The debt must be not more than 4.5x adjusted EBITDA; and |
| · | Interest coverage: The adjusted EBITDA must be not less than 2x interest expenses. |
The Company has complied with these covenants as of December 31, 2024, and 2023 and the next measurement date will be at the end of the next annual reporting period.
Vale is also subject to non-financial covenants ordinarily used in the market, such as compliance with certain governance and environmental requirements, among others. The Company has complied with these covenants as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Accounting policy
Loans and borrowings are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred and are subsequently carried at amortized cost and updated using the effective interest rate method. Any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption value is recognized in the Income statement over the period of the loan, using the effective interest rate method. The fees paid in obtaining the loan are recognized as transaction costs. The Company contracts derivatives to protect its exposure to changes in debt cash flows, changing the average cost of debts that have hedge derivatives contracted.
Loans and borrowing costs are capitalized as part of property, plants and equipment if those costs are directly related to a qualified asset. The capitalization occurs until the qualified asset is ready for its intended use. Interest on loans and borrowing not capitalized is recognized in profit or loss for the year when incurred.
| 67 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
25. Leases
a) Right of use
| December 31, 2023 | Additions and contract modifications | Depreciation | Acquisition of Aliança Energia | Deconsolidation of VODC | Translation adjustment | December 31, 2024 | |
| Ports | 628 | 3 | (44) | - | (525) | (11) | 51 |
| Vessels | 415 | (62) | - | - | - | 353 | |
| Pelletizing plants | 193 | (48) | - | - | (36) | 109 | |
| Properties | 80 | 49 | (20) | 4 | - | (19) | 94 |
| Energy plants | 34 | (5) | - | - | (1) | 28 | |
| Other | 9 | 31 | (8) | - | - | (7) | 25 |
| Total | 1,359 | 83 | (187) | 4 | (525) | (74) | 660 |
b) Leases liabilities
| (i) | The total amount of the variable lease payments not included in the measurement of lease liabilities was US$253 recorded in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2024, (2023: US$112 and 2022: US$367). |
Annual minimum payments and remaining lease term
The following table presents the undiscounted lease obligation by maturity date. The lease liability recognized in the statement of financial position is measured at the present value of such obligations.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 onwards | Total | Remaining term (years) | Discount rate | |||||||||
| Ports | 25 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 57 | 2 to 18 | 4% to 5% | ||||||||
| Vessels | 59 | 54 | 53 | 51 | 188 | 405 | 1 to 8 | 3% to 4% | ||||||||
| Pelletizing plants | 39 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 63 | 141 | 1 to 8 | 2% to 6% | ||||||||
| Properties | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 75 | 1 to 14 | 2% to 6% | ||||||||
| Energy plants | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 57 | 2 to 5 | 5% to 6% | ||||||||
| Other | 9 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 1 to 4 | 3% to 6% | ||||||||
| Total | 155 | 105 | 87 | 85 | 325 | 757 |
Accounting policy
The Company recognizes a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date. The right-of-use asset is initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for any lease payments made at or before the commencement date. The right-of-use asset is subsequently depreciated using the straight-line method from the commencement date to the earlier of the end of the lease term or the end of the useful life of the right-of-use asset.
The Company does not recognize right-of-use assets and liabilities for leases with less than 12 months of lease term and/or leases of low-value assets. The payments associated to these leases are recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability comprise: (i) fixed payments, including in-substance fixed payments; (ii) variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate; and (iii) the exercise price under a purchase option or renewal option that are under the Company’s control and is reasonably certain to be exercised.
The lease liability is measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. It is remeasured when there is a change in future lease payments arising from a change in an index or rate. When the lease liability is remeasured, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset or is recorded in profit or loss if the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset has been reduced to zero.
| 68 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
26. Brumadinho dam failure
In January 2019, a tailings dam (“Dam I”) experienced a failure at the Córrego do Feijão mine, in the city of Brumadinho, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The failure released a flow of tailings debris, destroying some of Vale’s facilities, affecting local communities and disturbing the environment. The tailings released have caused an impact of around 315 km in extension, reaching the nearby Paraopeba River. The dam failure in Brumadinho (“event”) resulted in 270 fatalities or presumed fatalities and caused extensive property and environmental damage in the region.
As a result of the dam failure, the Company recognized provisions to meet its assumed obligations, including indemnification to those affected by the event, remediation of the impacted areas and compensation to the society. In addition, the Company has incurred expenses in relation to tailings management, humanitarian assistance, payroll, legal services, water supply, among others.
Effects in income statements
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Integral Reparation Agreement | 52 | (39) | |
| Other obligations | (168) | (437) | (400) |
| Incurred expenses | (378) | (484) | (685) |
| Insurance (i) | 11 | 30 | 6 |
| Expenses related to Brumadinho event | (483) | (930) | (1,079) |
| (i) | The Company is negotiating with insurers the payment of indemnification under its civil liability and Directors and Officers Liability Insurance. |
Changes in the provisions during 2024
The cash flow for obligations are estimated for an average period ranging from 5 to 7 years and were discounted to the present value at an annual rate in real terms, which increased from 6.58% on December 31, 2023, to 7.88% on December 31, 2024.
| 69 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation
On February 4, 2021, the Company entered into a Judicial Settlement for Integral Reparation (“Global Settlement”), which was under negotiations since 2019, with the State of Minas Gerais, the Public Defender of the State of Minas Gerais and the Federal and the State of Minas Gerais Public Prosecutors Offices, to repair the environmental and social damage resulting from the Dam I rupture. As a result of the Global Settlement, the requests for the reparation of socio-environmental and socioeconomic damages caused by the dam failure were substantially resolved.
The Settlement for Integral Reparation includes: (i) payment obligations, of which the funds will be used directly by the State of Minas Gerais and Institutions of Justice for socio-economic and socio-environmental compensation projects; (ii) socioeconomic projects in Brumadinho and other municipalities; and (iii) compensation of the environmental damage caused by the dam failure. These obligations are projected for an average period of 5 years.
For the measures described in item (i) and (ii), the amounts are specified in the agreement. For the execution of the environmental recovery actions has no cap limit despite having been estimated in the Settlement for Integral Reparation due to the Company's legal obligation to fully repair the environmental damage caused by the dam failure. Therefore, although Vale is monitoring this provision, the amount recorded could materially change depending on several factors that are not under the Company’s control.
Other obligations
The Company is also working to ensure geotechnical safety of the remaining structures at the Córrego do Feijão mine, in Brumadinho, and the removal and proper disposal of the tailings of Dam I, including dredging part of the released material and de-sanding from the channel of the river Paraopeba. In 2024, the revision of estimates to carry out these actions resulted in the provision complement amounting to US$42 (2023: US$200).
For the individual indemnification, Vale and the Public Defendants of the State of Minas Gerais formalized an agreement on April 5, 2019, under which those affected by the Brumadinho’s dam failure may join an individual or family group out-of Court settlement agreements for the indemnification of material, economic and moral damages. This agreement establishes the basis for a wide range of indemnification payments, which were defined according to the best practices and case law of Brazilian Courts, following rules and principles of the United Nations.
a) Legal proceedings
Class action in the United States
Vale is defending itself against a class action brought before a Federal Court in New York and filed by holders of securities - American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") - issued by Vale.
The Court will review the admissibility of Vale's Motion for Summary Judgment through the consideration of a pre-motion letter submitted by Vale. Additionally, in 2024, there was a hearing with the Judge to consider Motion for Class Decertification filed by Vale and oral arguments on the relevance of expert opinions presented by the Plaintiffs' experts. A decision from the Court on Vale's requests is currently pending.
In November 2021, a new Complaint was filed by eight investment funds that chose to seek redress for alleged damages independently and separately from the class members of the main action, with the same allegations presented in the main class action. A decision from the Court on Vale's preliminary defense ("motion to dismiss") is currently pending.
The likelihood of loss of these proceedings is considered possible. However, considering the initial phase of this class action, it is not yet possible to reliably estimate the amount of a potential loss. The amount of damages sought in these claims is unspecified.
| 70 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Arbitration proceedings in Brazil filed by shareholders, a class association and foreign investment funds
In Brazil, Vale is named as a defendant in one arbitration filed by 385 minority shareholders and three arbitrations filed by foreign investment funds. Vale was also named as a respondent in two arbitrations filed by a class association allegedly representing all Vale’s noncontrolling shareholders, which were dismissed in August 2024.
In the four proceedings, the claimants argue that Vale was aware of the risks associated with the dam and failed to disclose it to its shareholders. Based on such argument, they claim compensation for losses caused by the decrease in share price.
The expectation of loss is classified as possible for the four procedures and, considering the initial phase, it is not possible at this time to reliably estimate the amount of a possible loss.
In one of the proceedings filed by foreign legal entities, the Claimants initially estimated the amount of the alleged losses would be approximately US$291 (R$1,800 million). In another proceeding filed by foreign legal entities, the Claimants initially estimated the amount of the alleged losses would be approximately US$630 (R$3,900 million). In the procedure presented by minority shareholders, the applicants estimated the alleged losses at approximately US$485 (R$3,000 million), which could be increased later, as alleged by the applicants.
The Company disagrees with the ongoing proceedings and understands that, in this case and at the current stage of the proceedings, the probability of loss in the amount claimed by the foreign funds is remote.
Accounting policy
A provision is recognized when there is a present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate about the amount can be made. The initial recognition of a provision is presented as 'Other operating revenues (expenses), net' in the income statement.
