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Vale supports Japan


WEBWIRE

Vale continues to conduct its activities in Japan and is taking all possible measures to contribute to minimize the impacts of the earthquake and tsunami that the country has suffered.

The company’s nickel refinery in Matsuzaka, southern Japan, where 66 employees work, continues to operate normally. At its commercial office in Tokyo, Vale has directed its employees to work from their homes or the homes of their relatives as a safety measure, due to the possibility of new seismic incidents, public transport problems and in order to save energy. Vale has 21 employees at its office in Tokyo, of whom two are expatriates – one Brazilian and one Canadian. They continue to perform their duties, coordinating workers and in frequent contact with customers. Vale will continue to operate in the country in this manner until the situation has normalized.

Vale has been working together with Japanese steel manufacturers and its nickel refinery’s customers to mitigate and overcome problems arising from the earthquake and tsunami. The company has been supporting unconditionally its Japanese customers, offering complete flexibility in administering their shipment programs, enabling increases or decreases in volumes and changes in quality and product type, as well as redeploying ships.

Vale has also made a contribution of 120 million yen (US$1.5 million) to the Japanese Red Cross in order to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in the northeast of the country.
So far, sales to Japan have not been affected. According to available information, the impact on Japanese steelmakers has been limited, despite the magnitude of the natural events, and most of them have resumed operations. In 2010, Vale’s shipments of iron ore and pellets to Japan amounted to 30.8 million tons, equivalent to 10.5% of the total amount sold by the company. Today Vale has 56 ships waiting to be loaded at its ports, nine of which are destined for Japan.



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