Vale, the second largest mining company, fell to the lowest in over six weeks today, after reporting its third consecutive drop in quarterly profit driven by declining iron-ore prices and output.
According to Reuters, Vale’s revenues are down $3 billion — a 44% drop from the same time last year.
The collapse was largely attributed by Vale to a slow-down in Chinese demand for iron-ore and shipment interruptions due to heavy rains. Despite the company said that work stoppages at its Sudbury mines following the deaths of three workers in under a year wouldn’t affect its results, they did affect that bottom line.
“The first quarter is generally the weakest of the year from a financial and operational perspective,” the company said. “This year, the strong rain volumes in Brazil deepened the seasonal effect on sales and costs, that along with lower prices for iron-ore and pellets cut our operating margins and profit.”
Profit was 18% lower than in the fourth quarter of 2011.
The cost of goods sold by Vale rose 2% to $5.69 billion as the company hired more workers. Sales, general and administrative expenses grew 26% to $529 million, Vale said in the statement.