Brazil

At PDAC 2026, Vale S.A. CEO Gustavo Pimenta outlined a five-pillar strategy at Vale that he believes can help reshape mining’s role in the global markets. He said mineral demand could rise five to six times, driven by electrification, AI infrastructure, and global development. However, mining company valuations remain low due to weak public perception. Vale plans to meet this demand by focusing on iron ore, copper, and nickel, leveraging existing infrastructure, automation, and lower-carbon products. Pimenta emphasized that execution and social license, not just production growth, will determine whether mining companies can close the valuation gap. [more]

There are only three known mines in the world that are currently mining niobium as the primary ore. Two of these are in Brazil, which produces about 90% of world output, and the third is an underground mine in the Province of Québec. Niobium’s two primary uses are in the steel industry and as a super-alloy. [more]