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The ore iron industry in Brazil is going through an intense reorganization process. Privatization and changes of shareholding control in the steel companies, technological innovations and search for low operational costs had forced the mining companies to optimize processes of extraction, pellets production and transport, adopting also strategies of acquisitions and incorporation. Iron ore has an important role in Brazilian exports.
CVRD (Companhia Vale do Rio Doce), world biggest iron ore producer, and its associates _ MBR and Samarco _ are the main miner companies in the region. CVRD operates three mining complexes in Minas Gerais and several pellets plants in Espirito Santo. It is also a logistic company: it has two railroads, EFVM and FCA, besides participating at the control of MRS, and several sea terminals, as the port of Tubarão. The company exports mostly to China, European Union and Japan. MBR operates in Belo Horizonte south region and exports through its own terminals at the port of Sepetiba (RJ). Samarco has mines in Minas Gerais and pellets plants and port in Ubu (ES), linked by a pipeline.
The implantation of large-scale mining operations in the region, with a logistic system that includes railroads, ports and bulks, resulted from cooperation with Japan. This device allowed the creation of a large siderurgical park. Nippon Steel, Kawasaki Steel and Arcelor are important ore purchasers and participants or controllers of steel plants in the region. Now the Chinese steel producers, specially Baosteel, are among the biggest ore purchasers and announce big investments in steel plants and transportation infrastructure.
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