Provisions are recognized and subsequently measured at the present value of the estimated expenditures required to settle the Company's obligation. The effect related to the passage of time is presented in the income statement of the respective period as financial results.
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
The provision for social, economic and environmental reparation may be affected by factors including, but not limited to: (i) changes in the current estimated market price of the direct and indirect cost related to products and services, (ii) changes in timing for cash outflows, (iii) changes in the technology considered in measuring the provision, (iv) number of individuals entitled to the indemnification payments, (v) resolution of existing and potential legal claims, (vi) demographic assumptions, (vii) actuarial assumptions, and (viii) updates in the discount rate.
Thus, the amounts actually incurred by the Company may differ from the amounts currently provisioned, due to the confirmation of the assumptions used and which depend on several factors, some of which are not under the Company's control. These changes could result in a material impact on the amount of the provision in future periods. At each presentation date of its financial statements, the Company will reassess the main assumptions used in the preparation of projected cash flows and will adjust the provision, when applicable.
| 71 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
27. Liabilities related to associates and joint ventures
In November 2015, the Fundão tailings dam owned by Samarco Mineração S.A. (“Samarco”) experienced a failure, flooding certain communities and impacting communities and the environment along the Doce River. The dam failure resulted in 19 fatalities and caused property and environmental damage to the affected areas. Samarco is a joint venture equally owned by Vale S.A. and BHP Billiton Brasil Ltda. (‘‘BHPB’’).
Thus, Vale, Samarco, and BHPB entered into agreements with the Federal Union, the States of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, and some other federal and state agencies, establishing the creation of socio-environmental and socio-economic programs aimed at adopting measures for mitigation, remediation, and compensation of damages. However, the requirements established reparation measures in the agreements were not fully implemented within the established period, and the involved parties began initiated further negotiations to seeking a definitive agreement for the resolution of all obligations related to the dam collapse.
a) Definitive Settlement for the full reparation
In October 2024, Vale, Samarco and BHPB, together with the Brazilian Federal Government, the State Governments of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, the Federal and State Public Prosecutors’ and Public Defenders’ Offices and other Brazilian public entities (jointly, “the Parties”) are considering the general terms for a entered into a settlement new agreement (“Definitive Settlement”) on integral and definitive reparation of the impacts of Fundão dam collapse, in Mariana, Minas Gerais. The agreement was ratified in November 2024.
The Definitive Settlement replaced all of the previously signed agreements, and addressed the claims related to the Fundão dam collapse that were brought by Brazilian public authorities that signed the agreement, from the perspective of socioenvironmental and socioeconomical damages.
The total amount of the Definitive Agreement is US$31.7 billion (R$170 billion), comprising past and future obligations, to serve the people, communities and environment impacted by the dam failure. It includes:
| · | US$7.9 billion (R$38 billion) already incurred, from the date of the dam collapse until the Definitive Settlement, by Vale, Samarco and BHPB with remediation and compensation measures and, therefore, do not constitute the Company’s provision balance, |
| · | US$18 billion (R$100 billion) to be paid over 20 years to the Federal Government, the States of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, the municipalities and which will also be used by Justice Institutions, to fund compensatory programs and actions tied to public policies, and |
| · | US$5.8 billion (R$32 billion) in performance obligations by Samarco, including initiatives for individual indemnification, resettlement, and environmental recovery. The expectation is that the cash disbursement related to these obligations will occur substantially over the next 3 years. |
Samarco has primary responsibility for funding the obligations related to the Definitive Settlement. Vale and BHPB have secondary funding obligations in the proportion to their 50 per cent shareholding in Samarco, in extent to which Samarco may not be able to fund the future cash outflows.
The judicial ratification of the Definitive Settlement ended a series of relevant lawsuits, moved by public authorities and justice institutions in Brazil. Vale, jointly with BHPB and Samarco, is requiring the termination and archive of these proceedings.
b) Provision related to the Samarco dam failure
As a result of the Definitive Agreement, the Company recognized an addition to the provision in the amount of US$956 and reflects the change in Vale’s assessment of potential outflows to resolve all aspects of the reparation and compensation of the Samarco dam failure.
| 72 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Changes in the provision
| Total | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | 4,427 |
| Addition to the provision due to the Definitive Agreement | 956 |
| Monetary and present value adjustments | 107 |
| Disbursements | (808) |
| Translation adjustments | (1,019) |
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | 3,663 |
The cash outflows to meet the obligations are discounted to present value at an annual rate in real terms, which increased from 5.22% on December 31, 2023, to 7.30% on December 31, 2024.
c) Remaining legal proceedings
With the Definitive Agreement, the public civil actions brought by the Brazilian Justice Institutions and Brazilian public authorities were substantially resolved and the parameters for compliance with the reparation and compensation for damages were defined. Thus, the remaining most relevant legal proceedings are shown below:
Claims in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands
In July 2024, Vale and BHP have entered into a confidential agreement without any admission of liability pursuant to Vale and BHP will share equally any potential payment obligations arising from the UK and Dutch Claims, described below.
London Contribution claim - As a result of the rupture of Samarco’s Fundão dam failure, BHP Group Ltd (“BHP”) was named as defendant in group action claims for damages filed in the courts of England and Wales for various plaintiffs, between individuals, companies and municipalities from Brazil that were supposedly affected by the Samarco dam failure (the “UK Claim”).
The proceedings against BHP are still progressing in London and the first phase of the trial began in October 2024 expected to last until March 2025. It is estimated that the first-stage judgment will be handed down in the third quarter of 2025. The likelihood of loss of these proceedings is considered possible. However, considering the initial phase, it is not yet possible to reliably estimate the amount of a potential loss.
Netherlands proceeding - In March 2024, a court in Amsterdam granted a preliminary injunction freezing the shares in Vale Holdings B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary incorporated in the Netherlands, and the economic rights attached to those shares, in guarantee of an amount of approximately US$956 (EUR920 million). The freezing orders were issued in anticipation of a legal action to be brought against Vale by certain Brazilian municipalities and an organization that represents individuals and small businesses that claim to have been affected by the collapse of Samarco’s Fundão dam in 2015.
In addition, in 2024, three rogatory letters were fulfilled in Brazil, sent by the Amsterdam court, so that Vale could be notified about the filing of the lawsuit and the seizure orders. In the records of these rogatory letters, Vale has already anticipated its understanding about the lack of jurisdiction of the Dutch Justice to analyze the claims of the initial petition.
The first court event for Vale in the Dutch court is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2025. The likelihood of loss of these proceedings is considered possible. However, considering the initial phase, it is not yet possible to reliably estimate the amount of a potential loss.
d) Judicial reorganization of Samarco
In April 2021, Samarco filed for Judicial Reorganization (“JR”) with the Courts of Minas Gerais to renegotiate its debt, which was held by bondholders abroad. The purpose of JR is to restructure Samarco’s debts and establish an independent and sustainable financial position, allowing Samarco to keep working to resume its operations safely and to fulfill its obligations related to the Renova Foundation.
In May 2023, Vale S.A. entered into a binding agreement jointly with BHPB, Samarco and certain creditors which hold together more than 50% of Samarco's debt, setting the parameters of Samarco’s debt restructuring to be implemented through a consensual restructuring plan, which was approved by the creditors, submitted to the JR Court in July 2023, and confirmed by the judge in September 2023.
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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
In December 2023, Samarco’s existing US$4.8 billion of financial debt held by creditors was exchanged for approximately US$3.9 billion of long-term unsecured debt, bearing interest from 2023 to 2031.
After the execution of the plan, Samarco has a lean capital structure, in line with its operational ramp-up and cash flow generation. The plan considers the fund of the reparation and compensation programs capped at US$1 billion from 2024 to 2030 and additional contributions after that period due to the Samarco’s projected cash flows generation.
e) Tax consequences for Vale arising from the consensual restructuring plan of Samarco
The plan provides that additional cash demands from Renova Foundation will be made through capital contributions to Samarco. The contributions have been carried out directly by Vale and BHPB to the Renova Foundation on behalf of Samarco and, therefore, they were deemed tax deductible as incurred, according to the Brazilian tax regulation. Therefore, due to the change in the mechanism to fund Renova, Vale will no longer be allowed to deduct future payments from its income tax computation as they are not tax deductible in Brazil. Thus, the deferred income tax asset over the provision in the amount of US$1,078 was reversed in full, with the corresponding impact in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2023, recorded as “Income taxes” (note 9a).
f) Summarized financial information
The summarized financial information of Samarco are as follows. The stand-alone financial statements of Samarco may differ from the financial information reported herein, which is prepared considering Vale’s accounting policies.
Accounting policy
A provision is recognized when there is a present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made. The provision is recorded as "Equity method results and other results in associates and joint ventures" in the income statement.
Provisions are recognized and subsequently measured at the present value of the estimated expenditures required to settle the Company's obligation. The effect related to the passage of time is presented in the income statement of the respective period as financial results.
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
Under Brazilian legislation and the terms of the joint venture agreement, the Company does not have an obligation to provide funding to Samarco. Accordingly, the Company’s investment in Samarco was fully impaired and no provision was recognized in relation to the Samarco’s negative equity.
The provision related to the Samarco dam failure requires the use of assumptions and estimates, which may significantly change due to: (i) the cost to complete the programs under the Definitive Agreement, (ii) the extent to which Samarco will be able to directly pay its future obligations related to remediation and compensation, considering that its cash flow projections mainly depend on Samarco's ability to resume maximum production levels and commodity prices, (iii) resolution of potential and existing legal claims, and (iv) updates to the discount rate.
