World's Top Iron Ore Miners Output : CY'17 vs CY'16

Vale iron ore production up 5% Y-o-Y; Pellet Production up 9%

1. Vales iron ore production achieved a record increase of 5.1% to 366.5 MnT in CY'17 against 348.8 MnT in CY'16 due to the S11D ramp-up

2. Quarterly iron ore production totaled 93.4 MnT in Q4 CY'17, 1.8% lower against 95.1 MnT in Q3 CY'17, as a result of the value over volume strategy and the historical weather-related seasonality.

3. On Y-o-Y basis, iron ore production has been increased by 1.1% to 93.36 MnT in Q4CY'17 against 92.39 MnT in Q4CY'16.

4. Vale reaffirms its iron ore production guidance for 2018 of around 390 MnT.

5. Vale's pellet production achieved a record of 50.3 MnT in CY'17, higher by 9% Y-o-Y mainly due to higher productivity and a reduction in the number of scheduled maintenance stoppages. Vale reaffirms its pellet production guidance of around 55 MnT as previously announced.

Rio Tinto sets 2018 guidance for iron ore shipments at 330-340 MnT

1. World's second largest iron ore miner- Rio Tinto recorded iron ore shipments at 330.1 MnT for the year CY'17 on 100% basis, an increase of 1% against CY'16. The shipments were in line with the laid guidance.

2. Rio Tinto's Pilbara iron ore shipments were up 3% in Q4 CY'17 to 90 MnT as against Q4 CY16. It has witnessed a rise of 5% on a quarterly basis against Q3 CY'17 which stood at 85.8 MnT.

3. Rio Tinto's Pilbara iron ore production for the year CY'17 recorded at 329.8 MnT, stable on yearly basis. The Pilbara iron ore production recorded an increase of 3% Y-o-Y at 87.9 MnT for Q4 CY'17, as compared to Q4 CY'16 owing to the implementation of productivity projects across most sites. It has also recorded a rise of 3% Q-o-Q as compared to Q3 CY'17 which stood at 85 MnT.

4. Rio Tinto's Pilbara shipments are expected to be between 330 to 340 MnT in 2018. This is subject to market conditions and any weather constraints and partly reflects continued rail maintenance required in 2018.

BHP Billiton Maintains iron ore Production Guidance for FY'18

1. BHP Billiton - the third largest iron ore producer reported an increase of 3% Y-o-Y in productions in the quarter ended Dec'17. The miner produced 267.79 MnT iron ore (on 100% basis) in CY'17 against 262.37 MnT in CY'16.

2. The total iron ore production on 100% basis from Pilbara, Australia for Q4 CY'17 witnessed at 71.6 MnT, up 3% Y-o-Y as against Q4 CY'16 at 69.7 MnT. The Q-o-Q change recorded an increase of 11% in Q4 production, as against 64.3 MnT in Q3 CY'17. The total production for the Dec'17 half year(Jul-Dec) was in line with the same period last year at 136 MnT.

3. BHP Billiton keeps iron ore production guidance unchanged for FY'18 (ending Jun'18). BHP Billiton's production guidance has remained unchanged between 239-243 MnT or between 275 to 280 MnT on a 100% basis.

FMG: Iron ore shipments down 8% Q-o-Q in Q2 FY'18

1. Fourth largest iron ore producer, Fortescue Metal Group (FMG) recorded iron ore shipments at 40.5 MnT in Q2 FY'18. The Q-o-Q results witnessed a decline of 8% against 44 MnT in Q1 FY'18. The Y-o-Y results recorded marginal decline of 4% in Q2 FY'18, as against 42.2 MnT in Q2 FY'17. The shipments were in line with the laid guidance with continuous operational improvements. The half-yearly results in FY'18 recorded at 84.5 MnT, in line with FY'18 guidance of full-year shipments at 170 MnT.

2. The company witnessed total iron ore mined at 47.5 MnT in Q2 FY'18, recording increase of 4% against Q1 FY'18 at 45.7 MnT. However, the Y-o-Y results in Q2 FY'18 recorded marginal decline of 5% against 50.1 MnT in Q2 FY'17.

3. FMG iron ore production mined stood at 191.4 MnT in the year ended Dec'17, stable on yearly premises.