Mineral & Metal Resources Business Unit

Business fields

Development, processing and marketing of underground resources (iron ore, metallurgical coal, copper, ferroalloys, nickel, aluminium, lithium, etc.)
Promoting the recycling of surface resources (steel scrap, non-ferrous scrap, direct reduced iron, pig iron, secondary batteries, etc.)

Iron Ore Business (01:55)

Contributing to a stable supply of resources through the development and management of the West Angelas mine

Major activities

A secure and stable supply of mineral and metal resources

The Mineral & Metal Resources Business Unit plays a central role in ensuring the stable supply of mineral and metal resources for Japan and other markets around the world. Mitsui has been actively investing in the development of iron ore and metallurgical coal resources since the 1960s. In 2003, we invested in Brazil-based Vale, the largest iron ore producer in the world. We continue to expand our business in iron ore with Rio Tinto and BHP in Australia, establishing a solid earnings base. In the metallurgical coal business, we are engaged in projects in Australia with international mining companies. We also contribute to the stable supply of raw materials essential to steelmaking such as steel scrap, direct reduced iron, pig iron and ferroalloys (manganese, silicon and chromium). In China, we have invested in Erdos EPMC (Electrical Power & Metallurgical Co.) based in Inner Mongolia, where we are active in the areas of ferroalloys and chemicals, etc.

We focus on the development of non-ferrous materials such as copper, nickel, aluminium and lithium, etc. We invest in copper projects such as Collahuasi and Anglo American Sur in Chile, nickel projects such as Taganito in the Philippines, and the Amazon Aluminum Project and a lithium mine development project with Atlas Lithium Corporation in Brazil.

Recycling and environment related business for a sustainable and circular economy.

We work towards the creation of a sustainable and circular economy through the ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycling businesses, such as our investments in Sims, a global leading recycling company, and MTC, India's largest recycling company. In addition, we are engaged in resource development and recycling of secondary battery raw materials necessary for electric vehicles.

We will continue to originate new ventures to address social challenges such as global environmental issues, while further improving our existing assets and promoting initiatives to realize a circular economy.

Key projects

Iron Ore: Robe River, Mt. Newman, Yandi, Goldsworthy, Jimblebar (Australia), Vale (Brazil and others)
Metallurgical Coal: Dawson, German Creek, Moranbah North, Grosvenor, Kestrel (Australia)
Recycling business: Sims (Australia, North America), MTC (India)
Copper: Collahuasi, Anglo American Sur (Chile)
Nickle: Taganito (Philippines)
Lithium: Atlas (Brazil) *Under mine development
Ferroalloys: Inner Mongolia Erdos Electric Power Metallurgy Co Ltd (China)

Videos

The Australian coal business (02:19)

The Dawson mine produces approx. 7 million tons of coal annually, exporting to Japan and other countries across Asia
Chile / Collahuasi Copper Mine (02:26)

Stably supplies copper concentrates, copper cathodes, and molybdenum from Chile's Collahuasi mine to Japan and Asia