As a result, future expenditures may differ from the amounts currently provided and changes to key assumptions could result in a material impact to the amount of the provision in future reporting periods.
| 74 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
28. Provision for de-characterization of dam structures and asset retirement obligations
The Company is subject to local laws and regulations, that requires the decommissioning of the assets that Vale operates at the end of their useful lives, therefore, expenses for demobilization occur predominantly after the end of operational activities. These obligations are regulated by the ANM at the federal level and by environmental agencies at the state level. Among the requirements, the decommissioning plans must consider the physical, chemical and biological stability of the areas and post-closure actions for the period necessary to verify the effectiveness of the decommissioning. These obligations are accrued and are subject to critical estimates and assumptions applied to the measurement of costs by the Company. Depending on the geotechnical characteristics of the structures, the Company is required to de-characterize the structures, as shown in item a) below.
Effects in the income statements
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| De-characterization of upstream geotechnical structures | 28(a) | 206 | (153) | (72) |
| Asset retirement obligations | 28(b) | 16 | (5) | (23) |
| Environmental obligations | 28(b) | (50) | (71) | (33) |
| Total provision for income statement | 172 | (229) | (128) |
Changes in the provisions during 2024
| De-characterization of upstream geotechnical structures | Asset retirement obligations | Environmental obligations | Total | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | 3,451 | 3,779 | 499 | 7,729 |
| Revision to estimates - amounts for closed plants charged to the income statement (i) | (206) | (16) | 50 | (172) |
| Revision to estimates – capitalized amounts for operating plants | (12) | 33 | 21 | |
| Disbursements | (533) | (218) | (90) | (841) |
| Acquisition of Aliança Energia | 3 | 20 | 23 | |
| Monetary and present value adjustments | 185 | 108 | 27 | 320 |
| Translation adjustment | (684) | (538) | (95) | (1,317) |
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | 2,213 | 3,106 | 444 | 5,763 |
| (i) | Includes the reduction of the liability for the de-characterization of upstream geotechnical structures in the amount of US$206, substantially due to the update in the discount rate, which increased from 5.41% on December 31, 2023, to 7.36% on December 31, 2024. The cash flows of the obligations are projected over a period of up to 14 years. |
a) De-characterization of upstream geotechnical structures
As a result of the Brumadinho dam failure (note 26) and, in compliance with laws and regulations, the Company has decided to accelerate the plan to “de-characterize” of all its tailings dams and dikes built under the upstream method, located in Brazil. The Company also operates tailings dams in Canada, including upstream compacted dams. However, the Company decided that these dams will be decommissioned using other methods, thus, the provision to carry out the decommissioning of dams in Canada is recognized as “Obligations for decommissioning assets and environmental obligations”, as presented in item (b) below.
These structures are in different stages of maturity, some of them still in the conceptual engineering phase, for which the estimate of expenditures includes in its methodology a high degree of uncertainty in the definition of the total cost of the project in accordance with best market practices.
| 75 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Laws and regulations related to dam safety
In December 2023, the government of Minas Gerais published decree No. 48,747, which regulates the measurement and execution of environmental guarantees individually for each dam, based on the reservoir area, classification and purpose of the dam, and estimated de-characterization costs and should be kept throughout the useful life of the dam, from its startup phase until the de-characterization and socio-environmental recovery.
In September 2024, the Company submitted environmental guarantee proposals to the government with a total amount of US$274 (R$1.7 billion), which will be meet by providing property mortgage and property fiduciary lien, financial guarantees or insurance and Vale expects that the financial costs to be incurred will be immaterial.
In December 2024, the government of Minas Gerais published Decree No. 48.977, which amended Decree No. 48.747 and established a new implementation schedule for the guarantees, which should have a maximum term of 3 years from the approval of the proposals by the government of Minas Gerais, with half of this amount within 12 months and the remainder within the following 2 years.
Operational stoppage and idle capacity
In addition, due to the de-characterization projects, the Company has suspended some operations due to judicial decisions or technical analysis performed by Vale on its upstream dam structures located in Brazil. The Company has been recording losses in relation to the operational stoppage and idle capacity of the Iron Solutions segment in the amounts of US$152 for the year ended December 31, 2024 (2023: US$218 and 2022: US$269). The Company is working on legal and technical measures to resume all operations at full capacity.
b) Asset retirement obligations and environmental obligations
Decommissioning plan and future use
The implementation and execution of future use projects, after the decommissioning, is not required by law and is therefore not included in the provision. However, the Company has been studying a governance to assess the future use, considering its aptitudes, post-operational usage intention, socio-economic development of the community and the characteristics of the physical and biotic environments in which Vale operates. Any future obligations, if assumed by Vale, may result in material impact on the amount of the provision.
Accounting policy
A provision is recognized when there is a present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made.
Provisions are recognized and subsequently measured at the present value of the estimated expenditures required to settle the Company's obligation.
The cost corresponding to the initial recognition of the provision and subsequent updates due to revisions in estimates is capitalized as part of property, plant, and equipment and depreciated over the useful life of the related mining assets. When future economic benefits are no longer expected from the operation, changes in estimates are recognized as "other operating revenues (expenses), net" in the income statement for the respective period. The effect related to the passage of time is presented in the income statement for the respective period as financial results.
| 76 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
De-characterization of dam structures - The definition of the main critical assumptions and estimates applied by the Company in the de-characterization provision is supported by internal and external engineering and geology advisors and considers, among others: (i) volume of the waste to be removed based on historical data available and interpretation of the enacted laws and regulations; (ii) location availability for the tailings disposal; (iii) engineering methods and solutions; (iv) security levels; (v) productivity of the equipment used; (vi) advances in geological studies and new hydrological information; and (vii) discount rate update.
Therefore, future expenditures may differ from the amounts currently provided because the realized assumptions and various other factors are not always under the Company’s control. These changes to key assumptions could result in a material impact to the amount of the provision in future reporting periods. At each reporting period, the Company will reassess the key assumptions used in the preparation of the projected cash flows and will adjust the provision, if required.
Asset retirement obligations - The definition of the main critical assumptions and estimates applied by the Company in the asset retirement obligations and environmental obligations is supported by internal and external engineering and geology advisors and considers, among others: interest rate, cost of closure, useful life of the mining asset considering the current conditions of closure and the projected date of depletion of each mine. Any changes in these assumptions may significantly impact the recorded provision. Therefore, the estimated costs for closure of the mining assets are deemed to be a critical accounting estimate and annually reviewed.
29. Legal and administrative proceedings
The Company is a defendant in numerous legal and administrative actions in the ordinary course of business, including civil, tax, environmental and labor proceedings.
The Company makes use of estimates to recognize the amounts and the probability of outflow of resources, based on reports and technical assessments and on management’s assessment. Provisions are recognized for probable losses of which a reliable estimate can be made.
Arbitral, legal and administrative decisions against the Company, new jurisprudence and changes of existing evidence can result in changes regarding the probability of outflow of resources and on the estimated amounts, according to the assessment of the legal basis.
a) Provision for legal and administrative proceedings
Effects in income statements
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Tax litigations | (80) | 8 | (40) |
| Civil litigations | (29) | (70) | (38) |
| Labor litigations | (191) | (167) | (67) |
| Environmental litigations | (3) | (8) | |
| Total | (303) | (229) | (153) |
| 77 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Changes in the provisions during 2024
The Company has considered all information available to assess the likelihood of an outflow of resources and in the preparation on the estimate of the costs that may be required to settle the obligations.
Tax litigations – The Company is party to several administrative and legal proceedings related mainly to the incidence of
Brazilian federal contributions ("PIS" and "COFINS"), Value-added tax ("ICMS") and other taxes.
Civil litigations - Refers to lawsuits for: (i) indemnities for losses, payments and contractual fines due to contractual imbalance or non-compliance that are alleged by suppliers, and (ii) land claims referring to real estate Vale's operational activities.
Labor litigations - Refers to lawsuits for claims by in-house employees and service providers, primarily involving demands for additional compensation for overtime work, moral damages or health and safety conditions.
Environmental litigations - Refers mainly to proceedings for environmental damages and issues related to environmental licensing.
The lawsuits related to Brumadinho event (note 26) and the Samarco dam failure (note 27) are presented in its specific notes to these financial statements and, therefore, are not disclosed above.
b) Contingent liabilities
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Tax litigations | 5,995 | 7,235 |
| Civil litigations | 1,274 | 1,366 |
| Labor litigations | 292 | 378 |
| Environmental litigations | 1,050 | 1,320 |
| Total | 8,611 | 10,299 |
The main contingent liabilities, updated by applicable interest rates, for which the likelihood of loss is considered possible are presented by nature as follows. The proceedings related to Brumadinho event (note 26) and the Samarco dam failure (note 27) are presented in its specific notes to these financial statements.
Tax proceedings - Financial compensation for the exploration of mineral resources (“CFEM”)
The Company is engaged in numerous administrative and judicial proceedings related to the mining royalty known as CFEM. These proceedings arise from assessments by the Brazilian National Mining Agency (“Agência Nacional de Mineração – ANM”, former “DNPM”), which main discussions involve the deduction of taxes, insurance and transportation costs indicated in the corresponding invoice of CFEM payments, in addition to CFEM charges on pellet sales and the revenues from sales made by our foreign subsidiaries. The Company estimates the possible losses resulting from these proceedings to be US$1,835 as of December 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: US$2,132).
