Vale doubles iron ore production from waste materials

VALE SA reported that its production of iron ore from waste materials reached 26.3 million metric tons in 2025, more than doubling the 12.7 million tons recorded in the previous year. This output significantly surpassed the company's initial forecast of approximately 20 million tons for the year. The mining company, which operates in Brazil, has transitioned its circular mining initiative from a pilot phase into a large-scale industrial operation. By recovering materials previously classified as tailings, the firm reduced waste disposal space by an amount equivalent to 60 iron ore railcars, supporting its broader decarbonization and environmental targets. These efforts have gained importance following several major dam failures in the region. The company's circular mining program aims to source 10% of its total output from waste materials by 2030. Beyond iron ore, the initiative has also generated over 3 million tons of sand from waste since 2023. Reporting for this story was provided by Marta Nogueira, with writing by Oliver Griffin and editing by Bill Berkrot.