Copper ore exports rise 84% in the 1st half; iron advances 5.2%
Brazilian iron ore exports totaled US$ 13.4 billion in the first six months of 2026, an increase of 5.2% compared to the same period last year, according to a survey by CNN Infra with data from the MDIC (Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services).
In volume, shipments reached 189.4 million tons, an increase of 2.4% in the same comparison. In the first half of 2025, Brazil had exported 184.9 million tons of iron ore.
The result considers sales of non-agglomerated iron ore, the main item on the agenda, and agglomerated ore, such as pellets, sinters and briquettes.
In non-agglomerated iron ore, exports rose from US$ 11.46 billion to US$ 11.85 billion, an increase of 3.4%. The volume shipped rose from 173.4 million to 175.3 million tons, an increase of 1.1%.
Sales of agglomerated ore grew at a faster pace. The exported value increased from US$ 1.31 billion to US$ 1.58 billion, an increase of 20.5%. In volume, shipments went from 11.5 million to 14.1 million tons, growth of 22.6%.
The numbers indicate that the increase in iron ore revenue in the semester was driven by both an increase in volume and an improvement in the average value of the iron ore, especially in non-agglomerated ore, which accounts for the majority of Brazilian exports in the sector.
China remained the main destination for Brazilian iron ore. In sales of non-agglomerated ore alone, the Chinese purchased US$9.15 billion in the first half of the year, compared to US$8.37 billion in the same period of 2025. The increase was 9.3%.
As a result, China accounted for around 77% of Brazilian exports of non-agglomerated iron ore in the period, reinforcing the sector's dependence on Asian demand, especially from the Chinese steel industry.
Other relevant destinations were Malaysia and Japan. Sales to Malaysia fell from US$575.7 million to US$466.9 million. Shipments to Japan grew from US$323.3 million to US$376.3 million.
The data also shows strong growth in exports of copper ores and their concentrates. Foreign sales of the product totaled US$3.87 billion in the first half of 2026, against US$2.10 billion in the same period of 2025. The increase was 84%.
In volume, shipments of copper ores increased from 652 thousand tons to 848.5 thousand tons, an increase of 30.1%. Revenue grew at a faster pace than volume, which indicates a significant increase in the average value exported.
In the case of copper, the agenda appears more distributed between European and Asian buyers. Germany led purchases, with US$865.1 million, more than double the US$389.4 million recorded in the first half of last year. China comes next, with US$712.2 million.
There was also progress in sales to Poland, Sweden and India. Exports to India, for example, jumped from US$50.1 million to US$376.4 million, in a movement that reinforces the diversification of destinations for minerals used in industrial chains and energy transition.
The increase occurs amid growing global demand for copper, considered one of the main metals for electrification. The input is used in transmission networks, cables, engines, electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels and energy storage systems. With the energy transition and the expansion of electrical infrastructure, large economies have sought to expand and diversify access to the metal, which has increased the relevance of producing countries like Brazil.
Source: CNN