Tax proceedings – PIS/COFINS
The Company is a party to several claims related to the alleged misuse of PIS and COFINS credits (federal taxes levied on the companies’ gross revenue). Brazilian tax legislation authorizes taxpayers to deduct PIS and COFINS tax credits, such as those referring to the acquisition of inputs for the production process and other items. The tax authorities mainly claim that (i) some credits were not related to the production process, and (ii) the right to use the tax credits was not adequately proven. The Company is discussing the afore mentioned charges related to credits determined as of 2002. The chances of loss related to these lawsuits classified as possible total US$2,326 as of December 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: US$2,198).
| 78 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Tax proceedings – Tax on Services (“ISS”)
The Company is party to several administrative and judicial proceedings related to the collection of ISS in several Brazilian municipalities. The tax authorities’ main allegations for those proceedings are: (i) the tax basis used for computing the tax payable was incorrect; (ii) failure to pay ISS related to third-party property and business management services; and (iii) the incidence of ISS over own goods port handling services (“self-service”). As of December 31, 2024, the total amount of the possible loss is US$739 (December 31, 2023: US$738).
Tax proceedings – Value added tax on services and circulation of goods (“ICMS”)
The Company is engaged in several administrative and judicial proceedings relating to additional charges of ICMS by the tax authorities of different Brazilian states. In each of these proceedings, the tax authorities claim that (i) misuse of tax credit; (ii) the Company is required to pay the ICMS on acquisition of electricity (iii) operations related to the collection of tax rate differential (“DIFAL”) and (iv) incidence of ICMS on its own transportation. The total amount classified as a possible loss is US$389 as of December 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: US$586).
| 79 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Environmental litigations – Iron ore operations in Itabira
The Company is a party to two lawsuits filed by the municipality of Itabira, in the state of Minas Gerais. The first is a public civil action filed by the municipality of Itabira in August 1996, alleging that Vale's iron ore operations in Itabira caused environmental, social, and alleged environmental degradation damages to the site, and requesting the immediate recovery of the affected ecological complex and the implementation of compensatory environmental programs in the region. In the second action, filed in September 1996, the municipality of Itabira claims the right to be reimbursed for expenses incurred in relation to public services provided as a result of mining activities. The damages claimed, updated since the date of the action, total US$460 on December 31, 2024 (2023: US$524). Both actions are in the procedural instruction phase, and the Company has assessed the risk of loss as possible.
Environmental litigations – Public Civil Action of Maravilhas II and III and Forquilhas V
The Company is a party to public civil actions filed by the Public Prosecutor's Office of the State of Minas Gerais and the municipality of Jeceaba requesting the suspension of tailings disposal in the Maravilhas II and III dam (Vargem Grande complex) and Forquilhas V (Fábrica complex). The actions are ongoing, and evidence is awaited for subsequent judgment of the case. The Company considers the risk of loss to be possible. However, the amount of any losses resulting from the possible shutdown of these operations or compensation actions cannot be reliably estimated.
Environmental litigations – Proceeding related to the Tubarão Port
In July 2006, the National Association of Friends of the Environment (ANAMA) filed a class action against Vale, the State of Espírito Santo, the Environmental Institute of the State of Espírito Santo (IEMA), the Municipality of Vitória, the Federal Union, and the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama). ANAMA requested compensation for the pollution allegedly caused in the Metropolitan Region of the Municipality of Vitória and the suspension of the operating license. In 2018, the Company entered into an agreement that established investments to improve atmospheric emissions control at the Tubarão Port and pelletizing plants. This agreement should have halted the continuation of the lawsuit. However, despite the conclusions of the judicial technical evidence and the execution of the agreement, in November 2023, the court established that Vale should present additional technical evidence to assess the Company's contribution to the air quality of the metropolitan region of Vitória, in the state of Espírito Santo. The Company is defending these proceedings and considers the risk of loss to be possible. However, the amount of any losses resulting from the possible shutdown of these operations or compensation actions to prevent the suspension of the license cannot be reliably estimated.
Environmental litigations – Stella Banner Accident
In December 2020, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) filed a public civil action against Vale seeking compensation for the alleged environmental damages and reimbursement of expenses incurred by public authorities. In April 2022, the MPF filed a criminal action before the Federal Court against the captain of the carrier, Polaris, and Vale, for the alleged crime of pollution through the unauthorized discharge of oily waste. In November 2023, the court accepted the complaint for the alleged crime of pollution through the discharge of oil into the sea. The Company is defending these proceedings and considers the risk of loss to be possible. However, it is not yet possible to reliably estimate the amount of a potential loss.
c) Judicial deposits
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Tax litigations | 338 | 516 |
| Civil litigations | 78 | 122 |
| Labor litigations | 110 | 148 |
| Environmental litigations | 11 | 12 |
| Total | 537 | 798 |
d) Guarantees contracted for legal proceedings
In addition to the above-mentioned tax, civil, labor and environmental judicial deposits, the Company contracted US$2.9 billion (December 31, 2023: US$2.7 billion) in guarantees for its lawsuits, as an alternative to judicial deposits.
| 80 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Accounting policy
A provision is recognized when there is a present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made. The provision is recorded an expense in the income statement.
Provisions are recognized and subsequently measured at the best estimate of the expenditures required to settle the Company's obligation.
This obligation is updated based on the developments of the judicial process or interest accretion and can be reversed if the expectation of loss is not considered probable due to changes in circumstances or when the obligation is settled.
Contingent assets are disclosed when the related economic benefits are probable and are only recognized in the financial statements in the period in which their realization is virtually certain.
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
Legal and administrative proceedings are contingent by nature, that is, it will be resolved when one or more future event occurs or fails to occur. Typically, the occurrence or not of such events is outside of the Company’s control. Legal uncertainties involve the application of significant estimates and judgments by management regarding the potential outcomes of future events.
30. Employee benefits
| Current liabilities | Non-current liabilities | ||||
| Notes | December 31, 2024 | December 31 ,2023 | December 31, 2024 | December 31 ,2023 | |
| Payroll, related charges and other remunerations | 30(a) | 934 | 867 | - | - |
| Share-based payment | 30(b) | 16 | 27 | - | - |
| Employee post retirement obligation | 30(c) | 62 | 70 | 1,118 | 1,381 |
| 1,012 | 964 | 1,118 | 1,381 | ||
a) Profit sharing program (“PLR”)
The Company recorded as cost of goods sold and services rendered and other operating expenses related to the profit sharing program US$611, US$557 and US$499 for the years ended on December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Compensation Associated with ESG Performance Targets
Currently, the Company aligns the compensation programs with the business strategy and the objective of making Vale a safer company. Since 2020, the Company has been following new standards for executive compensation. For short-term compensation, at least 30% of performance targets are driven by ESG metrics and directly related to safety, risk management and sustainability targets.
b) Share-based payments
For the long-term incentive programs, the Company compensation plans includes Matching Program and Performance Share Unit program (“PSU”), with three-year-vesting cycles, respectively, with the aim of encouraging employee’s retention and encouraging their performance. The fair value of the programs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the three-year required service period, net of estimated losses.
| 81 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Matching Program
For the Matching program, the participants can acquire Vale’s common shares in the market without any benefits being provided by Vale. If the shares acquired are held for a period of three years and the participants keep an employment relationship with Vale, the participant is entitled to receive from Vale an award in shares, equivalent to the number of shares originally acquired by the executive.
The fair value of the Matching program was estimated using the Company's share price and ADR and the number of shares granted on the grant date.
|
|
2024 Program | 2023 Program | 2022 Program |
| Granted shares | 2,244,659 | 1,330,503 | 1,437,588 |
| Share price | 12.02 | 15.94 | 20.03 |
Performance Shares Units (“PSU”)
Under the PSU, eligible executives can earn, during a three-year vesting cycle, an award equivalent to the market value of a certain number of common shares and conditioned to Vale's performance factor measured based on Total Shareholder Return ("TSR") and Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") metrics. It is comprised of 75% of TSR metrics and 25% of ESG indicators and health and safety.
The fair value of the PSU program was measured by estimating the performance factor using Monte Carlo simulations for the Return to Shareholders Indicator and health and safety and sustainability indicators. The assumptions used for the Monte Carlo simulations are shown in the table below, as well as the result used to calculate the expected value of the total performance factor.
| 2024 Program | 2023 Program | 2022 Program | |
| Granted shares | 1,873,175 | 1,177,755 | 1,709,955 |
| Date shares were granted | |||
| Share price | 12.49 | 16.6 | 13.81 |
| Expected volatility | % | % | % |
| Expected term (in years) | |||
| Expected shareholder return indicator | % | % | % |
| Expected performance factor | % | % | % |
c) Employee post retirement obligation
In Brazil, the management of the pension plans is the responsibility of Fundação Vale do Rio Doce de Seguridade Social (“Valia”) a nonprofit entity with administrative and financial autonomy. The Brazilian plans are as follows:
Benefit plan Vale Mais (“Vale Mais”) and benefit plan Valiaprev (“Valiaprev”) - The Company's employees participating in Valia are associated, for the most part, with the Vale Mais plan, which has a defined benefit component (settled benefit from the former Defined Benefits Plan and specific benefit to cover death, disability retirement and sickness benefit) and defined contribution component (for programmable benefits). The Valiaprev plan is similar to the Vale Mais plan, with the exception of not having the benefit settled and the sickness benefit. Both Vale Mais and Valiaprev plans were overfunded as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Defined benefit plan (“Plano BD”) - The Plano BD is closed to new entrants since 2000, when the Vale Mais plan was implemented. It is a plan that has defined benefit characteristics, covering almost exclusively retirees and their beneficiaries. It was overfunded as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and the contributions made by the Company are not material.
