Empresa Siderúrgica Mutún (ESM), Bolivia’s state-run iron ore producer and steelmaker, will export 250,000mt to Argentina and Germany by the end of the year.
ArcelorMittal Argentina and Thyssenkrupp in Germany will be the recipients, according to a Bolivian Ministry of Mining statement, which didn’t disclosing the respective volumes each firm will receive.
The shipments will generate about $7.1mn for the company, said Milko Moreno, ESM’s chief executive officer, adding that ESM will export premium quality content iron ore (Fe 65pc).
On May 2, the government restarted mining activities after operations were halted for two months. On May 29, the Ministry of Mining said about 30pc of Bolivian mining companies had resumed activities.
Bolivia’s decision to ease restrictions comes on the heels of COVID-19 infections increasing in recent weeks. The South American country has 16,165 cases, according to the latest information released on June 12.