OREANDA-NEWS. Between 1995 and 2005, the iron ore exported by Vale to Japan reached around 600 million metric tons, amount enough to construct a bridge connecting the two countries.

The partnership between the two countries began in 1955 with the first shipment of 20,000 metric tons of iron ore sent to the Japanese steel company Fuji Steel. Just five years later 300,000 metric tons were sent, thanks to our partnerships with the Japanese steel companies Nippon Steel, JFE, Sumitomo, Kobe Steel and Nisshin Steel.

Other important milestones that have enhanced this relationship include the construction of the Tubarao Maritime Terminal in Vitoria (in the state of Espirito Santo) that is capable of receiving large vessels, and the Carajas Complex, which contributed to our company achieving a record production of 85.8 million metric tons of iron ore in the third quarter of 2008.