“Abono complementação” benefit plan - The Company sponsors a specific group of former employees entitled to receive additional benefits from Valia regular payments. The contributions made by the Company finished in 2014. The “Abono complementação” benefit was overfunded as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Other benefits - The Company sponsors medical plans for employees that meet specific criteria and for employees who use the “abono complementação” benefit. Although those benefits are not specific retirement plans, actuarial calculations are used to calculate future obligations. As those benefits are related to health care plans they have nature of underfunded benefits, and are presented as underfunded plans as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
| 82 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
The foreign plans are managed in accordance with their region. They are divided between plans in Canada, USA and UK. Pension plans in Canada are composed of a defined benefit and defined contribution component. Currently the defined benefit plans do not allow new entrants. The majority of foreign defined benefit plans are underfunded as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and just two overfunded plans as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
In December 2023, the Company entered into annuity contracts to transfer US$836 of pension plan obligations and its associated assets. This transaction triggered a settlement and remeasurement of the pension plan, and as a result, the Company recognized a non-cash loss of US$5 in the income statement as “Other expenses”, measured by the difference between the premium and the obligations transferred.
Employers’ disclosure about pensions and other post-retirement benefits on the status of the defined benefit elements of all plans is provided as follows.
i. Evolution of present value obligation
| Overfunded pension plans |
Underfunded pension plans and other benefits | |
| Benefit obligation as of December 31, 2022 | 5,142 | 1,665 |
| Service costs | 16 | 23 |
| Interest costs | 322 | 171 |
| Benefits paid | (479) | (182) |
| Effect of changes in the actuarial assumptions | 468 | 174 |
| Settlement | - | (836) |
| Transfer to assets held for sale | - | (40) |
| Other | 3 | 8 |
| Translation adjustment | 246 | 84 |
| Transfer | (1,201) | 1,201 |
| Benefit obligation as of December 31, 2023 | 4,517 | 2,268 |
| Service costs | 16 | 22 |
| Past Service Cost | (5) | 4 |
| Interest costs | 274 | 117 |
| Benefits paid | (469) | (143) |
| Effect of changes in the actuarial assumptions | (220) | (86) |
| Administrative cost and taxes | 3 | 2 |
| Translation adjustment | (770) | (261) |
| Benefit obligation as of December 31, 2024 | 3,346 | 1,923 |
ii. Evolution of assets fair value
| Overfunded pension plans |
Underfunded pension plans and other benefits | |
| Fair value of plan assets as of December 31, 2022 | 6,340 | 339 |
| Interest income | 429 | 85 |
| Employer contributions | 22 | 81 |
| Benefits paid | (479) | (182) |
| Return on plan assets (excluding interest income) | 286 | 44 |
| Settlement | - | (841) |
| Translation adjustment | 320 | 28 |
| Transfer | (1,261) | 1,261 |
| Fair value of plan assets as of December 31, 2023 | 5,657 | 815 |
| Interest income | 349 | 38 |
| Employer contributions | 17 | 78 |
| Benefits paid | (469) | (143) |
| Return on plan assets (excluding interest income) | (259) | 34 |
| Translation adjustment | (979) | (79) |
| Fair value of plan assets as of December 31, 2024 | 4,316 | 743 |
| 83 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
iii. Reconciliation of assets and liabilities recognized in the statement of financial position
| Foreign plan | ||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
| Movements of assets ceiling | Overfunded pension plans (i) |
Underfunded pension plans and other benefits |
Overfunded pension plans |
Underfunded pension plans and other benefits |
| Balance at beginning of the year | 178 | - | 190 | - |
| Interest income | 8 | - | 8 | 1 |
| Changes on asset ceiling and onerous liability | 33 | - | 2 | (28) |
| Translation adjustment | (8) | - | 5 | - |
| Transfer | - | - | (27) | 27 |
| Balance at end of the year | 211 | - | 178 | - |
| Amount recognized in the statement of financial position | ||||
| Present value of actuarial liabilities | (1,233) | (1,485) | (1,365) | (1,605) |
| Fair value of assets | 1,554 | 683 | 1,611 | 721 |
| Effect of the asset ceiling | (211) | - | (178) | - |
| Assets (liabilities) | 110 | (802) | 68 | (884) |
| Current liabilities | - | (40) | - | (45) |
| Non-current assets (liabilities) | 110 | (762) | 68 | (839) |
| Assets (liabilities) | 110 | (802) | 68 | (884) |
| Total | ||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
| Movements of assets ceiling | Overfunded pension plans (i) | Underfunded pension plans and other benefits | Overfunded pension plans | Underfunded pension plans and other benefits |
| Balance at beginning of the year | 1,071 | - | 1,114 | - |
| Interest income | 69 | - | 103 | 1 |
| Changes on asset ceiling | (76) | - | (192) | (28) |
| Translation adjustment | (204) | - | 73 | - |
| Transfer | - | - | (27) | 27 |
| Balance at end of the year | 860 | - | 1,071 | - |
| Amount recognized in the statement of financial position | ||||
| Present value of actuarial liabilities | (3,346) | (1,923) | (4,517) | (2,266) |
| Fair value of assets | 4,316 | 743 | 5,656 | 815 |
| Effect of the asset ceiling | (860) | - | (1,071) | - |
| Assets (liabilities) | 110 | (1,180) | 68 | (1,451) |
| Current liabilities | - | (62) | - | (70) |
| Non-current assets (liabilities) | 110 | (1,118) | 68 | (1,381) |
| Assets (liabilities) | 110 | (1,180) | 68 | (1,451) |
| (i) | The pension plan asset is recorded as “Other non-current assets” in the balance sheet. |
| 84 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
iv. Costs recognized in the income statement
v. Costs recognized in the statement of comprehensive income
vi. Risks related to plans
The Administrators of the plans have committed to strategic planning to strengthen internal controls and risk management. This obligation is achieved by conducting audits and assessments of internal controls, which aim to mitigate operational market and credit risks. Risks are presented as follow:
Legal - Lawsuits: issuance of periodic reports to the audit and Board of Directors, including the lawyers' analysis of the chances of success (remote, probable or possible), focusing on the administrative decision on provisions. Promote and monitor adaptations to new legal obligations and monitor compliance with established legal obligations. Due diligence of third parties from the perspective of the Integrity Program.
Actuarial - The annual actuarial evaluation of the benefit plans comprises the assessment of taxes, income and adequacy of the costing plans. Technical study of compliance with the assumptions adopted in the actuarial evaluation of benefit plans prepared by an external actuary, in accordance with current legislation. Monitoring of biometric, demographic and economic-financial assumptions.
Market – Technical allocation studies are carried out with the objective of evaluating investment portfolios of the different obligations of the plans and projecting the future result of these portfolios. Asset Liability Management studies are carried out for defined benefit type obligations (Asset Liability Management study), while for defined contribution type obligations there are efficient frontier studies (investment profiles) and glidepath (life cycles). Periodic monitoring of the plans' short-term market risk based on risk indicators (VaR - Value at Risk, Benchmark VaR, Maximum Drawdown, Stress Tests, among others).
| 85 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Credit - Risk classification of securities from corporate and bank issuers based on quantitative and qualitative assessments of the credit risk of the issuer, the asset and its guarantees, from acquisition to maturity. This internal rating sensitizes provisions for credit risk losses, as well as verified defaults, in accordance with current legislation. Provisions for loan losses with participants are realized based on default verified in payments.
Liquidity - Technical study of the liquidity of plans with defined benefit obligations, focusing on the long term, whose objective is to verify the sufficiency of the assets in fulfilling the plan's obligations. Monitoring of short-term liquidity with a focus on cash available to meet plan obligations for the coming years. The defined contribution bond portfolios (investment profiles and life cycles) have assets available for sale at any time in normal market situations.
vii. Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
All calculations involve future actuarial projections about some parameters, such as: salaries, interest, inflation, mortality and disability.
The economic and actuarial assumptions adopted have been formulated considering the long-term period for maturity and should therefore be analyzed accordingly. In the short term they may not be realized.
The following assumptions were adopted in the assessment:
| Foreign | ||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
| Overfunded pension plans | Underfunded pension plans and other benefits | Overfunded pension plans | Underfunded pension plans and other benefits | |
| Discount rate to determine benefit obligation | 4.66% | 4.66% - 4.72% | 4.63% | 4.63% - 4.64% |
| Nominal average rate to determine expense/ income | 4.61% | 4.61% | 5.10% | 5.10% - 5.14% |
| Nominal average rate of salary increase | 3.10% | 3.10% | 3.31% | 3.31% |
| Nominal average rate of benefit increase | 3.00% | 3.00% | 3.00% | 3.00% |
| Immediate health care cost trend rate | N/A | 4.50% | N/A | 4.85% |
| Ultimate health care cost trend rate | N/A | 4.39% | N/A | 4.49% |
| Nominal average rate of price inflation | 2.08% | 2.08% | 2.08% | 2.08% |
| 86 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
For the sensitivity analysis, the Company applies the effect of 1.0% in nominal discount rate to the present value of the Company´s actuarial liability. The effects of this analysis on the Company´s actuarial liability and assumptions adopted are as follows:
| Brazil | ||
| December 31, 2024 | ||
| Overfunded pension plans | Underfunded pension plans and other benefits | |
| Nominal discount rate - 1% increase | ||
| Actuarial liability adjusted for sensitivity test | 1,990 | 422 |
| Assumptions made | 12.28% | 12.45% - 13.12% |
| Nominal discount rate - 1% reduction | ||
| Actuarial liability adjusted for sensitivity test | 2,253 | 490 |
| Assumptions made | 10.28% | 10.45% - 11.12% |
| 87 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
| Foreign | ||
| December 31, 2024 | ||
| Overfunded pension plans | Underfunded pension plans and other benefits | |
| Nominal discount rate - 1% increase | ||
| Actuarial liability adjusted for sensitivity test | 1,123 | 1,301 |
| Assumptions made | 5.66% | 5.66% - 5.72% |
| Nominal discount rate - 1% reduction | ||
| Actuarial liability adjusted for sensitivity test | 1,364 | 1,684 |
| Assumptions made | 3.66% | 3.66% - 3.72% |
viii. Assets of pension plans
Brazilian plan assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 includes respectively (i) investments in a portfolio of Vale’s share and other instruments in the amount of US$23 and US$47, which are presented as “Investments funds – Equity” and (ii) Brazilian Federal Government securities in the amount of US$3,945 and US$4,793, which are presented as “Debt securities governments” and “Investments funds – Fixed” Foreign plan assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 includes Canadian Government securities in the amount of US$507 and US$592, respectively.
