Brazilian mining companies' shipments showed divergent trends in May compared with the same month last year -- while Vale's global shipments of iron ore and pellet feed decreased 27.3%, MMX's deliveries increased 14.8%, according to a recent report by Brazilian iron and base metals extraction industry group Sinferbase.

Mining giant Vale showed lower shipments in both domestic and export markets, reaching a worldwide total of 24.95 million mt compared with 34.32 million mt in May 2012. The company's deliveries in the Brazilian market reached 1.75 million mt, down 8%, while May exports totaled 23.2 million mt, down 28%.

In turn, MMX compensated for its lower domestic shipments with higher exports in May. Total shipments reached 684,000 mt compared with May 2012's 596,000 mt. The domestic market received 275,000 mt of this total, a fall of 26.8% compared with May 2012, while volumes sent abroad reached 409,000 mt, a growth of 85.9%.

Anglo American's accident at its floating Santana port on March 28 brought its exports to zero since April. Anglo does not ship to the domestic market and its port remains closed. As previously reported, the company is studying alternatives to resume shipments. In mid-May, it was operating at 70% of capacity and had stocked around 500,000 mt of ore.