J Mendes targets 7Mt iron ore output in 2007
Brazilian iron ore mining group J Mendes expects output to reach 7Mt in 2007, compared to 5Mt last year, commercial manager Luciano Mendes Nogueira told BNamericas.
The group operates three iron ore mines in Brazil’s southeastern state of Minas Gerais, while a fourth mine is due to start operations next month.
In terms of sales, J Mendes targets 30% to markets abroad such as China and Europe, and the balance to the domestic market, but the group is “intensifying more and more [sales to] markets abroad due to increasing demand,” Nogueira said.
The need for the raw steelmaking material is strong in Europe, the manager added.
Investments this year are due to focus on two pellet plants in addition to the new mine in Igarapã© city, the executive said, without citing a specific budget for such projects.
J Mendes, based in Minas Gerais state, was founded in 1966.
