Brazilian companies are moving into Africa amid a government drive to build closer economic ties with
the continent.
A year ago, Brazilian mining giant Vale exported its first overseas coal shipment from Mozambique.
The shift of 35,000 metric tons of thermal coal from the port of Beira in Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates marked the southeastern African country's emergence into the global minerals market.
It was part of Vale's ambitious push into the country, and its plans to double capacity to 22 million tons of coal annually over the next few years.
Vale, which operates across several African countries including Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa, has been in Mozambique since 2004.
Thermal coal was mined from the company's Moatize concession in western Mozambique, an area believed to hold one of the world's biggest untapped reserves.
Vale is also making a broader pitch to access the country's natural resources.
It is spending millions on infrastructure, including a railway line passing through Malawi and connecting its Moatize facility with Nacala, the largest deep-water natural port on Africa's eastern coast.
The company plans to spend more than US$12 billion across the continent over the next five years.
Over the last few years, Brazil's state and private firms have quietly made inroads into the continent, operating mostly in strategic sectors such as infrastructure, energy and mining.
Odebrecht, Brazil's largest construction company, and Petrobras, a state-controlled energy group, have also stepped up their African operations in recent years.
Trade between Brazil and Africa has jumped from around US$4 billion in 2000 to about US$20 billion in 2010.
the continent.
A year ago, Brazilian mining giant Vale exported its first overseas coal shipment from Mozambique.
The shift of 35,000 metric tons of thermal coal from the port of Beira in Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates marked the southeastern African country's emergence into the global minerals market.
It was part of Vale's ambitious push into the country, and its plans to double capacity to 22 million tons of coal annually over the next few years.
Vale, which operates across several African countries including Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa, has been in Mozambique since 2004.
Thermal coal was mined from the company's Moatize concession in western Mozambique, an area believed to hold one of the world's biggest untapped reserves.
Vale is also making a broader pitch to access the country's natural resources.
It is spending millions on infrastructure, including a railway line passing through Malawi and connecting its Moatize facility with Nacala, the largest deep-water natural port on Africa's eastern coast.
The company plans to spend more than US$12 billion across the continent over the next five years.
Over the last few years, Brazil's state and private firms have quietly made inroads into the continent, operating mostly in strategic sectors such as infrastructure, energy and mining.
Odebrecht, Brazil's largest construction company, and Petrobras, a state-controlled energy group, have also stepped up their African operations in recent years.
Trade between Brazil and Africa has jumped from around US$4 billion in 2000 to about US$20 billion in 2010.
