In 2Q14, production of manganese ore reached505,000 t against 470,000 t in 1Q14 and 617,000 t in 2Q13.

Manganese ore production

Output from the Carajás Azul manganese mineincreased by 11.4% when compared to 1Q14 anddecreased by 21.6% against 2Q13, reaching370,000 t in 2Q14. The higher production wasdue to the use of products recovered from thetailings dam. However, a 15 day maintenance in2Q14 decreased production when compared to2Q13.   

 In 2Q14, production from Urucum reached thehistorical record of 136,000 t, an increase of 4.2%against 1Q14 and 18.5% against 2Q13. This production increase was the result of operationalimprovements carried out in the beneficiationplant in 4Q13, which improved productivity and the physical availability of the plant in 2Q14.Production could have been even better, but theoperation was affected by the heavy rainfall inMay which flooded the underground mine and impacted production in June.

A mine expansion, which will allow significantproduction increases as of next year, is currentlyongoing and in 2H14 we will build theinfrastructure in the underground mine to accesshigh quality ore bodies.

There was no production at Morro da Mina in2Q14. In 4Q13 we started processing dumpedore due to the geological conditions in the northsection of the mine. We expect to startproduction during 3Q14 by exploring the southsection of the mine.

• [Editor:Sophie]