In a pre-operating disclosure, Brazilian iron ore and pellet producer Samarco reported second-quarter 2026 sales of 3.9 million metric tons (mt), up 23 percent from the prior quarter but down 1 percent from second-quarter 2025 based on total iron ore and pellet volumes.
Output also increased in the second quarter. 2026, increasing 4 percent from the first quarter of 2026 to 3.9 million tons, up 0.1 percent from the second quarter of 2025.
Samarco's average pellet price in the second quarter of 2026 reached $124.9 per ton, FOB, up 4 percent from the first quarter of 2026, but 3 percent lower than in the second quarter of 2025.
The company said sales were up 23 percent in the quarter. The increase reflected a return to normal supply levels after a weak first quarter of 2026.
On the production side, Samarco said second-quarter 2026 production showed operations remained strong at structurally higher levels. Taking into account the results of the first half of 2026, annual production rose 8 percent to 7.7 million tons and sales increased 4 percent to 7.1 million tons.
Samarco, a joint venture between Vale and BHP, is still recovering from the Fundao dam failure in 2015 and expects to return to full capacity of 26 million tons per year in 2028.
Luis Compagnoni EditorI am a retired mechanical engineer who has worked in the Latin American steel industry, from iron ore to finished products, for the last 20 years.
