Recently, Marx, the general manager of Iron Ore and Business Development Dept. of Vale of Brazil , and the delegation made site inspection on Beilun Ore Terminal and made in-depth discussion on cooperation in iron ore logistics. Both parties decided to start ore blending business in Beilun Ore Terminal starting from March and will further strengthen cooperation after Shulang Lake Ore Transfer Terminal is qualified for ore blending. This indicates that Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and Vale will initiate the new pattern for joint development.
Vale of Brazil is the No.1 iron ore producer and exporter in the world and the largest mining company in American continent. The iron ore output of the company accounts for over 80% in total output in Brazil. The production capacity of the company is expected to be increased to 450 million tons by 2018. At present, the company’s annual export of the ore to China has exceeded 200 million tons. It has established ore products business with multiple ports in north China and has rich experience in port cooperation.
Ningbo-Zhoushan Port owns 3 of 7 berths in 4 ports which can receive and berth 400,000-dwt ship as specified by Ministry of Transport and NDRC. During the inspection, Marx was especially satisfactory with the facilities and equipment, ore blending process and yards of Beilun Ore Terminal and Shulang Lake Ore Transfer Terminal.
Through cooperation, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port may provide high quality port services, such as port handling, stockpiling, bonded storage, ore blending business and logistics distribution for Vale of Brazil. Domestic customers and clients from Southeast Asia may directly fetch ores from the Vale from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. On the other hand, Vale of Brazil may take advantage of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port’s advantage as a unique and excellent deep-water port and increase a key ore transfer and storage base in southeast Asia, save shipping and time cost for ore import from Brazil and help improve its global competitive force for ore export. Meanwhile, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port will further increase cargo aggregation capability and market share The effect of win-win cooperation between the two powers will gradually show itself.