ix. Overfunded pension plans
Assets by category are as follows:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 28 | 28 | 14 | 14 | ||||
| Equity securities | 69 | - | - | 69 | 261 | - | - | 261 |
| Debt securities – Corporate | - | 196 | - | 196 | - | 396 | - | 396 |
| Debt securities – Government | 2,521 | 279 | - | 2,800 | 3,814 | 361 | - | 4,175 |
| Investments funds - Fixed Income | 1,123 | - | - | 1,123 | 1,391 | 162 | - | 1,553 |
| Investments funds – Equity | 376 | - | - | 376 | 483 | 1 | - | 484 |
| International investments | 55 | - | 51 | 106 | 59 | 186 | - | 245 |
| Structured investments - Private Equity funds | - | 20 | 43 | 63 | - | 51 | 72 | 123 |
| Real estate | - | - | 212 | 212 | - | - | 235 | 235 |
| Loans to participants | - | - | 142 | 142 | - | - | 162 | 162 |
| Other | - | - | 924 | 924 | - | - | 187 | 187 |
| Total | 4,144 | 523 | 1,372 | 6,039 | 6,008 | 1,171 | 656 | 7,835 |
| Funds not related to risk plans (i) | (1,723) | (2,178) | ||||||
| Fair value of plan assets at end of year | 4,316 | 5,657 | ||||||
| (i) | Financial investments not related to coverage of overfunded pension plans. Funds are related to the Company´s unconsolidated entities and former employees. |
Measurement of overfunded plan assets at fair value with no observable market variables (level 3) are as follows:
| Private equity funds | International investments | Real estate funds | Real estate | Loans to participants | Others | Total | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | 240 | 3 | 293 | 128 | 664 | ||
| Return on plan assets | 5 | - | - | 9 | 22 | - | 36 |
| Assets purchases | 11 | - | - | 8 | 211 | - | 230 |
| Assets sold during the year | (6) | - | (3) | (16) | (210) | - | (235) |
| Translation adjustment | 8 | - | - | 18 | 11 | - | 37 |
| Transfer between Overfunded and Underfunded pension plans | (58) | - | - | (18) | - | - | (76) |
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | 200 | - | 294 | 162 | 656 | ||
| Transfer | (129) | 129 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Return on plan assets | (12) | (69) | - | (19) | 23 | - | (77) |
| Assets purchases | - | - | - | 3 | 62 | - | 65 |
| Assets sold during the year | (3) | - | - | (12) | (67) | - | (82) |
| Translation adjustment | (13) | (9) | - | (54) | (38) | - | (114) |
| Transfer between Overfunded and Underfunded pension plans | - | - | - | - | - | 924 | 924 |
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | 43 | 51 | 212 | 142 | 924 | 1,372 | |
| 88 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
| x. | Underfunded pension plans |
Assets by category are as follows:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | ||||
| Equity securities | 89 | - | - | 89 | 112 | - | - | 112 |
| Debt securities – Corporate | - | 114 | - | 114 | - | 215 | - | 215 |
| Debt securities – Government | 20 | 216 | - | 236 | 60 | 150 | - | 210 |
| Investments funds - Fixed Income | 43 | - | - | 43 | 41 | - | - | 41 |
| Investments funds – Equity | - | 1 | - | 1 | 8 | 11 | - | 19 |
| International investments | - | - | 66 | 66 | - | - | - | - |
| Structured investments - Private Equity funds | - | 26 | - | 26 | - | - | 55 | 55 |
| Real estate | - | - | 43 | 43 | - | - | 27 | 27 |
| Loans to participants | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Others | - | - | 116 | 116 | - | - | 131 | 131 |
| Total | 152 | 365 | 226 | 743 | 221 | 382 | 214 | 817 |
Measurement of underfunded plan assets at fair value with no observable market variables (level 3) are as follows:
| Private equity funds | International investments | Real estate | Loans to participants | Others | Total | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 125 | 140 | |
| Return on plan assets | 4 | - | - | - | 3 | 7 |
| Assets purchases | 3 | - | 2 | - | - | 5 |
| Assets sold during the year | (19) | - | - | - | - | (19) |
| Translation adjustment | 1 | - | 1 | - | 3 | 5 |
| Transfer between surplus and deficit plans | 58 | - | 18 | - | - | 76 |
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | 55 | 27 | 1 | 131 | 214 | |
| Transfer | (54) | 54 | - | - | - | - |
| Return on plan assets | - | 17 | 20 | - | (4) | 33 |
| Assets sold during the year | (1) | - | (1) | - | - | (2) |
| Translation adjustment | - | (5) | (3) | - | (11) | (19) |
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | 66 | 43 | 1 | 116 | 226 |
xi. Disbursement of future cash flow
Vale expects to disburse US$53 in 2025 in relation to pension plans and other benefits.
xii. Expected benefit payments
The expected benefit payments, which reflect future services, are as follows:
| Overfunded pension plans |
Underfunded pension plans and other benefits | |
| 2025 | 222 | 46 |
| 2026 | 224 | 48 |
| 2027 | 226 | 49 |
| 2028 | 228 | 50 |
| 2029 | 229 | 51 |
| 2030 and thereafter | 1,136 | 275 |
| 89 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Accounting policy
Employee benefits
i. Current benefits – wages, vacations and related taxes
Payments of benefits such as wages or accrued vacation, as well the related social security taxes over those benefits are recognized monthly in income, on an accrual basis.
ii. Current benefits – profit sharing program
The Company has the Annual Incentive Program (AIP) based on Team and business unit’s contribution and Company-wide performance through operational cash generation. The Company makes an accrual based on evaluation periodic of goals achieved and Company result, using the accrual basis and recognition of present obligation arising from past events in the estimated outflow of resources in the future. The accrual is recorded as cost of goods sold and services rendered or operating expenses in accordance with the activity of each employee.
iii. Non-current benefits – share-based payments
The Company has established a procedure for awarding certain eligible executives (Matching and Performance Share Unit (“PSU”) Programs) with the goal of encouraging employee retention and optimum performance. Share-based long-term compensation programs are equity-settled, under which the Company receives employee services as consideration for equity instruments. The fair value of employee services received in exchange for the grant of options is recognized as an expense. The total amount of expenses is recognized during the period in which the right is acquired; period during which the specific vesting conditions are met.
iv. Non-current benefits – pension costs and other post retirement benefits
The Company has several retirement plans for its employees.
For defined contribution plans, the Company's obligations are limited to a monthly contribution linked to a pre-defined percentage of the remuneration of employees enrolled into these plans.
For defined benefit plans, actuarial calculations are periodically obtained for liabilities determined in accordance with the Projected Unit Credit Method in order to estimate the Company’s obligation. The liability recognized in the statement of financial position represents the present value of the defined benefit obligation as of that date, less the fair value of plan assets. The Company recognized in the income statement the costs of services, the interest expense of the obligations and the interest income of the plan assets. The remeasurement of gains and losses, return on plan assets (excluding the amount of interest on return of assets, which is recognized in income for the year) and changes in the effect of the ceiling of the active and onerous liabilities are recognized in comprehensive income for the year.
For overfunded plans, the Company recognizes the net defined benefit assets limited to the present value of the economic benefits available as refunds or reductions in future contributions, considering minimum funding requirements applicable. For underfunded plans, the Company recognizes net defined benefit liabilities. The gain or loss on recognition/remeasurement of these net assets/liabilities are recognized in income statement or in comprehensive income, when arising from the actuarial valuation.
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
Post retirement benefits for employees - The amounts recognized depend on several factors that are determined based on actuarial calculations using various assumptions in order to determine costs and liabilities. One of these assumptions is selection and use of the discount rate. Any changes to these assumptions will affect the amount recognized.
