Steel Products Prices North America

February 12, 2019
CRU: 2019 Pellet Premia Certain to Rise Following Vale’s Dam Breach
Written by Tim Triplett
By Erik Hedborg, CRU Senior Analyst
The recent dam breach in Brazil will complicate iron ore pellet premia negotiations and is likely to lead to steel mills eventually accepting sharp premia increases. As a result of the dam breach, Vale has suspended 11 Mt/y of pellet production in the Southern System and the recently revoked operating license for Vale’s Lanjeiras dam means that 18 ~Mt/y of pellet feed is likely to be lost from the market. This will impact Vale’s ability to produce pellets in Tubarão.


