FEATURE ARTICLE

摘要

In the first half of the year, the largest producer of iron ore, Vale SA, encountered strong headwinds that sent supply disruptions rippling through the globe and prices surging through US$100/dmt. The coronavirus pandemic halted operations as the Brazilian company was ordered to suspend activities, ran on minimal staff and dealt with heavier than usual rains that caused flooding. Productivity and asset efficiency fell off a cliff, with production forecasted to be down 10.91% to 289Mt in 2020. Though, this is not the first time the iron ore mining giant has faced significant roadblocks amid periods of high demand.