In a pre-operational disclosure, Brazilian iron ore and pellet producer Samarco announced sales of 3.2 million tonnes in Q1 2026, down 37% from the previous quarter, although 12% more than the 2.8 million tonnes sold in Q1 2025, taking into account cumulative iron volumes. ores and pellets.
Similarly, production in the 1st quarter of 2026 decreased from the 4th quarter of 2025 by 3 percent to 3.8 million tons, but increased by 18 percent from the 1st quarter of 2025.
Samarco reached an average pellet price of $130/mt on FOB terms in Q1 2026, which is 2 percent more than in Q4 2025, but 8 percent less than in Q1 2025 of the year.
According to the company, "sales volumes have returned to normal after an exceptionally strong fourth quarter of 2025, which benefited from shipment anticipation, resulting in a more balanced shipment profile at the beginning of the year, still exceeding the levels of the previous year."
Regarding production, the company said that production volume in the first quarter of 2026 confirmed operating at structurally higher levels with a slight seasonal decline after a strong fourth quarter of 2025.
Samarco, an association of Vale and BHP, is still in the process of rebuilding after the 2015 Fundão dam disaster, with a full capacity of 26 million tons per year in 2028.