At the end of each year the Company and external actuaries review the assumptions that will be used for the following year. These assumptions are used in determining the fair values of assets and liabilities, costs and expenses and the future values of estimated cash outflows, which are recorded in the plan obligations.
| 90 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
31. Equity
a) Share capital
As of December 31, 2024, the share capital was US$ corresponding to shares issued and fully paid without par value. The Board of Directors may, regardless of changes to by-laws, approve the issue and cancelation of common shares, including the capitalization of profits and reserves to the extent authorized.
| December 31, 2024 | |||
| Shareholders | Common shares | Golden shares | Total |
| Previ (i) | 397,061,482 | 397,061,482 | |
| Mitsui&co (i) | 286,347,055 | - | 286,347,055 |
| Blackrock, Inc (ii) | 289,063,618 | - | 289,063,618 |
| Total shareholders with more than 5% of capital (i) | 972,472,155 | - | 972,472,155 |
| Free floating | 3,296,247,846 | - | 3,296,247,846 |
| Golden shares | - | 12 | 12 |
| Total outstanding (without shares in treasury) | 4,268,720,001 | 12 | 4,268,720,013 |
| Shares in treasury | 270,287,567 | - | 270,287,567 |
| Total capital | 4,539,007,568 | 12 | 4,539,007,580 |
| (i) | Number of shares owned by shareholders, as per statement provided by the custodian, based on shares listed at B3. |
| (ii) | Number of shares as reported in Blackrock, Inc.’s Schedule 13G/A, filed with the SEC. |
b) Cancelation of treasury shares
During 2023 and 2022, the Board of Directors approved cancellations of common shares issued by the Company, acquired and held in treasury, without reducing the amount of its share capital, as shown below. The effects were transferred in shareholders' equity as "Treasury shares cancelled", between the "Revenue reserve" and "Treasury shares". There were no shares cancelations in 2024.
| Number of canceled shares | Carrying amount | |
| Cancelation approved on March 2, 2023 | 239,881,683 | 4,164 |
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | 239,881,683 | 4,164 |
| Cancelation approved on February 24, 2022 | 133,418,347 | 2,830 |
| Cancellation approved on July 28, 2022 | 220,150,800 | 3,786 |
| Year ended December 31, 2022 | 353,569,147 | 6,616 |
| 91 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
| c) | Share buyback program |
On February 19, 2025 (subsequent event), the Board of Directors approved the common shares buyback program, limited to a maximum of common shares or their respective ADRs, with a term of 18 months started from the end of the ongoing program.
In 2023 and 2022, the Board of Directors approved shares buyback programs for Vale’s shares, as described below:
| Total of shares repurchased | Effect on cash flows | |||||
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Shares buyback program up to 150,000,000 shares (i) | ||||||
| Acquired by Parent | 18,251,159 | 1,500,000 | 240 | 22 | ||
| Acquired by wholly owned subsidiaries | 12,672,414 | 1,500,000 | 169 | 22 | ||
| 30,923,573 | 3,000,000 | 409 | 44 | |||
| Shares buyback program up to 500,000,000 shares (ii) | ||||||
| Acquired by Parent | 93,638,352 | 87,779,900 | 1,378 | 1,375 | ||
| Acquired by wholly owned subsidiaries | 88,058,750 | 90,847,177 | 1,292 | 1,410 | ||
| 181,697,102 | 178,627,077 | 2,670 | 2,785 | |||
| Shares buyback program up to 470,000,000 shares (iii) | ||||||
| Acquired by Parent | 81,855,600 | 1,501 | ||||
| Acquired by wholly owned subsidiaries | 96,959,900 | 1,750 | ||||
| 178,815,500 | 3,251 | |||||
| Shares buyback program | 30,923,573 | 184,697,102 | 357,442,577 | 409 | 2,714 | 6,036 |
| (i) | On October 26, 2023, a new share buyback program limited to a maximum of 150,000,000 common shares and their respective ADRs, over the next 18 months started from the end of the program previously on going. |
| (ii) | On April 27, 2022, the Board of Directors approved the common shares buyback program, limited to a maximum of 500,000,000 common shares or their respective ADRs, with a term of 18 months. |
| (iii) | On April 1, 2021, the Board of Directors approved the common shares buyback program, limited to a maximum of 270,000,000 common shares or their respective ADRs. In continuation of the previous program, the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program on October 28, 2021, with a limit of up to 200,000,000 common shares or their respective ADRs. Both programs ended in 2022. |
d) Profit distribution
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Net income of the year | 6,166 | 7,983 | 18,788 |
| Appropriation to legal reserve (i) | (276) | ||
| Appropriation to tax incentive reserve | (392) | (891) | (1,157) |
| Net income after appropriations to legal reserve and tax incentive reserve | 5,774 | 7,092 | 17,355 |
| Minimum remuneration to shareholders (ii) | 1,698 | 2,042 | 4,386 |
| Additional shareholders' remuneration | |||
| According to shareholder remuneration policy (iii) | 1,394 | 2,066 | 437 |
| Additional remuneration from the net income for the year (iv) | 500 | 2,000 | |
| Total remuneration to shareholders | 3,592 | 6,108 | 4,823 |
| Appropriation to statutory reserve | 2,182 | 984 | 8,821 |
| Appropriation to retained earnings reserve | 3,711 |
| (i) | In 2022, the limit of 20% of the share capital for the constitution of the legal reserve was reached, in accordance with article 193 of Law 6,404 and article 39 of the Company's Bylaws. |
| (ii) | Mandatory minimum remuneration corresponding to 25% of the net income after appropriations to legal reserve and tax incentive reserve. according to Vale S.A.’s by-laws. |
| (iii) | According to the Company's shareholder remuneration policy, minimum remuneration to Vale S.A. shareholders is calculated based on 30% of the adjusted EBITDA (as defined in note 5) less sustaining capital investments, which represented US$4,538 (2023: US$4,269 and 2022: US$3,897) for the year ended December 31, 2024. Therefore, the additional remuneration to comply with the policy was US$1,394. |
| (iv) | In addition, the Company approved dividends beyond the policy calculation in the amount of US$500, totaling US$3,592 in remuneration to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2024. |
| 92 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
Remuneration approved
The Company's By-laws determines as its minimum mandatory remuneration to Vale shareholders an amount equal to 25% of the net income, after appropriations to legal and tax incentive reserves. The remuneration approved as interest on capital (“JCP”) is gross up with the income tax applicable to Vale’s shareholders. The remuneration to Vale’s shareholders was based on the following resolutions:
| · | On February 19, 2025 (subsequent event), the Board of Directors approved dividends to shareholders in the total amount of US$1,596 (R$9,143 million), approved as additional remuneration. The payment is expected by March 2025. |
| · | On November 28, 2024, the Board of Directors approved interest on equity to shareholders in the amount of US$388 (R$2,222 million), which will be paid in March 2025 as remuneration for the year ending December 31, 2024. |
| · | On July 25, 2024, the Board of Directors approved interest on capital to its shareholders in the total amount of |
US$1,608 (R$8,940 million), as an anticipation of the remuneration for the year ended December 31, 2024. This remuneration was fully paid in September 2024.
| · | On February 22, 2024, the Board of Directors has approved remuneration to shareholders in the total amount of US$2,364 (R$11,722 million). The total amount was approved as dividends and recorded in equity as “Additional remuneration reserve”. The payment was fully paid in March 2024. |
| · | On October 26, 2023, the Board of Directors approved an additional remuneration to its shareholders in the amount of US$2,000 (R$10,033 million) as an anticipation of the shareholders remuneration for the year ending December 31, 2023, of which US$657 (R$3,295 million) was approved as interest on capital and US$1,343 (R$6,738 million) as dividends. The payment of this remuneration was fully paid in December 2023. |
| · | On July 27, 2023, the Board of Directors approved interest on capital to its shareholders in the amount of US$1,744 (R$8,277 million) as an anticipation of remuneration for the year ended December 31, 2023. The payment of this remuneration was fully paid in September 2023. |
| · | On February 16, 2023, the Board of Directors approved the shareholder’s remuneration of R$8,130 (US$1,569 million), of which R$5,865 (US$1,132 million) is part of the minimum mandatory remuneration, recorded as a liability for the year ended December 31, 2022, and R$2,265 (US$437 million) as an additional remuneration, recorded in equity as “Additional remuneration reserve”. The payment of this remuneration was fully paid in March 2023. |
| · | On December 1, 2022, the Board of Directors approved interest on capital to shareholders in the amount of US$254 (R$1,319 million), as an anticipation of the income for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is part of the minimum mandatory remuneration, recorded as a liability for the year ended December 31, 2022. The payment of this remuneration was fully paid in March 2023. |
| · | On July 28, 2022, the Board of Directors approved the remuneration to shareholders in the amount of US$3,000 (R$16,243 million), which is part of the minimum mandatory remuneration, recorded as a liability for the year ended December 31, 2022. The payment of this remuneration was fully paid in September 2022. |
| · | On February 24, 2022, the Board of Directors approved the remuneration to shareholders in the amount of US$3,500 (R$17,849 million) as an additional remuneration for the year ended December 31, 2021, recorded in equity as “Additional remuneration reserve”. The payment of this remuneration was fully paid in March 2022. |
| 93 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
e) Profit reserves
| Legal reserve | Tax incentive reserve | Statutory reserve | Retained earnings reserve | Additional remuneration reserve | Total of profit reserves | |||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2021 | 2,523 | 3,083 | 6,898 | 3,198 | 15,702 | |||||||
| Allocation of income | 276 | 1,157 | 8,821 | 3,711 | 437 | 14,402 | ||||||
| Deliberated dividends and interest on capital of Vale's shareholders | - | - | - | - | (3,500) | (3,500) | ||||||
| Treasury shares cancellation | - | - | (6,616) | - | - | (6,616) | ||||||
| Transfer of reserves | - | 3 | (3) | - | - | - | ||||||
| Translation adjustment | 165 | 173 | 249 | (133) | 302 | 756 | ||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | 2,964 | 4,416 | 9,349 | 3,578 | 437 | 20,744 | ||||||
| Allocation of income | - | 891 | 984 | - | 2,364 | 4,239 | ||||||
| Deliberated dividends and interest on capital of Vale's shareholders | - | - | - | - | (437) | (437) | ||||||
| Treasury shares cancellation | - | - | (4,164) | - | - | (4,164) | ||||||
| Translation adjustment | 230 | 383 | 604 | 278 | - | 1,495 | ||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | 3,194 | 5,690 | 6,773 | 3,856 | 2,364 | 21,877 | ||||||
| Allocation of income | - | 392 | 2,182 | - | 1,596 | 4,170 | ||||||
| Deliberated dividends and interest on capital of Vale's shareholders | - | - | - | - | (2,364) | (2,364) | ||||||
| Translation adjustment | (696) | (1,308) | (2,162) | (841) | - | (5,007) | ||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | 2,498 | 4,774 | 6,793 | 3,015 | 1,596 | 18,676 | ||||||
Legal reserve - Is a legal requirement for Brazilian public companies to retain 5% of the annual net income up to 20% of the capital. The reserve can only be used to compensate losses or to increase capital. The reserve can only be used to absorb losses or to increase capital. In 2022, the limit of 20% of the share capital for the constitution of the legal reserve was reached, in accordance with article 193 of Law No. 6,404 and article 39 of the Company's Bylaws.
