The following table shows shipping activity at four major Brazilian ports used by Vale SA for iron- ore export. Data is aggregated from ports Ponta da Madeira, Tubarão, Itaguaí and Guaíba.

Vale, based in Rio de Janeiro, is the world’s biggest iron- ore producer. Deadweight tons are a measure of a ship’s capacity for carrying cargo, fuel and supplies. Vale doesn’t release information on how much is loaded on each ship.

===========================================================================
             March 2  March 1  Feb. 29  Feb. 28  Feb. 27  Feb. 24  Feb. 23
                2012     2012     2012     2012     2012     2012     2012
===========================================================================
              ----------------Deadweight tonnage in millions--------------
Total         26.561   25.664   26.510   25.393   24.530   26.533   24.772
 Berthed       1.290    1.499    1.593    1.516    1.289    1.306    1.107
 Waiting       6.422    6.621    7.147    7.567    7.235    7.641    7.066
 Scheduled    14.005   13.429   13.303   12.456   11.742   13.389   12.494
 Loaded        4.845    4.115    4.468    3.854    4.265    4.197    4.104
===========================================================================
             March 2  March 1  Feb. 29  Feb. 28  Feb. 27  Feb. 24  Feb. 23
                2012     2012     2012     2012     2012     2012     2012
===========================================================================
              ----------------------Number of ships-----------------------
Total            136      130      134      130      124      131      124
 Berthed           6        7        9        8        7        6        6
 Waiting          30       30       32       35       33       33       29
 Scheduled        75       70       70       67       62       72       69
 Loaded           25       23       23       20       22       20       20
===========================================================================
NOTES: Port activity is updated throughout the day on Vale’s Web site;
data reflects the latest update at time of reporting. 

SOURCE: Vale SA (VALE3)

To contact the reporter on this story: Kristy Scheuble in Washington at kmckeaney@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Marco Babic at mbabic@bloomberg.net