Tax incentive reserve - Results from the option to designate a portion of the income tax for investments in projects approved by the Brazilian Government as well as tax incentives.
Statutory reserve - Aims to ensure the maintenance and development of the main activities that comprise the Company’s operations and to retain budgeted capital for investments. Based on the Company’s by-laws, this reserve is capped to 50% of the annual distributable net income, up to the amount of the share capital.
Retained earnings reserve – It is intended to be used in investments for capital expenditures as allowed by the Brazilian Corporate Law.
Additional remuneration reserve - Results from the remuneration proposed by Management that exceeds the mandatory minimum remuneration of 25% of the adjusted net income.
Accounting policy
Share capital and treasury shares - The Company holds shares in treasury for a future sale, cancellation or for the payment of the executives' long-term compensation programs. These shares are recognized in a specific account as a reduction of equity to the acquisition value and maintained at the cost of the transaction. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are recognized in equity as a deduction from the amount raised, net of taxes.
Shareholder’s remuneration - The shareholder’s remuneration is paid on dividends and interest on capital. This remuneration is recognized as a liability in the financial statements of the Company based on bylaws. Any amount above the minimum mandatory remuneration approved by the by-laws shall only be recognized in current liabilities on the date that is approved by shareholders.
The Company is permitted to distribute interest attributable to equity. The calculation is based on the equity amounts as stated in the statutory accounting records and the interest rate applied may not exceed the Brazilian Government Long-term Interest Rate (“TJLP”) determined by the Central Bank of Brazil. Also, such interest may not exceed 50% of the net income for the year or 50% of retained earnings plus profit reserves as determined by Brazilian corporate law.
The benefit to the Company, as opposed to making a dividend payment, is a reduction in the income tax burden because this interest charge is tax deductible in Brazil. Income tax of 15% is withheld on behalf of the shareholders relative to the interest distribution. Under Brazilian law, interest attributed to equity is considered as part of the annual minimum mandatory dividend. This notional interest distribution is treated for accounting purposes as a deduction from equity in a manner similar to a dividend and the tax deductibility recorded in the income statement.
| 94 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
32. Related parties
The Company’s related parties are subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates, shareholders and its related entities and key management personnel of the Company.
Related party transactions were made by the Company on terms equivalent to those that prevail in arm´s-length transactions, with respect to price and market conditions that are no less favorable to the Company than those arranged with third parties.
Net operating revenue relates to sale of iron ore to the steelmakers and right to use capacity on railroads. Cost and operating expenses mostly relates to the variable lease payments of the pelletizing plants.
Purchases, accounts receivable and other assets, and accounts payable and other liabilities relate largely to amounts charged by joint ventures and associates related to the pelletizing plants operational lease and railway transportation services.
a) Transactions with related parties
| Year ended December 31, | |||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Net operating revenue | Cost and operating expenses | Financial result | Net operating revenue | Cost and operating expenses | Financial result | Net operating revenue | Cost and operating expenses | Financial result | |
| Joint Ventures | |||||||||
| Companhia Siderúrgica do Pecém | - | - | - | 93 | - | - | 434 | - | (3) |
| Aliança Geração de Energia S.A. | - | (63) | - | - | (126) | - | - | (121) | - |
| Pelletizing companies (i) | - | (308) | (26) | - | (227) | (38) | - | (337) | (34) |
| MRS Logística S.A. | - | (429) | - | - | (453) | - | 1 | (397) | - |
| Norte Energia S.A. | - | (66) | - | - | (107) | - | - | (135) | - |
| Other | 29 | (72) | (3) | 32 | (10) | 1 | 41 | (8) | - |
| 29 | (938) | (29) | 125 | (923) | (37) | 476 | (998) | (37) | |
| Associates | |||||||||
| VLI | 359 | (26) | (2) | 321 | (29) | (3) | 289 | (26) | (3) |
| PTVI | - | (397) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other | - | (2) | 3 | - | (1) | - | 1 | - | - |
| 359 | (425) | 1 | 321 | (30) | (3) | 290 | (26) | (3) | |
| Shareholders | |||||||||
| Cosan | 3 | (4) | - | 10 | (11) | - | - | - | - |
| Bradesco | - | - | (416) | - | - | 201 | - | - | 381 |
| Mitsui | 247 | - | - | 280 | - | - | 416 | - | - |
| Banco do Brasil | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 3 | |
| 250 | (4) | (415) | 290 | (11) | 201 | 416 | - | 384 | |
| Total | 638 | (1,367) | (443) | 736 | (964) | 161 | 1,182 | (1,024) | 344 |
| (i) | Aggregated entities: Companhia Coreano-Brasileira de Pelotização, Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização, Companhia Ítalo-Brasileira de Pelotização and Companhia Nipo-Brasileira de Pelotização. |
| 95 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
b) Outstanding balances with related parties
| (i) | Aggregated entities: Companhia Coreano-Brasileira de Pelotização, Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização, Companhia Ítalo-Brasileira de Pelotização and Companhia Nipo-Brasileira de Pelotização. |
| Liabilities | ||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
| Supplier and contractors | Financial instruments and other liabilities | Supplier and contractors | Financial instruments and other liabilities | |
| Joint Ventures | ||||
| Pelletizing companies (i) | 49 | 291 | 51 | 290 |
| MRS Logística S.A. | 32 | - | 48 | - |
| Other | 66 | - | 39 | - |
| 147 | 291 | 138 | 290 | |
| Associates | ||||
| VLI | 2 | 47 | 1 | 59 |
| PTVI | 67 | - | - | - |
| Other | 2 | - | 4 | - |
| 71 | 47 | 5 | 59 | |
| Shareholders | ||||
| Cosan | 1 | - | 1 | - |
| Bradesco | - | 163 | - | 23 |
| 1 | 163 | 1 | 23 | |
| Pension plan | 11 | - | 14 | - |
| Total | 230 | 501 | 158 | 372 |
| (i) | Aggregated entities: Companhia Coreano-Brasileira de Pelotização, Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização, Companhia Ítalo-Brasileira de Pelotização and Companhia Nipo-Brasileira de Pelotização. |
| 96 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Expressed in millions of United States dollar, unless otherwise stated
|
c) Key management personnel compensation
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||
| Short-term benefits | ||||||
| Wages | 10 | 11 | 10 | |||
| Direct and indirect benefits | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Profit sharing program (“PLR”) | 11 | 11 | 12 | |||
| Total short-term benefits | 22 | 23 | 24 | |||
| Long-term benefits | ||||||
| Shares based | 10 | 14 | 18 | |||
| Severance | 3 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Total short and long-term benefits | 35 | 39 | 44 | |||
33. Commitments and guarantee
a) Commitments
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
| Purchase of raw materials and services | 6,421 | 5,361 | ||
| Purchase of energy | 1,767 | 2,316 | ||
| Total | 8,188 | 7,677 |
Commitments arise mainly from contracts for the acquisition of fuel and power and the purchase of raw materials and services. They represent the minimum required and non-cancelable payments related to contractual obligations.
b) Guarantee
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||
| Guarantee | Restricted cash | Liability (i) | Guarantee | Restricted cash | Liability (i) | ||
| Associates and joint ventures | 210 | 274 | |||||
| Assets retirement obligations | 1,091 | 910 | |||||
| 1,301 | 1,184 | ||||||
| (i) | The fair value of these financial guarantees is recorded as “Other financial liabilities” (note 15). |
Guarantees for associates and joint ventures - The Company has issued financial guarantees to certain associates and joint ventures to the extent of its direct and indirect ownership interest. In March 2023, the Company concluded the sale of its interest in CSP and derecognized the financial liability related to the guarantee granted by the Company (note 17h). In 2022, the Company recognized a gain of US$481 in the result as “other financial items, net” due to the improvement in the credit rating of the associates (note 7).
Guarantees related to asset retirement obligations - The Company has financial guarantees provided for the asset retirement obligations of its energy transition metals operations in Canada. In addition, for Indonesia, Vale has bank deposits to guarantee asset retirement obligations.
Fixed assets given as guarantee for loans and financing - The securities issued through Vale’s wholly owned finance subsidiary Vale Overseas Limited are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Vale and no other subsidiary of the Parent Company guarantees those securities.
Accounting policy
Power Purchase Agreements (“PPAs”) - The Company holds PPAs that were entered into and continue to be held for own use. As such, these contracts fall outside the scope of IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments. These PPAs are accounted for as executory contracts and are recorded as energy is received.
| 97 |
Subject:
Policy of Disclosure of Information and Securities Trading.